The Fascinating History of Batman's Batman
After decades of loyal service, Alfred Pennyworth is finally getting some time in the spotlight.
“Pennyworth,” a spy TV show about the early years of Batman’s longtime butler, premiered on Epix this past Sunday.
For Batman fans, it’s a bit frustrating that DC Comics insists on making Caped Crusader shows without the Caped Crusader. But for Alfred fans, it’s a most satisfying moment--proof that steadfast service can finally pay off.
It took 76 years, but Alfred grew from a foppish comic relief background character to an emotional core of perhaps the world’s most famous superhero franchise.
How Alfred evolved from Bruce Wayne's foil to his conscience is a fascinating look into how pop culture mythology evolves, organically covering gaps and healing its missteps with characters that develop minds of their own. But that evolution doesn't happen in a vacuum--in the Darwinian, publish-or-die world of monthly comics production the changes that stick almost always reflect something about the cultural psyche. Alfred didn't just survive, he was chosen.
With characteristic British efficiency, Alfred cuts to the core themes that draw people to Batman--wealth, loss, and family.
