History Main / RudeHeroNiceSidekick

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}''. DependingOnTheWriter, common in the [[Characters/BatmanBatFamily Bat Clan]] (and surrounding).
** ComicBook/{{Robin}} (Dick, Jason, Tim, Steph and Carrie ''not'' Damian) or ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} is nicer than the stoic, straight-laced Batman. This is even part of what made up Tim's argument that Batman needs a Robin, since having one to act helpful and kind balanced him out and helped smooth things over with law enforcement.

** When he works with [[ComicBook/Batgirl2000 Cassandra Cain]], his harsh, TerrorHero demeanor is often contrasted with her AllLovingHero status, especially in how they treat criminals.

** ''ComicBook/Batgirl2009'': Stephanie is much more kind and upbeat than ComicBook/{{Oracle}} who tends to be rather strict, bordering on harsh.
* ''Franchise/XMen'': When the mean and rude ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} has a sidekick, they're usually the nicer one.
** Nightcrawler is most often used as comic relief.
** ComicBook/KittyPryde, before Wolvie had her taught ninja skills, was the innocent.
** Jubilee was also innocent before she had to face the Reavers to protect Wolverine.
* Sonic and Tails in ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic''. Unlike the [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog games continuity]] where he is laid-back and nice (though cocky), Sonic is terribly rude, self-centered, and immature while Tails is the nice one who would always be on the receiving end of Sonic's bullying.

* Otacon of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' plays this role in ''Fanfic/{{Stray}}'', but as a foil to Adamska instead of Snake.

* Film/{{Maleficent}} is the AntiHero who curses an infant to fall into an eternal coma on her sixteenth birthday, while Diaval serves Maleficent because he owes his life to her, and is actually very fond of the infant Maleficent cursed. [[spoiler: Maleficent eventually comes to like the kid, too, and tries to remove the curse.]]

* ''Film/{{Superbad}}'': Seth (Creator/JonahHill) is a foul-mouthed, misogynistic pervert who's incredibly rude to everyone, especially to Fogell. Evan (Creator/MichaelCera), meanwhile, is friendly, considerate, and open towards others; unlike Seth, [[AboveTheInfluence he openly objects to making out with Becca while she was intoxicated]].

* ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'' is rather grumpy and crude, whereas his sidekick Donkey, as irritating as he may be, is [[DumbIsGood much more well-meaning and out-going.]]

* Franchise/RatchetAndClank start off as this in the [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002 first game of their franchise]]. In it, Ratchet is a GlorySeeker, but when betrayed by Qwark, he develops a serious case of RevengeBeforeReason and abuses Clank, who spends the entire game a [[NiceGuy Nice Robot]] who wants to save the galaxy. After his HeelRealization, Ratchet would mellow out and become a DeadpanSnarker AllLovingHero.

* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou''

* Sonic and Tails in ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic''. Unlike the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog games continuity]] where he is laid-back and nice (though cocky), Sonic is terribly rude, self-centered, and immature while Tails is the nice one who would always be on the receiving end of Sonic's bullying.

* Tails from the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' series is known to be mild-mannered and humble than Sonic, who is a bit cocky, but is nonetheless a nice guy.

* WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}} is rather grumpy and crude, whereas his sidekick Donkey, as irritating as he may be, is [[DumbIsGood much more well-meaning and out-going.]]

* Shiki from ''LightNovel/TheGardenOfSinners'' is a [[SociopathicHero borderline psychotic sociopath]] who, nonetheless, is one of the "good guys" because most of the people she fights are even worse. Her sidekick and love interest Mikiya, on the other hand, is a [[AllLovingHero compassionate and morally upstanding individual with whom everyone wants to be friends]]--including some of the villains Shiki has to fight later.

* In ''LightNovel/BlazbluePhaseShift'', the nice and caring Celica plays the nice sidekick to the sardonic and rude hero Bloodedge.

* In ''Series/TheTick2001'', the Tick meets up with Fiery Blaze and his sidekick Friendly Fire. Blaze is a jerk to his sidekick, and Arthur (Tick's sidekick) learns that most heroes with sidekicks are jerks -- the sidekicks even have a support group -- which makes him realize that his relationship with the Tick isn't all that bad.

* In ''Fanfic/ChrysalisVisitsTheHague'', the cynical, short-fused human lawyer Estermann and his Equestrian liaison Lyra Heartstrings, who is a lot nicer and bubblier than him, are becoming this.

[[folder:Web Original]]

* WebOriginal/{{Ultimate}}: Ultimate and Matilda form this. Due to the comedic and satirical nature, it's unknown whether or not it's idealistic or cynical. Or both.

[[/folder]]

* Otacon of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' plays this role in Fanfic/{{Stray}}, but as a foil to Adamska instead of Snake.

* WebOriginal/{{Ultimate}}: Ultimate and Matilda from this. Due to the comedic nature, it's unknown whether or not it's idealistic or cynical. Or both.

[[folder: Web Original]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AtomicPuppet'': AP is extremely egocentric and tends to put down those he views as inferior or bothersome (which is ''a lot'' of people), while Joey is the more polite of the two and can act as TheStraightMan to AP at times.

* ''Film/ChipNDaleRescueRangers2022'': Chip is quite cynical and self-centered, while Dale is more easygoing and mild-mannered.