Alfred Pennyworth

**Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth**, also known as **Alfred Pennyworth**, is a character from the *DC Comics* series.

## **Charactah Account**

Alfred is Bruce Wayne's loyal father figure and butler. Alfred raised Bruce (and later Dick Grayson) after the death of the Waynes. A former British secret agent, Alfred is a skilled surgeon who often fixes members of the Bat-Family.

Alfred can be described as Batman's confidant and moral compass. He often patches Bruce when he is severely injured. Alfred is most famous for his dry wit and often advising Batman on his personal matters. Alfred's advice has helped Batman out more than once, in an issue of Detective Comics, Alfred figured out a way to defeat a more powerful Doctor Phosphorus: baking soda, which Batman used to defeat Phosphorus. Alfred has also helped other members of the Batman Family during their times of Crisis. He is also the only member of the Batman Family that is allowed to own firearms. And he knows how to use them.

## **Appearance**

### **Comics**

* Action Comics
* Adventures of the Super Sons
* All-Star Batman
* Are You Afraid of Darkseid?
* Arkham Manor
* Bane: Conquest
* Batgirl
* Batgirl and the Birds of Prey
* Batman
* Batman and Robin
* Batman and Robin Annual
* Batman and the Outsiders
* Batman and the Signal
* Batman Annual
* Batman Black and White
* Batman Eternal
* Batman Giant
* Batman Incorporated
* Batman Secret Files
* Batman vs. Ra's al Ghul
* Batman/Catwoman
* Batman/Elmer Fudd Special
* Batman/FaZe Clan
* Batman/Superman
* Batman/Superman: World's Finest
* Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
* Batman/The Shadow
* Batman: Black and White
* Batman: Death by Design
* Batman: Gotham City's Guardian
* Batman: Gotham Nights
* Batman: Kings of Fear
* Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P.
* Batman: Prelude to the Wedding: Red Hood vs. Anarky
* Batman: Rebirth
* Batman: The Dark Knight
* Batman: The Dark Knight Annual
* Batman: The Detective
* Batman: The Knight
* Batman: The Knight Compendium Edition
* Batman: The Merciless
* Batman: The World
* Batman: Three Jokers
* Batman: Universe
* Batman: Urban Legends
* Batwing
* Batwoman
* Booster Gold/The Flintstones Special
* Catwoman
* Dark Nights: Death Metal
* DC Cybernetic Summer
* DC Universe vs. The Masters of the Universe
* DCU: Rebirth
* Deadman
* Deathstroke
* Detective Comics
* Detective Comics Annual
* Dial H for Hero
* Doomsday Clock
* Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles
* Forever Evil Aftermath: Batman vs. Bane
* Future State: Gotham
* General Mills Presents Justice League
* Gotham Academy: Second Semester
* Grayson
* Green Lanterns
* Harley Quinn
* Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey
* Harley Quinn: Harley Loves Joker
* I, Vampire
* Justice League
* Justice League of America
* Justice League: The Darkseid War: Batman
* Legends of the Dark Knight
* Mother Panic
* Mother Panic/Batman Special
* New Talent Showcase 2018
* Nightwing
* Nightwing 2021 Annual
* Nightwing Annual
* Red Hood and the Outlaws
* Red Hood and the Outlaws
* Red Hood and the Outlaws: Rebirth
* Red Hood: Outlaw
* Robin
* Robin & Batman
* Robin 2021 Annual
* Robin Rises: Alpha
* Robin Rises: Omega
* Secret Origins
* Strange Love Adventures
* Suicide Squad
* Super Sons
* Super Sons/Dynomutt and the Blue Falcon Special
* Superman
* Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen
* Superman/Wonder Woman
* Teen Titans
* Teen Titans Annual
* Teen Titans Giant
* The Batman Who Laughs
* The Batman's Grave
* The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman
* The Flash
* The Shadow/Batman
* Titans Giant
* Titans Hunt
* Trinity
* Truth & Justice
* Villains Giant
* We Are Robin
* Wonder Woman Annual
* Wonder Woman Giant
* World's Greatest Super-Heroes Holiday Special
* Worlds' Finest
* Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen

## **Trivia**

* The character first appeared in *Batman* #16 (April 1943), by writer Don Cameron and artist Bob Kane. Evidence suggests that Alfred was created by the writers of the 1943 Batman serial—Victor McLeod, Leslie Swabacker, and Harry Fraser—and that DC Comics asked Don Cameron to write the first Alfred story, which was published prior to the serial's release.
* In Alfred's first appearance, 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 mustache. This look has remained with the character ever since, even surviving his apparent "death" and resurrection.
* Alfred was originally conceived as a comedic foil for Batman and Robin. In most early tales, he made bungling attempts to be a detective on a par with the young masters. He was given a four-page feature of his own, and the feature lasted thirteen issues, skipping *Batman* #35, with the last story in *Batman* #36. The stories followed a simple formula, with Alfred solving a crime and catching the culprits entirely by accident. In later years, the comedic aspects of the character were downplayed.

## **External Links**

* Alfred Pennyworth (Prime Earth) at DC Database
* Alfred Pennyworth (New Earth) at DC Database