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Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional supporting character in the DC Comics' Batman series. Created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Batman #16 (April-May 1943).
Alfred serves as Batman/Master Bruce’s tireless butler, assistant and confidant. In the current DC Comics continuity, Alfred looked after Bruce Wayne after the death of his parents. Alfred primarily keeps-up day-to-day operations of Batman’s home of Wayne Manor and maintains much of the equipment of the Batcave beneath it. He also provides first aid and tactical support.
An important part of the Batman mythos, Alfred has appeared in most other media adaptations of the character.
Character history
When Alfred first appeared, he was overweight and clean-shaven. However, when the 1943 Batman serial was released, William Austin, the actor who played Alfred, was trim and sported a thin moustache. DC editors wanted the comic Alfred to resemble his cinematic counterpart, so in Detective Comics #83 (January 1944), Alfred vacationed at a health resort, where he slimmed down and grew a moustache. This look has remained with the character ever since, even surviving his death (in Detective Comics #328 in 1964) and resurrection (in Detective Comics #356 in 1966).
Pre-Crisis
The Pre-Crisis comics (i.e., comics published by DC Comics between 1938 and 1986) established Alfred as a retired intelligence agent who followed the deathbed wish of his dying father, Jarvis, to carry on the tradition of serving the Wayne family. To that end, Alfred introduced himself to Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson at Wayne Manor and insisted on becoming their butler. Although the pair did not want one, especially since they did not want to jeopardize their secret identities with a servant in the house, they did not have the heart to reject Alfred. That night, Alfred awoke to moaning and followed the sound to the secret door to the staircase to the Batcave and met his would be employers in their superhero identities (Wayne had been injured while out in the field). As it turned out, the wounds were actually insignificant, but Alfred's care convinced the residents that their butler could be trusted. Since then, Alfred included the support staff duties of the Dynamic Duo on top of his regular tasks.Ironically, Alfred's loyalty would lead him to become a member of Batman's rogue's gallery. While leaping to the defense of friends who had been kidnapped by mobsters, Alfred was injured and seemingly killed. Revived by a mad scientist, Alfred awoke from his trance-like state with pasty white skin with circular markings, superhuman powers including telekinesis and the desire to destroy Batman and Robin. Calling himself The Outsider, he battled the Dynamic Duo on a number of occasions, each time being defeated and each time reverting to his former appearance with no memory of his villainous activities.
Later, Alfred was reunited with his long-lost daughter, Julia Remarque. This character has yet to appear in the Post-Crisis comics.
Post-Crisis
In the Post-Crisis comics' continuity, Alfred has been the Wayne Family butler all of Bruce's life and he helped his master establish his superhero career from the beginning. Alfred was hired away from the British Royal Family by Bruce's parents, and virtually raised him after their murder. Alfred has also been romantically linked to Dr. Leslie Thompkins.His resourcefulness came to the fore in the No Man's Land storyline, especially in Legends of the Dark Knight #117. Batman is missing for weeks, leaving Alfred alone to watch his city for him. He uses his skills as an actor, storyteller, medic, and spy to survive and collect information on the recently destroyed society. Alfred even uses hand-to-hand combat in a rare on-panel fight sequence between him and a pair of slavers that ends with his rescue by a just-returned Batman.
Names
Alfred introduced himself as the son of a butler named Jarvis, and the convention being that British butlers are known by their surnames, the implication may have been that his name was Alfred Jarvis, but this was subsequently ignored, and in Detective Comics #96 (February 1945) he was named Alfred Beagle (the name of the Earth-Two version), and subsequently Pennyworth (introduced in Batman #216 in 1969) became his accepted surname at least in the Earth-One and Post-Crisis DC Universe.Skills, resources and abilities
While not as skilled at hand-to-hand combat as Bruce Wayne, Alfred is nearly as resourceful. Batman: Gotham Adventures #16 has him kidnapped, only to readily escape and overcome his captors without even mussing his suit. It is later mentioned that he's been kidnapped unsuccessfully 27 times. Alfred is also the only member of the "Batman Family" that is allowed by Bruce Wayne to own a firearm.
In other media
- Edwin Jarvis, a butler in the Marvel Universe who commonly serves the Avengers (Although he is officially hired by Tony Stark), may have been named so as a nod to Alfred's previous surname.
- William Austin was the first actor to portray Alfred, in the 1943 Batman serial.
- Eric Wilton portrayed Alfred in the serial Batman and Robin in 1949.
- Alan Napier portrayed Alfred on the 1960s TV series starring Adam West. {In one of the last episodes of the series Batgirl accidentally finds out that Alfred is Batman secret accomplice -hence Batman is Bruce Wayne; however at the same time Alfred accidentally finds out that Batgirl is Barbara Gordon-so neither can expose the secret identities of Batman, Robin and Batgirl}.
- Michael Gough portrayed Alfred in the movies Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995), and Batman and Robin (1997). In Batman & Robin, he was visited by his niece Barbara Wilson who becomes "Batgirl". Gough also portrayed Alfred in the BBC radio-drama presentation of the "Knightfall" story arc from the Batman comics, and in a series of Onstar commercials featuring Batman.
- Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. provided Alfred's voice on The Animated Series (with the exception of four episodes from the first season in which Alfred was voiced by Clive Revill). This version of Alfred combines elements from pre-Crisis and post-Crisis continuities; Alfred has been serving the Wayne family since before Thomas Wayne's death and helped his young charge assume the Batman identity, but was also revealed to be a former agent for British Intelligence. Efrem continued to voice Alfred in later guest appearances on Justice League and Static Shock.
- Ian Abercrombie portrayed Alfred on the short-lived TV series Birds of Prey.
- Alastair Duncan provides Alfred's voice on the animated TV series The Batman. In this incarnation of Batman it is revealed that Alfred's grandfather served Penguin's family in England, but was mistreated and then fired.
- Michael Caine portrayed Alfred in the movie Batman Begins, and has been confirmed to be returning to the role in subsequent sequels. (2005).
Awards
The character is very popular, having received a nomination for the R.A.C. "Squiddy" Award for Favorite Supporting Character in 1994 and for Best Character in 2001. He was also nominated for the Wizard Fan Award for Favorite Supporting Male Character in 1994.
References
Batman supporting characters | Fictional servants | Fictional English people
Alfred Pennyworth | Alfred Pennyworth | Alfred Pennyworth | Alfred Pennyworth | Alfred Pennyworth
"Alfred Pennyworth"