All-Star Batman: Snyder Explains Alfred’s Betrayal

Scott Snyder explains that Alfred was like a father trying to protect his son in All-Star Batman

In the initial arc of All-Star Batman, Batman is trying to rid the world of Two-Face. Not Harvey Dent mind you, just his much more violent personality of Two-Face. But apparently Two-Face has dirt on everybody and uses that to turn on a whole bunch of people, including the average ordinary citizens Batman risks his life protecting, on the caped crusader.

But the most shocking betrayal of all in the arc was easily Bruce Wayne’s loyal mentor and father figure, Alfred Pennyworth. I mean, is there anyone who’s loyalty is more unwavering than Alfred? He’s like the standard. But as Scott Snyder explains, Alfred’s betrayal of Batman in All-Star Batman is that of a father who’s son is ding something dangerous and life-risking he doesn’t really approve of:

"That’s the thing about Alfred. I think I relate to him almost more than I relate to any other character in the mythology sometimes. He is a father whose son does something that he doesn’t want him to do, but respects tremendously. He’s like an Army dad or the father of a police officer, where he admires what his son does.But he fears for him every time he steps out the door. And I think here, that love gets the best of him, and ultimately, he winds up doing the wrong thing to protect Bruce.It’s a forgivable sin, but I think the thing that he’s trying to say here is, there is some part of him that always wants to weigh Batman down, and wants Bruce just to be Bruce. And I think some of the stuff that he does here, whether subliminally or not, speaks to those urges."

Next: Scott Snyder Teases Next All-Star Batman Arc

You can read the rest of the interview over at Newsarama, where Snyder goes into very spoilery detail about the end of the current arc and talks about where the series is heading next. All-Star Batman #5 is available now.