Alfred Pennyworth
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Real Identity: Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth
Appearances (Movies): Merry Little Batman
Appearances (Comics): Little Batman: Month One (Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, and Chapter 4)
Appearances (Bat-Fam): Game Knight, Bat Trip, 90 is the New 80, All In A Bat's Day's Work, A Knight at the Movies, The Art of Claire, ManBatMan, Interview With a Batman, April Fools Part 1, and April Fools Part 2
Powers/Skills: Butlery
Voiced By: James Cromwell
Alfred Pennyworth is still the butler and fatherly figure of Wayne Manor. At 100, this centenarian may wobble and not see-hear-smell-or-taste so well anymore, but he refuses to slow down. Though his voice tells on his age, Alfred still speaks with his best King's English possible ... with or without his clacking dentures.
On New Years' Eve, Pennyworth finished tailoring a dress suit for Damian to wear at the party at Wayne Manor. However, there was a creepy series of knocks at the front door that stopped the party in its tracks. Pennyworth found it peculiar since all the guests were accounted for. Bruce Wayne advised him to stay back and make sure Damian was safe while he checked it out. Scarecrow blew up the door and took Wayne hostage. Pennyworth held onto Damian. Wayne promised he had things under control. On January 1st, Pennyworth brought sandwiches to Damian in his bedroom and inquired about his investigation. Damian admitted he still didn't understand why his dad didn't beat up Scarecrow at the party. Pennyworth tried to explain it would risk exposing his secret identity and by extension put him in danger. Damian wished they could both be Batman all the time. Damian fantasized about being Batman all the time with his father.
Pennyworth told him his dad also struggled with both of his personas but he realized that sometimes being yourself can be just as powerful as being Batman. Damian countered dad was awesome and he was just Damian. Pennyworth believed he was the bee's knees. Damian thanked him and they hugged. Someone rang the front door bell. They both went to investigate and it was Marion. She introduced herself and revealed she was Damian's babysitter. In the kitchen, Damian speculated Marion was a test his father was giving to prove he didn't need a sitter. Pennyworth believed he just wanted Damian to have a normal life. He was, however, annoyed Marion was rearranging his cupboards. Pennyworth refused to condone Damian taking matters into his own hands and believed his dad would save himself. Marion entered with a broom and asked Damian how his science project was coming. Damian grumbled something. She revealed she was thinking about making her world-famous meatloaf. Pennyworth protested he made mincemeat pies on Tuesdays and suggested letting Damian choose. He realized Damian was gone.
Alfred Pennyworth answered the phone in the kitchen and was elated to hear Bruce Wayne's voice. Wayne dropped back down into his enclosure and confirmed he was fine then commented the sad state of security. Pennyworth was relieved and asked if they should be expecting him home soon. Wayne believed the best way to stop Scarecrow was staying put. He wanted to talk to Damian and make sure he didn't come to rescue him. Marion moved a chair in search of Damian. Pennyworth informed Wayne it would be a bit difficult to do so. Marion looked inside the oven in vain. Pennyworth noted Damian could be quite cunning. Marion blamed herself for giving him homework over winter break. Pennyworth told her not to take it personally. She thought Wayne was going to kill her. Pennyworth tried to fire her but she left to go search for Damian in the city. They left in separate cars to go look for Damian. Pennyworth hoped he was staying out of trouble. Pennyworth drove by an intimidating trio and wondered where Damian went.
Alfred Pennyworth returned to Wayne Manor some time later and called the Gotham Police. He listened to a recording advising him to hang up and dial 9-1-1 if the call was an emergency or wait for Batman. Commissioner Gordon answered the phone. Pennyworth was relieved and asked if he had seen or heard from Damian Wayne. Gordon recalled they had him in custody a bit ago but his babysitter just picked him up. Pennyworth was elated at Bruce and Damian's return and revealed he figured out Marion was Lynx and was working with Scarecrow the whole time in a plot to release Fear Toxin using the abandoned wastewater facility. They laughed and explained they knew it already. Wayne originally knew Marion was evil because she failed every background check but he thought it would be a good test for Damian to practice his detective skills. He admitted he didn't expect a whole plot with Scarecrow and things got way out of hand. Damian pointed out Pennyworth was the one who got to practice his skills. They settled down and watched the Blood Crunch movie. Bruce relaxed and remarked this was the life. Pennyworth agreed.
In the fall, a week after Claire Selton moved into Wayne Manor, Bruce and (mostly) Alfred finished decorating for game night. Bruce felt it would be a great way to welcome all the new members of the family. Bruce prepared a tight schedule. They overheard Claire yelling at Damian. Bruce hoped Claire felt more at home already but Alfred reminded him it had only been a week since she moved in and she wasn't the first troubled youth they took in. Bruce patted out a flame that hit a door. He broke them up and asked Damian what they said about bothering Claire then asked Claire what he told her about fire balls in the house. Alfred pointed out there was no harm done. He had no idea the back of his suit jacket was on fire. Bruce put it out but it burned through his jacket and pants, revealing his underwear styled after the British flag. Alfred excused himself to check the rump roast in the oven. Alicia Pennyworth triggered the security system trying to enter the manor through the kitchen and was trapped in a laser grid cage. Bruce lowered the cage and she gave him a big hug, revealing she wanted to get an early start to moving in. Alicia ran off to hug her uncle Alfred and carried him off. Bruce cautioned her Alfred wasn't the same spry 70-year-old he used to be.
Bruce and Alfred got the food for game night ready. Bruce didn't think Alicia changed that much since they were kids. Alfred believed they shared the same Pennyworth spirit and pertinacity. He went to the walk-in pantry and was startled to see Man-Bat helping himself to the olives. Bruce asked if they were okay. Alfred declared they had plenty of olives. Bruce clarified he meant Alicia living at the manor. Alfred presumed he meant he was worried she might learn a certain secret of his. Man-Bat agreed. Bruce thought it was hard enough juggling Damian, his training, and Claire. Alfred asked if he was concerned she would cause chaos. Bruce thought low key havoc. Man-Bat warned him. Bruce thought that sometimes her band of adventurous Pennyworth spirit tended to disrupt order. He saw the time and realized he needed to re-calibrate the blow holes on the air hockey table. Alfred went to see to the matter and joked it would be a travesty if Alicia were to make their home less orderly. Man-Bat told Bruce Alfred was being facetious. Bruce knew that.
During a game of paint ball, Bruce and Alicia ambushed Alfred from behind. During basketball, Alfred, Selina, and Alicia felt bad at the sight of Damian and Claire so listless. Alicia got Bruce's attention and asked him to deviate from his plan a little just this once. Bruce felt bad and asked the kids what they were choosing next to play. Claire perked up and picked hot potato with a green sphere. They grilled Alicia with specific questions but it was revealed she was a counselor for ex-supervillains and not a supervillain herself like they suspected. Damian lied he was acting alone while holding the sphere and a giant demon named Skaratata emerged from it demanding the liar. Alfred volunteered to go call for help with Alicia. Alicia wanted to try compassionate discourse first. She told him she empathized with his anger. He demanded his liar and breathed green flames. Alicia asked Alfred where he said the phone was. Skaratata stomped the floor. Alicia suddenly performed a jump flip, scooped up Alfred holding Selina, and landed safely away from the flying debri. Alfred told her not to be afraid. She ran off with them in tow. The others re-imprisoned the demon and the clean up commenced.
Alfred Pennyworth, Little Batman, and Ra's al Ghul played in Wayne Manor. Pennyworth was dressed as Robin and Ra's shapeshifted to look like the Joker. Ra's cheated and flew over the trap net. Little Batman and Robin ended up in the net. Little Batman called no fair since the real Joker didn't fly but Ra's thought it was unfair he couldn't kill Robin and phased through the ceiling. Pennyworth had to do his chores next, including running a diagnostic on the Exo-Bat suit, an experimental, highly dangerous, weaponized armor. Little Batman asked if he could help. Pennyworth suggested he might but first he had to get out of the tights then make lunch. The chandelier holding the net fell from the ceiling. Pennyworth asked him if he would like to eat a grilled cheese sandwich. He noticed Alicia was in an especially chipper mood. She revealed he gave herself the day off then she drank from the pickle jar. She was shocked to see him multi-tasking making grill cheese for Damian, Beef Wellington for Bruce, Salsa crabcakes for Claire, raw eggs cooked at room temperature for Man-Bat, and quail l'orange for Ra's al Ghul. Ra's wanted the quail to be alive and called no fair. He unsuccessfully phased through the ceiling with it and called no fair.
Alicia was concerned he made all that lunch every day. Alfred claimed it made him happy. Bruce pointed out how much Alfred loved fawning over them. She countered that was when they were five and even now Alfred waited in him hand and foot figuratively and literally. Claire pointed out she only recently started taking advantage of him. She asked for more "red sauce." Damian didn't think anyone took advantage of Alfred then asked for a glass of milk. Alfred excused himself to go turn over the beds. He teased he was using a new detergent with a scent that rhymed with "mavender." Alicia thought he must want to do something for himself. He thought about it. Bruce boasted he spent every day with Alfred so he would know what he wanted to do. Alfred settled on a family picnic but Alicia interpreted what Bruce said as she didn't know her own uncle. He denied it but noted she hasn't been around as much. Damian and Claire recognized it was getting awkward and left to watch television. Man-Bat stayed to keep watching the argument.
Alicia suggested an "Alfred Fun Day." She suggested snorkeling, mechanical bull riding, or skydiving. Since he was 90, Bruce suggested shuffleboard, bingo, or gardening. They didn't listen to what Alfred wanted to do. Bruce and Alicia continued to argue in the car and Alfred could not get a word in. Alfred tried to reason with them but they made it into a competition. Bruce took him a seniors only session at an in-door swimming pool, Alicia took him on a jet ski. Bruce took him bird watching, Alicia took him down a zip line. Bruce took him for ice cream cones and pushed him on a swing, Alicia took him to a rock concert going on at The Bloody Barrel Bar. Bruce was angry Alicia chose axe throwing so she turned to see what he wanted to do next and realized they lost Alfred. Alfred sat at booth in the bar. A group of bikers entered the bar and asked him if he was looking for the bingo hall. The gang of bikers who befriended Alfred at a bar dropped him off at Wayne Manor. He thanked Gutter Slug and promised to send him his Quiche Lorraine recipe ASAP. She reminded him bingo was on Tuesday nights at The Bloody Barrel.
Alfred sat down in the kitchen and mused fun could be so exhausting. Little Batman told him to suit up so they could end the Hatters' reign of terror. Alfred suggested alerting Batman. Little Batman revealed he wasn't picking up. Alfred told Little Batman he could hardly move his old bones. Little Batman convinced him to use the Exo-Bat to do all his bone-moving for him. Pennyworth found the controls complex but Little Batman promised to take it slow. Alfred left a note saying he and Damian were running an errand. They flew to Gotham City. Little Batman and Exo-Bat observed Mad and Sad Hatter looking for something in the Wayne Enterprises Storage Facility #2. Little Batman was ready to make a cool entrance but Pennyworth checked his gauntlet and revealed Batman had been alerted and was on his way. Little Batman countered the Hatters might get away and pointed out they had Exo-Bat's assault mode then pressed the center button on Exo-Bat's chest. Various weapons activated and Pennyworth fell through the skylight.
Mad Hatter tied up Exo-Bat and Little Batman and prepared to feed them to a chipper. Batman arrived and saved them but he fell under Mad Hatter's mind control and fought the mysterious Bright who also arrived in search of something. Mad Hatter ordered Batman to destroy his Bat-friends. Pennyworth realized his weakness was his inability to tell those he loved "no." Little Batman admitted his was not hearing "no" and he could be more patient. Bright was thrown into a wall. Alfred stood up to Batman and stated "no" which seemed to temporarily mess with Hatter's mind control. He reached for the Exo-Bat helmet. Pennyworth told Batman he loved him and would care for him and their family until his final days. Hatter realized he was intensifying Batman's willpower and breaking the neuro-hypnotic hold he had. Pennyworth promised not to hold his tongue anymore, exited the Exo-Bat, took Batman's hands and told him that was enough. Batman broke Hatter's hold but both Hatters got away.
Bruce and Alicia apologized to Alfred and had a do-over fun day. The family went on a breakfast picnic. Alicia promised they would do a better job of listening to what he wanted. Alfred promised to do a better job of speaking up. Ra's asked Alfred for a muffin. Alfred told him "no" and everyone but Ra's laughed. Still the villain, Ra's played a trick on Alfred and switched out a box of sugar for a box of salt behind Alfred's back. However, it backfired and Alfred liked salt in his tea. Alfred and Alicia tried to warn Bruce it wasn't going to be easy to impress Claire on Go To Work With a Grown Up Day because she was... a tween. Alfred picked up Selina and told her she could help pack Bruce's lunchbox. He added some salt to his tea to Bruce's surprise. Alfred called it a little trick he learned from an old friend. An angry Ra's could be heard cursing his name.
For family movie night, Damian was aghast the only movie he could see was "A Baby Movie." Bruce pointed out he liked the meme. Damian countered the meme was 30 seconds long. He wondered how they made a whole movie out of babies just laughing. Alfred proposed Damian was ready for more sophisticated cinema fare. He was going to go see "Le Pain Leve Aussi" (or "The Bread Also Rises"). Alfred revealed he baked the same baguette the main characters make after their first kiss in the bakery and was sneaking it into the theater in his suit jacket sleeve. Damian advised Alfred not to take it the wrong way then reacted "Bleh!" Alfred thought he was alone and took out his baguette but Commissioner Gordon came in and joked about taking him downtown over outside food then sternly pointed out it would be a violation of theater regulations. Alfred was surprised Gordon was a fan, too. He told Alfred he was in the mood for a good ol' action movie. Gordon misread the movie title as "Lee Pain Leaves Ausie" and thought it was about an action star leaving Australia... in pieces. Alfred tried to correct him but the movie started.
Gordon was in tears wondering why the other characters couldn't see that Lee Pain just wanted to be loved. Alfred offered him a handkerchief and patted him on the shoulder. He tried to sneak a bite of his baguette but Gordon reminded him about the no outside food rule. Claire and Damian were surprised to see Alfred leaving his movie with Commissioner Gordon. Gordon told himself to keep it together. Before Claire could finish asking him how the movie was, he started crying again. Damian suggested taking him to the baby movie. Alicia drove Alfred, Claire, and Damian home. She confirmed Bruce told her he had a work emergency. He asked her if he said anything else. Claire wondered why the babies didn't just tell the Wumplets that they had the Giggle Gem and wrote it off as a major plot hole. Alicia told her sometimes friends keep secrets. Alfred noted Phillipe 'Le Pain wrestled over sharing his coveted baguette recipe with Jaques. He and Claire agreed that was noice. Alfred added when Phillipe finally did open up, Jaques was moved by the trust his friend showed him because it took courage to lay his secret bare, even to his closest companion. Damian asked Alicia if she agreed sharing secrets brought friends closer.
Damian got a signal from Batman and he asked Alicia to drop him off at the old drive-in where Bruce thinks Damian left his bat after they played baseball there. Claire told him not to wink wink so much and realized he told Alicia he's Batman to their dismay. Damian claimed she was family and people they care about deserve to know the truth. Alicia couldn't take anymore and did a hard brake, then told them she was the mysterious Bright figure seen searching Wayne Enterprises warehouses. Movie night resumed at Wayne Manor. Alicia apologized to Alfred about her secret as Bright. Alfred told her it was all right, and after keeping his share of secrets all these years, nothing surprised him anymore. Alfred has his own surprise and played "La Mousse Pousse Lentement" (or "The Moss Grows Slowly") then offered everyone baguettes. Bruce asked why Commissioner Gordon was present.
During breakfast one morning, Alfred worried coffee would stunt Claire's growth and gave her a flask filled with hot cocoa instead. She remarked a pound of sugar mixed with chocolate was cool and declared she now had diabetes. Alfred mused no good deed goes unpunished. Damian looked for someone else to be his partner for his GokiFluff card case to prove to Bruce he was a good partner. He went to Alfred in the kitchen but Alfred turned him down, recalling the lesson he learned about saying no. Later that day, Man-Bat found both a pea and raisin that looked like Alfred. Vicki Vale visited Wayne Manor to interview Bruce and the family for a piece on TV. Claire felt they should decide how the world sees them. Bruce replied they can and gave her the choice of what she wanted to play on the violin. She asked to play thrash metal. Bruce suggested Paganini. Claire replied Paga-nuh-uh. Alfred admitted he thought she was going to burn the violin but was amused he burnt Bruce with her words. Bruce couldn't get Damian's hair to stay down and asked Alfred to get the glue.
Alfred asked if he should add five new settings to the dinner table now that E*Vil was crashing at the manor. He showed Vicki the walk-in pantry. King Tut was inside and dropped several bottles. It splashed all over everyone. Alicia had Bruce roleplay as Batman for the therapy session. E*Vil unloaded. Alfred called his beard ridiculous and apologized for getting caught up. Tut accidentally freed Skaratata from his imprisoning sphere. Alfred moved Vicki and the camera man along to his French garden but they caught most of the battle. From the Batcave, Alfred informed Batman he located the server Mr. Freeze is after and directed him to the basement. Batman believed the data in the server would help them locate the AntiGlow and used a jump drive. Alfred inserted Batman's jump drive into the tracking device. Damian did a cannonball into the in-door pool. He counted three flips but Claire told him Alfred still held the record with five on his last turn.
Alfred told Alicia and Bruce quietly that the updates to the tracker worked and they had the AntiGlow's precise location. Claire noticed them talking. Alfred added it was on the move. Bruce wanted to slip away but he saw the Bat-Signal was being projected. Ra's demonstrated infinite somersaults. Man-Bat informed Ra's they all left but he was still there. He fell in the pool. Alfred shook his head slowly in disappointment. Alfred ironed in the manor while Batman talked to him from the Batcave. Batman determined King Tut was brainwashed with some sort of hypnotic light. Batman clarified to Alfred it was a photo-impositional suggestion, a type of mind-control that uses lightwaves to manipulate the mind, but only if the victim is angry enough. Bright didn't think it was a coincidence Tut went rogue and the moment they were closing in on the AntiGlow. Alfred speculated Tut was used as a distraction.
Batman and Bright left in the Batjet and tracked the AntiGlow. Bright couldn't wait to tell Damian but agreed he made the right call but could have been more upfront with him. Batman asked what she was talking about. Alfred noted Damian was quite chuffed that he got entrusted with his own mission to lead. Batman was proud of him and really did trust him. Alfred asked how he would feel if he learned he were on a decoy mission while Batman went on the real mission without him. Batman stated they were closing in on the target. In the Batcave, Alfred told Batman the AntiGow was 1,000 meters away and began to countdown but Batman told him it was okay, they had a visual. The AntiGlow was on the eagle at the Statue of Justice. Alfred was relieved as counting backwards wasn't as easy as it used to be. Little Batman and Claire were behind him. He hid the screen and apologized, he was not at liberty to divulge what was about to be finished up. Little Batman told him he gave him no other choice. Claire nodded in approval. Little Batman took his cowl off and presented the cute face. Alfred shouted no in agony.
Batman ran a diagnostic scan on the AntiGlow but Damian and Claire were in the Batcave, too. Bright and Alfred gestured to him to stop lying. Bruce realized Alfred told Damian and Claire about the AntiGlow. He implored Damian to be mad and yell at him. Damian didn't say word and walked away. Alfred and Alicia returned to the Batcave to check on Batman. He wasn't any closer to figuring out who the mastermind was. Alfred asked him if he was okay about Damian. Batman was troubled with the number of unanswered questions. He noticed it was April 1st. The next morning, Damian was absent from breakfast. Alfred dozed off after a long night. Batman promised he would find Damian. Alicia was unable to trace the location of Joker's broadcast. Ra's believed Damian was just waiting until the Joker's not looking then he would strap him into a dentist chair and give him a root canal with no anesthetic. Alfred agreed with Ra's, except for the last part. Batman told everyone that if Joker can make people angry enough and use AntiGlow from a high enough altitude, he can mind control the whole city. Claire pointed out they didn't have enough Bat-Lightwave Blocker for everyone in the city during the 24-Hour Prank-A-Thon.
Alfred thought it was Joker's deadliest scheme yet. Batman noticed the trace was 95 percent done and told everyone else it should finish within the hour then suggested going upstairs for a break. Batman told them he couldn't let anymore more of them get hurt and sealed them out of the Batcave. Alfred realized Batman initiated lockdown protocol, making the Batcave inaccessible to anyone. Alfred deduced Batman was just protecting his family and told the others the Batcave was nearly impenetrable. He checked the blueprints and remembered if they could access utility tunnel 9A, they could get into the Batcave. Claire was surprised Bruce didn't know about it. Alfred boasted Bruce wasn't the only one who was good at keeping secrets. Man-Bat agreed and recalled Alfred never told anybody he accidentally knocked Ra's toothbrush into the toilet. Ra's kicked himself and knew it tasted funny. The family climbed down the cliff side to a drainage tunnel. Alfred unlocked the gate. Man-Bat grabbed a mace stuck in the ground and triggered a giant mace ball. It swung and hit Ra's.
Alicia almost tripped a laser and stepped over it right onto a pressure plate. The ground under them disintegrated and they fell into chest-deep water. Alfred pointed to a ventilation shaft. Claire grabbed a pipe and wedged it against the fan then stepped through. They followed. They exited into the elevator shaft and entered the Batcave. Alfred saw the trace was finished. Everyone suited up. Alfred donned the Exo-Bat. They headed to the old TV studio where Joker was. Alfred threw a punch at Joker but froze. Jr. was controlling the suit with a controller and made him dance. Joker credited Jr. with knowing everyone's weaknesses. Joker promised to not only bring crime back but also turn every single one of Gotham's citizens into criminals. Batman got free and untied Bright and Volcana but Joker triggered the trap door under them. They landed in a giant prank gauntlet surrounded by an acid moat. Joker then declared it was time for the elimination round with all of Gotham's favorite villains: Solomon Grundy, Livewire, Mad Hatter, and Killer Croc. Batman held Croc while Exo-Bat punched him.
Joker launched the Joker rocket with the AntiGlow. Ra's rolled into the acid. Alfred disingenuously called that a shame. Ra's rose up but was swept away by the rocket thrust. Exo-Bat punched Grundy. Bright dodged and Grundy was electrocuted by Livewire by mistake. Exo-Bat tackled her. She was about to zap him but a giant blade swung by. Livewire was crushed by the weight of the Exo-Suit as Alfred tried to dodge the brunt of the slice. Batman asked Jr. not to make Gotham pay for his mistake. Jr. asked him if he did make a mistake. Batman admitted to it. The rest of the Bat-Fam arrived. Jr. pointed out he didn't think he could handle the AntiGlow mission and he should have trusted that he could. Batman agreed. Jr. asked if he would trust him to handle it if he could go back in time. Batman stated he would. Jr. asked for the remote. Jr. proclaimed April Fools to his dad. Joker blew a raspberry at Batman. Jr. clarified he was talking to Joker. He pushed the button that caused the rocket to self-destruct. Batman fired a grapnel line and set Little Batman up with it.
Little Batman threw out a Batarang that destroyed the AntiGlow. Bright realized Little Batman was never hypnotized. Little Batman confirmed he play along to get Joker to trust him and admitted he was only disappointed but not actually mad, so the brainwashing didn't work. Batman secured Joker. Little Batman stated nothing in the world could stop him from loving his dad or anyone else in his family. Batman admitted he was fooled up until the final moment. Ra's realized he was right and rubbed it in Alfred's face. Alfred wanted to suck him back into the vacuum. Bright suggested adding a soundproof layer, so they didn't have to listen to him. Alfred called for an April Fool's celebration but they saw the Bat-Signal was activated and took off to respond to it. They cleaned up the Statue of Justice.