Batman- Alfred

[ray gower]

One of the characters in Batman that has never, to my knowledge, been explained is Alfred.

A simple butler and man servant is not on and hides the pivotal role he plays.

It seems obvious that he guided the young Bruce Wayne and created the hero Batman. But why?

Was he perhaps a retired Superhero himself, creating a replacement for himself?

Is he a publicist? Creating all Batmans foes, so that his employer remains in the public good books?

Or perhaps a master criminal, who subtly created Batman to suppress the opposition?

 

[Dave]

a question

In the original comic stories, what is the relationship between Alfred and Robin?

 

[ray gower]

I can answer Dave's question!

Dick Grayson was an orphan picked up by Bruce Wayne in very much the same way as portrayed in Batman returns.

More cynically he was added to Batman in the original Detective Comics in early 1940 to soften the series a little. Where Superman tended to inaction after defeating the week's enemy, Batman was most definitely proactive and brutal in his dealings.

Strangely Alfred appeared several years after Robin made his debut and was replaced by Robin's aunt Harriet on his death.

http://thebatman.bravepages.com/comics/timeline.htm
http://www.dccomics.com/features/bmtch/
http://nene.essortment.com/historybatman_rbjo.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightwing

 

[Dave]

Thanks, I have never read a Batman comic

Why I asked was that from TV and film, Alfred seemed to me to be more of a guide to Robin than he did to Batman (especially in Batman Returns.)

Batman without Alfred just doesn't seem the same, strange that he existed for so long wiithout him.

 

[ray gower]

I agree. Batman without Alfred is like apple pie without custard, okay but something important is missing.

The film makers thought so too. The first ever Batman film which appeared in 1943, less than 6 months after Alfred was introduced in Detective Comics, included him and as a major character! So it could be a question of who invented him first?

Quote from The Batman (1943)
Alfred Pennyworth: How many did I kill?
Bruce Wayne: Seven.
Alfred Pennyworth: But there were only four of the ruffians.
Richard Grayson: You killed three of them twice.
Alfred Pennyworth: Where are the bodies?
Bruce Wayne: We threw them out the window.

 

[antikook]

IN the comics, the character of Alfred has been explored several times over. Like Batman, he has changed over time, but the basics usually remain:

To the outside world, Alfred is Bruce Wayne's butler and manservant. He is usually the only employee shown around Wayne Manor.
Alfred has a background in the British military. At one time, he was described as having helped the French resistance during WWII. That doesn't work now because of the time that has passed. so it has evolved into a past involvement with British Special Forces.
Originally, he was the son of a former Wayne family butler who returned to England after the Waynes' death. Since the mid-80's, Alfred has been portrayed as the butler to Thomas Wayne, who raised Bruce after his parents' murder.


Hope it helps...
-cjb-