His surgical training comes from a stint as a medic for the Royal Air Force, and he has also been connected to the Royal Marines, the British Guard and the British Army’s Special Air Service. In fact, his time fighting for his country has included time with multiple branches of the Forces over the years. This is explained with a history in the armed forces – sometimes in the army, and sometimes in the Secret Service as a spy.
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While he of course understands the finer points of etiquette, he also knows how to fight and act as makeshift surgeon to Bruce Wayne and the Bat Family. In every major version (barring the very early fat detective), Alfred has training that no one would expect from the average butler. Currently, he is an ex-spy who spent time as an actor before becoming a butler to fulfill his dying father’s wishes – an amalgamation of previous origin stories. Other stories over the years have also placed him as an ex-butler to the Royal Family, having come from a long line of butlers. During the Silver Age, Alfred was an ex-soldier who fought in World War II, and also had a history as an actor before he became a butler to the Waynes.
In some stories, this happened during Bruce’s childhood, while in others he arrived after Bruce was Batman and when Dick Grayson was also living at the manor. Alfred has more than most, though, as he started out with two different origin stories during the Golden Age – a time where short-term storytelling was considered far more important than long-term continuity.Īlfred started out as a retired spy who came to live with the Waynes as their butler.
Most comic book characters who have been around for decades have had their origins retconned once or twice, and Alfred is no exception.
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His current full name is Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth – although that’s a bit of a mouthful, so we rarely hear his middle names used. This new backstory combines the original and later names, but retains the more popular Pennyworth for common use. When he moved to the US, he adopted a new identity, which involved the change of name. In the new continuity, Alfred’s surname is still Pennyworth, but he was born Alfred Beagle. His name changed again after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, which effectively hit the reset button on the DC Universe. Alfred’s surname remained Beagle for the Earth-2 adventures of Batman, a nod to his origins. The original Beagle didn’t disappear entirely, though. This name was changed when the comic's creators altered the appearance of the character in the 1940s, becoming Pennyworth (presumably to better suit the new character’s appearance). Unlike his other appearances, he is muscular and bald here.Alfred Pennyworth’s name is well known these days, but when the character first appeared, he did so with a different surname: the Golden Age version was actually named Alfred Beagle.This version of Alfred doesn't have a mustache.Alfred's appearance is very similar to Superman villain Lex Luthor.This incarnation of Alfred Pennyworth is similar to the version that appeared in Geoff John's and Gray Frank's Batman: Earth One series."Never sneak up on an old spy while he's making a sandwich."."The ones that can dodge bullets are always a bother.".(Bruce)"You're job is to protect Bruce Wayne, not Batman." (Alfred)"Are they not the same?".(Stagg)"Who are you?" (Alfred)"Oh didn't they tell you? I'm the Butler.".Unlike his employer, Alfred has no qualms about using firearms and is a highly proficient marksman. He maintains his British spy background but has none of his previous incarnations elegance and etiquette.
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He is portrayed in this series much differently than in previous incarnations, being much more muscular and a capable hand-to-hand combatant. In the series premiere, " Hunted" Alfred, being incapacitated and knowing he won't be around forever, hires Tatsu Yamashiro (Katana) to be Bruce's new valet and bodyguard.Īlfred is protective of Bruce and Tatsu as a sort of surrogate "Father" figure to them having pretty much looked after them both.
Unlike earlier portrayals, Alfred has a muscular physique and is a proficient hand-to-hand combatant. In this series Alfred is portrayed as a former agent of MI-6, along with being Bruce Wayne's butler and bodyguard.