History Main / SideKickGraduationsStick

* ''TabletopGmae/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'':

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

* In ''Webcomic/SonicTheComicOnline'' Sonic's former KidSidekick and TheChick of the Freedom Fighters Tails has now taken Sonic's role as [[TheHero The Hero of Mobius]].

* The DC [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] had Captain Marvel Jr. become the Big Red Cheese himself during a brief DorkAge.

** Bart Allen is a subversion. Originally ComicBook/{{Impulse}}, then Kid Flash, then the Flash, then dead, then back to Kid Flash. After the ComicBook/{{New 52}} kicked in, his time as Impulse & the Flash was erased and now he's a ''different'' Kid Flash. Then, after ''Rebirth'', he's back to being Impulse, but is as much his own hero as he ever was, acting more as his own agent.

There is, however, one category of change that's an interesting exception: the "graduation" of {{Sidekick}}s to become independent heroes in their own right, or [[LegacyCharacter assume their mentor's mantel]] (which can overlap with PassingTheTorch). Perhaps it is only because this tends to be accompanied by [[ComicBookTime finally aging the character from a teen to an adult]], and even in the RetCon-happy world of comics, reversing that without breaking the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief is hard (with the possible exception being large-scale Reboots, since everything for the most part is turned back to square 1).

[[quoteright:300:[[ComicBook/WallyWest https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rco055_1581043085.jpg]]]]

** ComicBook/WallyWest '''is''' the greatest example of this trope, even after all the attempts at a subversion. After Wally's mentor and the second Flash, Barry Allen, died in the ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths, Wally stepped up from the role of Kid Flash to Flash, and was, for over two decades, the primary Flash, even being featured in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' and was slated to be in a Live Action film. Then Barry came back, ''Comicbook/{{Flashpoint}}'' happened, and in the ''ComicBook/{{New 52}},'' Wally was {{retgone}}d, along with most of his supporting cast and any other potential 'sidekick' to the Flash. Later on, they introduced him as a [[AgeLift 12 year old]] [[RaceLift troubled biracial child]] to get him back down to his Kid Flash role again. This faced a massive backlash from the fans and the overall decline in interest resulted in ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'', where the original version of the character returned in a grand fashion and was given his title and legacy back[[note]](with the other younger Wally West revealed to be the original's cousin, both named after their great grandfather, allowing both characters to remain and the younger Wally to have a chance to carve his own path)[[/note]]. After the one-shot, ''ComicBook/TheFlashRebirth'' tie-in had Barry telling Wally he ''is'' a Flash, essentially making them equals. Out of all {{Legacy Character}}s who held their mantles for short periods of time only to [[StatusQuoIsGod revert back to their previous positions]], Wally West '''earned''' to become The Flash.

* ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'': Goes from the X-Men's TagalongKid to independent superheroine to underground vigilante and eventually the actual leader of mutantkind by the end of Ultimate Marvel.

* Stephanie Brown, the Spoiler, "graduated" to replace [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]] as Robin. It lasted only a few issues, and she then returned to being the Spoiler... but only for the BatFamilyCrossover that [[StuffedIntoTheFridge ended with her death]]. Later played straight when Stephanie reappeared (she had been [[HesJustHiding Just Hiding]]) and graduated again, this time to [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2009}} Batgirl]]... At least until the ComicBook/{{New 52}} relaunch, where Barbara took the mantle of [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2011}} Batgirl]] back. It wasn't until Rebirth that she turned up again as The Spoiler. Barbara Gordon showed no signs of wanting to abandon her role and power as ComicBook/{{Oracle}} as she was more confident and a much more influential hero than she'd ever been as ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}. Outside of the comics there was substantial -- though far from universal -- desire to see her scaled back to a street level hero once more. However, there was significant fanbase support for Babs as Oracle, as she was a rare example of a handicapped hero whose concept doesn't rely on a DisabilitySuperpower or on being InspirationallyDisadvantaged. In the end Flashpoint erased the other Batgirls from continuity and put Babs back in the cowl and younger than she's ever been in comics before. As for the other major [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Batgirl]], Cassandra Cain, she stepped away and gave the role to Stephanie. She was eventually appointed as the "Batman" of Hong Kong, using the code name "Blackbat". Then changed again in Rebirth to become "Orphan".

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'':
** ''Young Justice'' has one of these pretty early on with Green Arrow's sidekick Speedy [[RageQuit Rage Quitting]] and later coming back as the new hero, Red Arrow.

** In a blending of this trope with DecompositeCharacter [[spoiler: the ''real'' Speedy becomes Arsenal.]]

* Though more of a DistaffCounterpart than a proper sidekick, Carol Danvers finally left behind the ComicBook/MsMarvel identity and became [[ComicBook/CaptainMarVell Captain Marvel]] proper in the wake of ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen''. The Ms. Marvel identity has since passed to a [[AffirmativeActionLegacy Muslim teenager named Kamala Khan]].

* Franchise/TheFlash

-->'''Barry Allen:''' "You are no longer Kid Flash. You are a ''Flash'' now."

[[folder:Web Comics]]

[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/WallyWest https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rco055_1581043085.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:And not even those RunningTheAsylum will change that!]]

* A ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog'' mini-series staring Tails showed how Tails went from TagalongKid to a full-fledged member of the Freedom Fighters. The ''[[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM Saturday Morning cartoon]]'' would do the same thing for him, but with different events. Amy Rose would get a few stories showcasing her own rise to Freedom Fighter status.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rco055_1581043085.jpg]]

* ComicBook/WallyWest, aka ComicBook/TheFlash, '''is''' the greatest example of this trope, even after the attempts at a subversion. After the second Flash, Barry Allen, died in the ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths, Wally stepped up from the role of Kid Flash to Flash, and was, for over two decades, the primary Flash, even being featured in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' and was slated to be in a Live Action film. Then Barry came back, ''Comicbook/{{Flashpoint}}'' happened, and in the ''ComicBook/{{New 52}},'' Wally was {{retgone}}'d, along with most of his supporting cast and any other potential 'sidekick' to the Flash. Later on, they introduced him as a [[AgeLift 12 year old]] [[RaceLift troubled biracial child]] to get him back down to his Kid Flash role again. This faced a massive backlash from the fans and the overall decline in interest resulted in ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'', where the original version of the character returned in a grand fashion and was given his title and legacy back[[note]](with the other younger Wally West revealed to be the original's cousin, both named after their great grandfather, allowing both characters to remain and the younger Wally to have a chance to carve his own path)[[/note]]. After the one-shot, ''ComicBook/TheFlashRebirth'' tie in had Barry re-crowning him to mantle again, essentially making them equals. Out of all {{Legacy Character}}s who held their mantles for short periods of time only to [[StatusQuoIsGod revert back to their previous positions]], Wally West '''earned''' to become The Flash.

** Bart Allen is a subversion. Originally Impulse, then Kid Flash, then the Flash, then dead, then back to Kid Flash. After the ComicBook/{{New 52}} kicked in, his time as Impulse & the Flash was erased and now he's a ''different'' Kid Flash. Then, after ''Rebirth'', he's back to being Impulse, but is as much his own hero as he ever was, acting more as his own agent.

* Stephanie Brown, the Spoiler, "graduated" to replace [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]] as Robin. It lasted only a few issues, and she then returned to being the Spoiler... but only for the BatFamilyCrossover that [[StuffedIntoTheFridge ended with her death]]. Later played straight when Stephanie reappeared (she had been [[HesJustHiding Just Hiding]]) and graduated again, this time to [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2009}} Batgirl]]... At least until the ComicBook/{{New 52}} relaunch, where Barbara took the mantle of [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2011}} Batgirl]] back. It wasn't until Rebirth that she turned up again as The Spoiler.\\
\\
Barbara Gordon showed no signs of wanting to abandon her role and power as ComicBook/{{Oracle}} as she was more confident and a much more influential hero than she'd ever been as ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}. Outside of the comics there was substantial -- though far from universal -- desire to see her scaled back to a street level hero once more. However, there was significant fanbase support for Babs as Oracle, as she was a rare example of a handicapped hero whose concept doesn't rely on a DisabilitySuperpower or on being InspirationallyDisadvantaged. In the end Flaspoint erased the other Batgirls from continuity and put Babs back in the cowl and younger than she's ever been in comics before.\\
\\
As for the other major [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Batgirl]], Cassandra Cain, she stepped away and gave the role to Stephanie. She was eventually appointed as the "Batman" of Hong Kong, using the code name "Blackbat". Then changed again in Rebirth to become *Orphan*.

* A ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog'' mini-series staring Tails showed how Tails went from TagalongKid to a full-fledged member of the Freedom Fighters. The ''[[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehog Saturday Morning cartoon]]'' would do the same thing for him, but with different events. Amy Rose would get a few stories showcasing her own rise to Freedom Fighter status.

* Wally West, aka ComicBook/TheFlash, '''is''' the greatest example of this trope, even after the attempts at a subversion. After the second Flash, Barry Allen, died in the ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths, Wally stepped up from the role of Kid Flash to Flash. Then Barry came back, ''Comicbook/{{Flashpoint}}'' happened, and in the ''ComicBook/{{New 52}},'' Wally has been {{retgone}}'d, along with most of his supporting cast. Later on, they introduced him as a [[AgeLift 12 year old]] [[RaceLift troubled biracial child]] to get back him down to his Kid Flash role again. This faced a massive backlash from the fans and the overall decline in interest resulted in ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'', where the original version of the character returned in a grand fashion and was given his title and legacy back (with the other younger Wally West revealed to be the original's cousin, both named after their great grandfather, allowing both characters to remain and the younger Wally to have a chance to carve his own path). After the one-shot, Flash:Rebirth tie in had Barry re-crowning him to mantle again, essentially making them equals. Out of all {{Legacy Character}}s who held their mantles for short periods of time only to [[StatusQuoIsGod revert back to their previous positions]], Wally West '''earned''' to become The Flash.

** Bart Allen is a subversion. Originally Impulse, then Kid Flash, then the Flash, then dead, then back to Kid Flash. After the ComicBook/{{New 52}} kicked in, his time as Impulse & the Flash was erased and now he's a ''different'' Kid Flash.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* In the [[Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse Silver Age campaign]], a now-adult former KidSidekick Tailgunner (who tagged along behind [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] hero Barnstormer) had come into his full powers and [[LegacyHero become the second Barnstormer]].
[[/folder]]

* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', the Doctor and his companions aren't exactly superheroes and sidekicks, but three of his companions have gone on to have major roles in holding down the fort in modern-day Earth: in ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures,'' Sarah Jane Smith and the [[YouMeddlingKids meddling kids]] solve weirdness they're alerted to by "Mr. Smith," Sarah Jane's ultra-supercomputer. Jack Harkness is the leader of TheMenInBlack in ''Series/{{Torchwood}}.'' Martha Jones doesn't have her own {{spinoff}} (yet) but she TookALevelInBadass in ''The End of Time'', saving the world freelance.
** The only reason Rose Tyler isn't holding down the fort in modern-day Earth is because she's doing the same on a parallel version thereof. Mickey did it as well during series 2, though he eventually moved back to his own Earth. (In fact, there was originally supposed to be a Rose Tyler-based spinoff called ''Rose Tyler: Earth Defence,'' which got pretty far into pre-production before being cancelled by Russell T. Davies on the grounds that a spin-off would kill the emotional impact of her departure in ''Doomsday.'' Between what information we know and how she appeared in later episodes like ''Turn Left,'' it appeared to be something of a proto-''Torchwood.''
** This seems to happen to everyone the Doctor takes on as a companion in the new series; they all grow from their time with him and become heroic alien-fighters in their own right.[[spoiler: Except Donna. Poor, poor, Donna. Although even she qualified, before she got her memory wiped.]] Davros brought this up during the season four finale, although he put a rather dark spin on it.
** Jo Grant is probably one of the best examples in the classic series. When she was first introduced she was a [[TheDitz bumbling, clumsy young girl who kept messing things up]] and only stuck around because the doctor couldn't bring himself to upset her by saying she wouldn't make a good assistant. By the time she left, she was able to escape from several dangerous situations on her own, had explored half the universe, and was the only person in the Jon Pertwee era to successfully resist being hypnotised by the Master.
** In The Sarah Jane Adventures it's revealed that she hasn't slowed down, and is now a major environment defender, traveling from problem to problem so fast, even the Doctor can't keep up.

* The ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series has a few cases of this, some played straight, some subverted. In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', of all the original surviving party members, only Tali and Garrus rejoin Shepard, as Wrex has become the leader of the Krogans, Ashley/Kaidan works for the Alliance and is unable to accept the hero joining up with a terrorist group, and Liara is preoccupied with work under the Shadow Broker. However, Liara and Ashley/Kaidan return as party members for ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''. Wrex plays this trope straight, though, as do the other party members from Mass Effect 2 besides Garrus and Tali, as they're all focusing their efforts on other responsibilities.

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