It’s been around seven years since Batman: City of Bane, when Bane killed Alfred Pennyworth in front of Damian Wayne (Robin), and fans still aren’t over it. A lot of us have been waiting for a major event like a DC Comics Crisis for Alfred to make his return. Sadly, the closest comic book readers have gotten is whatever is going on with Bruce Wayne seeing his father figure in Matt Fraction’s Batman. Even that gave everyone hope that this was the next step in his return. Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
On the last page of Batman No. 11, a woman comes to the front door of Bruce’s house and rings the doorbell without him or Robin knowing. This should be impossible to do without alerting the dozens of warning systems. Yet, she did.
When the Dynamic Duo (cautiously) open the door, a woman introduces herself as Verity Pennyworth, the great-niece of Alfred Pennyworth. And, as she put it, Bruce’s new “Majordomo.” In the following issue, readers learn that the Bat Family is in good hands.
Bruce is talking to “Alfred” and trying to understand what’s going on. Alfred responds, saying all of this was explained in his last wishes that Bruce didn’t read. Nevertheless, all of Verity’s credentials checked out, and Damian quickly took to her. That was the first step to her finding her place with the Waynes. The second came when she used the dark web to set up two mercenaries to meet to make it easier for Batman to take them out. After that, Bruce and Damian agreed that she could stay.
Bruce is talking to “Alfred” and trying to understand what’s going on. Alfred responds, saying all of this was explained in his last wishes that Bruce didn’t read. Apparently, Verity is part of the Society of the Midnight Key. Alfred says as long as there have been people like Bruce, there have been people like him at their side.
Of course, Verity’s credentials checked out. What’s surprising is that Damian quickly took to her. That was the first step to her finding her place with the Waynes. The second came when she used the dark web to set up two mercenaries to meet to make it easier for Batman to take them out. After that, Bruce and Damian agreed that she could stay.
Verity Pennyworth is a good thing
I loved Alfred as much as the next person, but change is good. Throughout comic books, characters have died and stayed dead for a while. Sometimes they return, and their replacement remains. That could happen here, but it’s not necessary. New characters are frequently added to the Bat Family. Plus, it's not like Alfred is truly gone. Bruce is still seeing his ghost (or whatever is going on there).
Yes, Barbara Gordon does a nearly perfect job organizing the team as Oracle, but there are some things that someone like Alfred can do. And in a world full of new technology, slang, and more, having someone younger and in the now in the Bat Cave will be something crucial to the Dark Knight’s continued protection of Gotham City.
Lastly, if for no other reason, I have faith in Matt Fraction. He’s earned my trust from writing Sex Criminals, Hawkeye, and Uncanny X-Men. He’s also a co-creator of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. With that kind of resume and what he’s doing in this series, it’s easy to believe that creating Verity Pennyworth will become one of the best additions to a Batman comic.
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