The resurrection of Alfred Pennyworth: when and how?

[Buried Alien]

If even Jason Todd could return from the dead, then it seems unlikely that Alfred Pennyworth, one of the most beloved characters in the BATMAN mythos, won't eventually be resurrected and reclaim his place as Batman's faithful confidante. When and how do you expect this to happen?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Frontier]

Now that 5G has shifted towards Future State, I think bringing back Alfred has become more of a when than an if.

Considering how critical Tynion has been of how King handled it, I wonder if he'd end his run with bringing Alfred back.

[lemonpeace]

nah, let that man rest in peace for a good minute; if not indefinitely then at least as long as Jason was gone. I am tired of resurrections (there is probably an earlier fan version of me that's so disappointed right now), so it would make it feel less cheap the longer it sticks. I don't care much as to how it went down but it happened and it should/could have compelling consequences, so let's pull that narrative thread for a while.

[LordMikel]

I could see a Robot Alfred. Otherwise I would think clone. A temporal distortion would work as well.

[Tzigone]

I could see a Robot Alfred. Otherwise I would think clone. A temporal distortion would work as well.

I once, rather jokingly, said Bruce replaced real Alfred with an Alfred clone (that possessed two hands). I swear, though, at this point I wouldn't be that surprised if they actually did have Bruce replace Alfred with a clone-with-Alfred's-memories because of how emotionally messed up Bruce is written these days, and their unhealthy relationship dynamic. Though I still think the more likely course would bring him back and only later reveal he's a clone. Most likely, though are deal-with-devil (or tricking the devil) to get him back or a revelation that they were deceived on his death.

I guess there's something to be said by taking a badly handled death sequence and trying to make the most of it.

There is. I mean, we already have plenty of angst and pain, but more can always be added. I wouldn't mind addressing Alfred's enabling of Bruce, but I feel like that might be too much treated like attacking someone who can't fight back (because he's dead), and might bring back too many memories of the victim-blaming we had after Jason's death. And Alfred is more beloved by the fans than Jason was then. Anyway, we've seen some good stories and character directions come out of (what I think were) poor creative decisions in the past, so it could certainly happen again.

[Frontier]

That reminds me of that first New 52 issue of 'Tec where it seemed like Tony Daniel was setting up Alfred to be an AI in the Batcave.

[cc008]

I could see a Robot Alfred. Otherwise I would think clone. A temporal distortion would work as well.

A.I. Alfred a la JARVIS?

[LordMikel]

A.I. Alfred a la JARVIS?

Honestly, more Rosie the Robot.

[Frontier]

nah, let that man rest in peace for a good minute; if not indefinitely then at least as long as Jason was gone. I am tired of resurrections (there is probably an earlier fan version of me that's so disappointed right now), so it would make it feel less cheap the longer it sticks. I don't care much as to how it went down but it happened and it should/could have compelling consequences, so let's pull that narrative thread for a while.

Might depend on how long Tynion sticks around.

I guess there's something to be said by taking a badly handled death sequence and trying to make the most of it.

[K. Jones]

Now that 5G has shifted towards Future State, I think bringing back Alfred has become more of a when than an if.

Considering how critical Tynion has been of how King handled it, I wonder if he'd end his run with bringing Alfred back.

Here's the how.

It's terrible.

Not so long ago, just prior to METAL, Snyder introduces a dumb idea of a young clone of Alfred that wears a dumb armored up Snake-Eyes combat suit and isn't mindless but is, let's be honest, virtually mindless, a puppet with like no identity other than "Some guy sends it to kill people".

Joker just nanite exhumed and defiled Alfred's body but we have no idea what the brain condition is. And in DEATH METAL Batman has a Black Lantern Ring and an Alt-Bruce Wayne was just doing brain swaps.

So like ... Batman uses the Black Lantern Ring to revive Real Alfred's brain and place it in Clone Alfred's body and we never speak of this again.

Or you know ... LAZARUS PIT.

[The no face guy]

If even Jason Todd could return from the dead, then it seems unlikely that Alfred Pennyworth, one of the most beloved characters in the BATMAN mythos, won't eventually be resurrected and reclaim his place as Batman's faithful confidante. When and how do you expect this to happen?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Next timeline reboot I imagine, unless they can think of some creative trickery to bring him back. The sooner the better in my opinion.

[MajorHoy]

From October of 2020:

If even Jason Todd could return from the dead, then it seems unlikely that Alfred Pennyworth, one of the most beloved characters in the BATMAN mythos, won't eventually be resurrected and reclaim his place as Batman's faithful confidante. When and how do you expect this to happen?

January 2022: Still waiting . . .

[Darkspellmaster]

Out of curiosity, could they pull the whole actor playing Alfred died and turns ot he's still alive ala the whole clone saga situation with Aunt May.

[exile001]

Out of curiosity, could they pull the whole actor playing Alfred died and turns ot he's still alive ala the whole clone saga situation with Aunt May.

Have you read the original Outsider saga? It's even more batshit insane than that! Evil Alfred could turn Robin into a coffin with his mind!

At least there was genuine effort, though, unlike May's "resurrection" of being hidden in a mansion by a "dead" supervillain and unable to communicate or leave because... reasons. Probably a coma.

The Batman mythos has Lazerus Pits and, at a push, various Clayfaces. it'll be hopefully that. They're the least worst options.

[Superboy-Prime]

Keep the butler in his grave.