Alfred Pennyworth
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Real Identity: Alfred Pennyworth
Appearances (BTAC Comics): Hardware, Mentors Part 1, Mentors Part 2, The Darker Knight, Red Son Rising Part 1, Red Son Rising Part 2, Red Son Rising Part 3, Secret Santa, Court Fight Part Two, The Muscle, Mayor Mayhem Part One, Mayor Mayhem Part Two, Mayor Mayhem Part Three, Window Shopping, Muscle Out, Old Flames, Crack-Up! Part Two, and The Offer Part Two
Skills: Advice, Chauffeur, Espionage, Medic and Mechanic
Alfred Pennyworth persisted that Jason Todd wasn't ready to be Robin but Batman told him to drop it. Two hours later, Pennyworth presented an analysis of Todd's Robin costume found no trace of the toxin. Batman revealed the conducted the same test an hour ago and got the same result. Jason Todd heard everything and became enraged that no one trusted him from the start. He declared he was leaving and grabbed his Robin suit. Batman tried to go to him but Todd drop kicked him. Batman insisted he had to be sure for all their sakes. Todd told him he wouldn't have to worry anymore then left the Batcave with a Batcycle.
While Batman analyzed the Talon gauntlet, Deadman possessed Alfred Pennyworth so he could converse with Nightwing. He teased him about the "cute number" he saw him with at the circus the other night and was amused to learn she was Batgirl. Robin listened to Deadman's speech patterns and was convinced there really was a ghost present. Deadman went the extra mile and did a one handed hand stand then performed several flips in a row. Batman had enough and ordered Deadman to vacate Pennyworth's body. He complied but noted Pennyworth was spry for his age. Pennyworth had no recollection of what just happened but noticed the crick in his neck was gone. In vain, Deadman told him he could thank him later.
Pennyworth accompanied Bruce Wayne to a ceremony where Detective Montoya was awarded a police commendation for her part in breaking up a drug lab. He noted when Montoya dinged Batman in her speech. He informed Pennyworth he offered Montoya and her girlfriend Gloria Navarro a ride home. Pennyworth teased he was accomodating of his critics. Wayne stated he preferred to be around when the Muscle made his next attempt on her life and she did have a point. He was correct and Muscle attacked on the drive home. Pennyworth suffered only a bump on the head. Hours later, Wayne awoke in a room in the Gotham Hospital. He called out to Alfred Pennyworth but recoiled in pain. Pennyworth eased him back into his bed and explained he suffered a severe concussion and bullet wound in his shoulder. Wayne asked how he was. Montoya briefed him on what she knew about the Muscle then left abruptly after he called her with Navarro's phone. Wayne watched Montoya from his window and deduced Muscle got to her. He got dressed.
Pennyworth stressed his doctor said he needed rest. Wayne asked him how he got to the hospital. Pennyworth revealed he borrowed the Lamborghini since the limousine was totaled in the incident. Wayne ordered him to pick up him front. Pennyworth insisted things would not go well if the doctor saw him. Wayne retorted he wouldn't if he drove fast. Back at the Batcave, Batman and Pennyworth used a satellite to track down Renee Montoya's squad car. Pennyworth noted she was driving in circles. Batman explained it was to throw off anyone following her and continued to suit up. Pennyworth pointed out that he wouldn't lift his injured arm even with a power brace equipped and inquired how he would drive. Batman tossed him the Batmobile's button remote to his chagrin. En route to Haney and Aparo Street, Batman told Pennyworth to speed up. He found it absurd and pointed out they were already hydroplaning through the downpour and mused one more jolt would put him in a full-body cast.
After the Muscle was defeated and Navarro was rescued, Wayne returned to his hospital room. Montoya was none the wiser and returned with Navarro. Navarro noted it was a shame Batman wasn't around when Wayne got shot. Pennyworth agreed but gathered Batman can't be everywhere. Batman gathered Pennyworth, Nightwing, Batgirl and Robin in the Batcave to tell them about his history with Emerson Mayfield and his true criminal nature. Summer Gleeson's interview with Mayfield played on the Batcomputer. He claimed he was returning to politics because he missed the city and the people. Pennyworth dryly noted he could almost hear the violins. Nightwing agreed. Robin and Batgirl were unaware of who he was. Pennyworth offered Batgirl some tea for the rather involved story about to be told. Pennyworth later recalled Batman moved rather too fast in his pursuit of Mayfield. Batman admitted as much and was teased by the others then he continued his story.
Pennyworth was perplexed with Emerson Mayfield's popularity in his campaign for mayor. He wondered how he could even attract enough people for a game of bridge after what he did 15 years ago. Wayne admitted he could really turn on the charm. Pennyworth noted that sounded like he was resigned to another Mayfield administration. Wayne decided to go to Mayfield's rally at the Iceberg Lounge. Pennyworth was aghast with the large crowds outside and compared it to the nonsense of the Oscars. Wayne directed him to drive to the back where Penguin kept a private entrance. While Wayne was inside, Pennyworth listened in on comms with the radio. He was surprised to hear Wayne tell the press he thought Mayfield was extraordinary. Wayne soon returned and told him to drive. Pennyworth noted his words sounded like an endorsement. Wayne claimed he got caught offguard and turned off his phone rather than talk to Hamilton Hill Junior. Pennyworth directed his attention to the Batsignal in the sky.
Batman worked into through the night into Election Day trying to figure out how to block Mad Hatter's encoded mind control signal. At 8:30, Pennyworth found him in the Batcave and informed him Hamilton Hill Jr. came for a visit and refused to leave until Wayne met with him. Hill's plans to have Wayne endorse him before reporters went to the wayside when news broke out Barbara Gordon claimed Hill hired her to sabotage Mayfield's campaign. Pennyworth offered him a cup of tea to go. Batman and Robin set off to find Mayfield. Batman told Pennyworth to notify Nightwing. Pennyworth went to the Batcave and eventually got a reading on the GPS on Barbara Gordon's phone and sent the coordinates to Batman and Nightwing. On Christmas Eve, Tim Drake went out for last minute shopping. Pennyworth suggested he wear a pair of long johns. Drake teased him about it. On Christmas, Pennyworth donned a Santa hat and learned he got a kettle based on Santa Claus. Drake admitted he knew he would be crazy about it. Pennyworth dryly quipped he had no idea then poured into Drake's mug.
On the night of March 28, Pennyworth asked Batman if he was taking part in the Muscle's transfer to a safe house. Batman admitted he was not invited officially. Pennyworth hoped for a safe passage, noting Muscle would be a powerful witness if all went well. Batman was more concerned about how a prison chaplain was able to convince Muscle to reconsider and accept the deal to testify against Esther Valestra. Pennyworth recalled the saying that Heavens can work miracles. Batman retorted that was not a thing in Gotham. Pennyworth escorted Wayne to his car after he said his goodbyes to Cassie Kendall. He thought it was wonderful to see her again. He admitted he thought Wayne and Kendall would have been an item before Andrea Beaumont came around. Wayne agreed she almost did but was distracted by a woman in a colorful jacket, Harley Quinn incognito, walking by. Just as they exited the Sorkin Arms, a masked kidnapper fell to his death and landed on top of Wayne's car. Pennyworth quipped fortunately his suit was in the trunk.
After Batman learned Kendall was dating Harleen Quinzel at the same time as Bruce Wayne, he conferred with Pennyworth who was in the Batcave. Batman noted Kendall never gave him any reason to think they weren't exclusive at the time. Pennyworth told him she wasn't to blame for wanting to see other people as that was part of finding out who one is. He informed Batman police had identified the masked kidnapper as Rusty Franks, a low-ranking henchman last in the employ of Two-Face. Batman noted Kendall's fortune was worth two hundred million dollars but the kidnapping didn't fit Two-Face's m.o. because of the grand scale. Robin watched Alfred Pennyworth patch up Batman in the Batcave and provided a pain-laden soundtrack. Pennyworth did not find it necessary. Robin noted those rubber bullets left some nasty bruises. Batman informed him not all of them were from bullets because his assailant had the strength of ten men at least thanks to an enhanced suit she was wearing under her costume.
Four months passed with no criminal activity. Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake went to a Wayne resort for some "family time" on Alfred Pennyworth's suggestion. Drake had no issue with kicking back but Wayne hated it. While Drake checked in with Pennyworth over the phone, Wayne replayed news footage of their last night on the town during the Man-Bat rampage. Drake admitted he wasn't holding his breath the cure would finally take with Dr. Langstrom then he tossed his phone to Wayne, telling him Pennyworth says to relax and enjoy his holiday. Wayne replied he hated holidays. Batman and Robin arrived from speaking with Poison Ivy and Dr. Francince Langstrom to see Pennyworth waiting for them with Ra's al Ghul and Ubu. They settled in the dining room in the manor. Pennyworth checked if the meal was to Ra's' liking. Ra's only asked for water since he took little nourishment anymore.