Batman Fans, Prepare to Cry! Alfred’s Back… But There’s a Twist!

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The publishing initiative “All-In” by DC Comics has been highly successful, bringing joy to readers through both Absolute books and regular series. DC introduced the first All-In crossover titled “We Are Yesterday“, linking Justice League Unlimited and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest. In this storyline, Gorilla Grodd, after gaining temporal telepathic abilities at the end of Absolute Power, reached out to his past self and the Legion of Doom with the intention of destroying the Justice League. This resulted in Batman, Superman, and Nightwing swapping places with their former selves, as seen in issue #39 of Batman/Superman: World’s Finest. Unfortunately for Batman and Nightwing, time travel presents challenges, one of which is a particularly emotional encounter – meeting their mentor, Alfred Pennyworth.

Among all characters in the Batman universe, Alfred is arguably the most crucial, if not absolutely indispensable. Through thick and thin, Alfred has been instrumental in making Batman’s crusade feasible, keeping him alive during times of unimaginable peril. The demise of Alfred came as a staggering blow to the Bat-Family, leaving lasting effects on both Batman and Nightwing upon their reunion with their old ally. To this day, the absence of Alfred continues to wound Batman deeply and resonates painfully for fans, as eloquently depicted in “World’s Finest” #39.

Alfred’s Death Came at One of Batman’s Lowest Moments

In the narrative titled “City of Bane”, Alfred’s demise marked the conclusion of Tom King’s extended Batman series. Over his 85-issue tenure, King crafted Bane as Batman’s most formidable adversary, operating covertly with the aid of Psycho-Pirate to manipulate villains like the Joker and create an unfavorable environment for Batman. This escalated to Bane seizing control of Gotham City from Batman and his family, issuing a chilling warning: anyone attempting entry would risk Alfred’s life, who he had imprisoned within the city. Despite this dire threat, one member of Batman’s family defied it—Damian Wayne. Damian was apprehended by Flashpoint Batman (yes, that’s right) and Gotham Girl, leading them before Bane. Regrettably, Bane brutally ended Alfred’s life, a fact revealed to Batman upon his arrival at Wayne Manor for the climactic battle against both Bane and Flashpoint Batman. Since then, fans have been left pondering whether and when DC might resurrect Alfred—a scenario that has occurred before in the comics, albeit with Alfred’s death always being staged—but so far, the storyline has remained consistent with his passing.

Issue #39 of “Batman/Superman: World’s Finest” introduces the reappearance of Alfred, as the past versions of Batman, Superman, and Robin (this series is set in the past and offers some of the most engaging superhero stories currently available) encounter their future selves and swap places with the present characters. The latter end up in the Justice League’s old satellite, promptly utilizing its teleportation device to minimize interference with the timeline. They transport themselves to the Batcave, where they run into Alfred. Upon seeing his guardian alive, Batman is visibly moved, and Superman cautions them about revealing too much about this Alfred’s future. Nightwing swiftly steps in to distract Alfred from noticing Batman’s reaction. Superman hastily pulls Batman aside, explaining that they are on a time travel mission and will explain later. Batman, known for his emotional reserve, struggles to maintain composure upon seeing Alfred. If it weren’t for the quick thinking of Superman and Nightwing, Batman might have shown even more emotion.

The Loss of Alfred Will Always Haunt Batman

The demise of Alfred left fans stunned. Among all characters, it was believed that Alfred would forever remain a fixture in Batman’s life. Ever since the tragic night when the Waynes were slain, Alfred had served as a surrogate father to Batman. Their bond has come to embody a crucial aspect of the Batman legend. Alfred played an integral role in sustaining Batman physically, maintaining the manor impeccably clean, mending his wounds, and essentially keeping the home environment stable. It was inconceivable that Alfred would meet his end in “City of Bane”; such a turn of events likely caused many fans to gasp aloud — a testament to the power of comic books’ cliffhangers. The absence of this character has been deeply felt, not only within the storyline but also by fans everywhere.

In World’s Finest #39, encountering Alfred was not at all on Batman’s radar. Superman and Nightwing were instrumental in preventing Batman from slipping up, as it’s likely he would have done something that might have raised Alfred’s suspicions. There was even a possibility that Batman could have revealed his secret to Alfred. Fortunately, this didn’t transpire, but the sorrow of that moment lingered deeply within Batman for a prolonged period.

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #39 is on sale now.

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2025-05-25 00:17