Follow

    Alfred Pennyworth

    Character » Alfred Pennyworth appears in 5533 issues.

    Alfred Pennyworth is Bruce Wayne's loyal father figure and butler. Alfred raised Bruce (and later Dick Grayson) after the death of the Waynes. A former British secret agent, Alfred is a skilled surgeon who often treats members of the Bat-Family.

    Off My Mind: What Makes Comic Book Servants So Loyal?

    Avatar image for gmanfromheck
    gmanfromheck

    42524

    Forum Posts

    259238

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 472

    User Lists: 2

    Edited By gmanfromheck

    Superheroes are constantly making sacrifices to help others. They often set aside their personal lives to protect the innocent. At least they get out of the house. What about those loyal servants that some superheroes are lucky to have. They spend most of their time cleaning the house or sewing holes in costumes. They don't get any of the spotlight. They don't get the praise and adoration of the public. What is it that drives these loyal servants to perform their duties without question?

    No Caption Provided
    Cleaning up after others isn't an easy or fun task. These guys have it worse than that. Not only does Alfred have to clean all of Wayne Manor, he also has to sew Bat-costumes and stitch up Batman when he's wounded. Wong must constantly be dusting the books in the library and imagine trying to remove foul odors from Dr. Strange's cloak of levitation after he travels through weird dimensions. And not only did Jarvis almost lose an eye after the Masters Of Evil beat him up, think about what he had to clean up during Tony Stark's drinking days.
     
    What makes these guys so loyal and prevents them from running out the door or spilling any secrets they've learned?
     == TEASER ==
    Simply put, these guys are true heroes. They may not have the superpowers or abilities that the superheroes have but many would be lost without them. Batman may be the world's greatest detective but how many times would he have died, bleeding in the Batcave if Alfred hadn't been there? (Yes I know you can usually just die one time...) Wong had been training to serve since he was four years old. Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum probably would have literally gone to hell (or some other strange dimension) if Wong hadn't been there. And why else would the Skrulls choose Jarvis to replace as a key part of their Secret Invasion
     
    They don't do what they do for the glory or for money. They do it because they are heroes. This is their way to do their part in saving the world. These brave folk give so much of themselves. They may not wear flashy skintight costumes but what they do is crucial. They understand that evil must be vanquished and this is the role they were destined to play. You will not find a more dedicated profession. These servants have already given up any semblance of a life they might have had. They will carry and protect the heroes' greatest secrets at all costs. Let's just hope they have a good retirement package, provided they survive until then.
    Avatar image for gmanfromheck
    gmanfromheck

    42524

    Forum Posts

    259238

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 472

    User Lists: 2

    #1  Edited By gmanfromheck

    And let's not forget about the messes Aunt May had to clean up before and after Peter became Spider-Man...

    No Caption Provided
    Avatar image for son_of_magnus
    Son_of_Magnus

    15463

    Forum Posts

    5517

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 5

    User Lists: 15

    #2  Edited By Son_of_Magnus

    I have always noticed a secret resentment from Alfred for Bruce's work the way he almost seems to jump for joy when Bruce stays home or tells one of the Robin's to go to bed. As well Alfred is more of a father than Thomas Wayne was Alfred did raise him. As for Wong he is trained from birth to give his life to the Sorcerer Supreme it is like a family thing that follows each generation his greatest honor is to serve, 

    Avatar image for blueninjapanther
    blueninjapanther

    783

    Forum Posts

    697

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #3  Edited By blueninjapanther

    Alfredis the most loyal servant
    Avatar image for timm
    Timm

    271

    Forum Posts

    282

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 11

    User Lists: 2

    #4  Edited By Timm

    i love your obsession with this (super hero servants in general) G-man.

    Avatar image for magian
    Magian

    159131

    Forum Posts

    925

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 4

    User Lists: 11

    #5  Edited By Magian

    As you said G-Man they are the true heroes. These servants are like family to those heroes for example Alfred, he raised Bruce, he is the father he never had, something that Bruce himself has said.
    Avatar image for foxxfireart
    FoxxFireArt

    3645

    Forum Posts

    336411

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 9

    User Lists: 2

    #6  Edited By FoxxFireArt

    Don't forget Alfred is also tending to all the gardening on the grounds of Wayne Manor. That's got to take a lot of time. It takes me thirty minutes just to mow my lawn. Imagine how long Wayne Manor would take. Unless it's AstroTurf. I kind of imagine a remote controlled lawn mower. Maybe something like a lawn moving version of a Roomba. lol

    @G-Man said:

    " And let's not forget about the messes Aunt May had to clean up before and after Peter became Spider-Man...

    No Caption Provided
    "
    There are soooo many jokes there that I need to just let go.
     
    You bring up a very valid point that the Skrulls replaced Jarvis. They went to a lot of trouble to replace him.
    Avatar image for captain13
    Captain13

    4814

    Forum Posts

    1020

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 3

    #7  Edited By Captain13

    Good job, G-man. These guys really deserve some credit.

    Avatar image for scarlett_swashbuckler
    Scarlett Swashbuckler

    15

    Forum Posts

    5

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    Passion and Believing in something is very powerful motivation!

    Avatar image for arrowfan237
    arrowfan237

    497

    Forum Posts

    4732

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 43

    #10  Edited By arrowfan237

    I agree.
    Avatar image for haloking343
    HaloKing343

    1355

    Forum Posts

    1751

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 91

    User Lists: 1

    #11  Edited By HaloKing343

    It's because these people believe in justice and the things that their "masters" stand for. Alfred is as much a hero as batman.
    Avatar image for jagged_glass
    jagged glass

    51

    Forum Posts

    309

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 1

    #12  Edited By jagged glass

    I have the warm fuzzies now... and I'm allergic!
    Avatar image for redhurricane24
    RedHurricane24

    284

    Forum Posts

    5844

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 38

    User Lists: 1

    #13  Edited By RedHurricane24

    Alfred Pennyworth is the pinnacle of loyalty, unabated and undeterred. His contributions, be it big or small, have helped the Batman family and his associates for long periods of time. And Bruce Wayne can acknowledge this as well, because if it wasn't for Alfred, would he make it out of a jam every now and then?
    Avatar image for mr_hulk_smashin__
    Mr.Hulk_Smashin'!

    2663

    Forum Posts

    9583

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 2

    @G-Man said:
    " And let's not forget about the messes Aunt May had to clean up before and after Peter became Spider-Man...

    No Caption Provided
    "
    James Cameron's Spider-Man, anyone?
    Avatar image for moomin123
    Moomin123

    2252

    Forum Posts

    2321

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 11

    User Lists: 3

    #15  Edited By Moomin123

    I think Alfred is so loyal because he empathised with Bruce Wayne after his parents got shot. But the others, I dunno. Perhaps they're just kind-hearted.
    Avatar image for darksyde79
    DarkSyde79

    214

    Forum Posts

    6

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #16  Edited By DarkSyde79

    There in their wills... :oP

    Avatar image for supremomaximo
    SupremoMaximo

    223

    Forum Posts

    2

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 6

    #17  Edited By SupremoMaximo

    Obviously they are LMDs.

    Avatar image for conformist21
    conformist21

    422

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #18  Edited By conformist21

    amazing pay with little benefits

    Avatar image for graphicly
    Graphicly

    52

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #19  Edited By Graphicly
    @aztek the lost said:
    "

    you forgot Humphries, Wesley Dodd's loyal servant who had to do the worst job of them all...try and keep a nosy girlfriend from unknowingly undoing Dodds while he was out at night as the Sandman

    "
    Poor Humphries.  I loved how often her conversation with him would start, "sorry for showing up so late." 
     
    I like to think that most of them do it for the greater good.  If they didn't step up and help all of these heroes, who will?  And in the case that no one does, how long will they last in their perspective roles.
    Avatar image for goldenkey
    goldenkey

    3033

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #20  Edited By goldenkey

    It's the cash.  That and Alfred and Jarvis more then likely get a whole lot of fall out pussy.  I bet you go into Jarvis and Alfreds person medicine cabinet and you find a whole bunch of roofy's.  Billionares aren't gonna let their butlers go to jail for nailing some chic that yells "RAPE" .  I mean why else would they be there if they weren't trying to see if they could get a little cash out of them anyway. 

    Avatar image for goldenkey
    goldenkey

    3033

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #21  Edited By goldenkey
    @G-Man said:
    "And let's not forget about the messes Aunt May had to clean up before and after Peter became Spider-Man...

     
     
    "

    classic,  this should have been your contest for fill in the word balloons and win a (something)
    Avatar image for silver2467
    Silver2467

    16759

    Forum Posts

    5315

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #22  Edited By Silver2467

    Great article, G-Man. I agree with everything you said. Sometimes the servants of the heroes play just as important a role. I can't imagine where BatMan would be if Alfred hadn't been there to stitch him up or encourage him to keep going when he's been down. Wong and Jarvis have been equally attentive. They do deserve respect and appreciation for what they do for their respective heroes. 

    Avatar image for jamdown
    jamdown

    301

    Forum Posts

    26

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 5

    #23  Edited By jamdown

    wow this was a good point
    Avatar image for dracade102
    Dracade102

    8452

    Forum Posts

    12995

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 8

    User Lists: -1

    #24  Edited By Dracade102
    @G-Man said:
    "And let's not forget about the messes Aunt May had to clean up before and after Peter became Spider-Man...

     
     
    "

    That looks really wrong.
    Avatar image for themess1428
    TheMess1428

    2211

    Forum Posts

    7470

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 4

    User Lists: 2

    #25  Edited By TheMess1428

    Everyone loves Alfred though. He may not get the recognition inside the comic book but he does from the readers.

    Avatar image for xerox_kitty
    xerox_kitty

    17342

    Forum Posts

    275139

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 15

    User Lists: 22

    #26  Edited By xerox_kitty

    Wong doesn't get enough praise :)  There was a nice touch in The Oath where Strange admitted that Wong was his Master (in Martial Arts ;)

    Avatar image for big
    Big

    329

    Forum Posts

    5

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #27  Edited By Big
    @Mr.Hulk_Smashin'!:
    That's puberty.
    Avatar image for big
    Big

    329

    Forum Posts

    5

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #28  Edited By Big

    It's all about the Benjamins, baby.

    Avatar image for waerloga69
    Waerloga69

    35

    Forum Posts

    86

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #29  Edited By Waerloga69

    I've always been curious who cleaned the Xavier's School...you know Logan had a few "accidents" since he probably isn't house trained

    Avatar image for madripooreconomy
    MadripoorEconomy

    60

    Forum Posts

    375

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 6

    #30  Edited By MadripoorEconomy
    @Waerloga69: 
     
    The New Mutants - that's who cleaned the school.
    Avatar image for waerloga69
    Waerloga69

    35

    Forum Posts

    86

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #31  Edited By Waerloga69
    @MadripoorEconomy:  Good point!
    Avatar image for elayem98
    elayem98

    486

    Forum Posts

    6

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #32  Edited By elayem98

    and dont forget, alfred loves bruce, because he is like his son

    Avatar image for blackestnight1
    Blackestnight1

    687

    Forum Posts

    1666

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 5

    #33  Edited By Blackestnight1

    Alfred is like a father.  Jarvis has almost quit before but I think he likes his dollar dollar bills (yo)
    Wong probably think if he doesn't help Strange and strange fails then we all fail.

    Avatar image for lp
    LP

    683

    Forum Posts

    6

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #34  Edited By LP

    Amen, they are true heroes indeed.
     
    To me, they're like the teachers, cops, detectives, nurses, social workers, janitors, repairmen, and trash collectors of the real world. No society could be sustained without them, yet they don't receiver nearly a 10th of the attention they deserve.

    Avatar image for joey_ravn
    Joey Ravn

    439

    Forum Posts

    278

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 1

    #35  Edited By Joey Ravn
    @Dracade102 said:

    " @G-Man said:

    "And let's not forget about the messes Aunt May had to clean up before and after Peter became Spider-Man...

    No Caption Provided
    "

    That looks really wrong. "
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsJ1PzIsFpE  
     
    00:38. STICKY! :P
    Avatar image for revelarts
    revelarts

    1

    Forum Posts

    5

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #36  Edited By revelarts

    How about the Richards, Fantastic Fours Baby sitter
    Agatha Harkness, lil franklin would have been been in a heap of trouble without her.

    Avatar image for sasarai
    sasarai

    212

    Forum Posts

    1370

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 16

    User Lists: 1

    #37  Edited By sasarai

    Alfred quit once (maybe twice I'm not sure) but only to teach bruce a lesson, which he never trully got lol. But I think Alfred is so loyal becuase bruce is pretty much his son and he understands the critical role he plays in the team.

    Avatar image for emperor_gonzo_noir
    Emperor Gonzo Noir

    19151

    Forum Posts

    1989

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 2

    User Lists: 17

    Job security 

    This edit will also create new pages on Comic Vine for:

    Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. Make sure this is what you intended. This will likely increase the time it takes for your changes to go live.

    Comment and Save

    Until you earn 1000 points all your submissions need to be vetted by other Comic Vine users. This process takes no more than a few hours and we'll send you an email once approved.