Batman: Pennyworth RIP #1: Death in the Family

This issue is constructed as a series of vignettes as the Bat Family mourns the tragic loss of Alfred. Each member gets their moment in the spotlight to highlight a tale of Alfred’s undying devotion to the family but the question that hangs over this issue like a spectre is “where do we go from here?”

There are certain moments in Bat History that will remain seared into the memories of readers. The death of Jason Todd, the brutality of The Killing Joke, the breaking of the Bat, and many, many more. The death of Alfred Pennyworth will certainly join those moments as one fans will revisit for years to come, even if it doesn’t last. While many fans lament what they feel are numerous missteps in the Tom King run on Batman, when he announced that he was going to do something that would shape a new era for Batman, he wasn’t lying. Although new evidence suggests that his intent was to save Alfred until powers-that-be told him to go ahead and kill the character, there is no denying that the impact of the death rocked the comics community.

What we see in this issue is the aftermath, beautifully executed by the current Bat-writers (Tynion IV and Tomasi) with a murderer’s row of artists. Each story told highlights not only the how crucial Alfred has been over the decades in shaping the younger members of the family but also how vulnerable Bruce is without the strong foundation that was Alfred. The emotional impact of this issue is very real as we examine the potential fall of Bruce’s support structure. Without Alfred, can the family retain any sense of cohesiveness? With rumors swirling in the ether of a new Batman wearing the cowl, there is a true sense that perhaps they cannot.

I don’t know what the future will bring but in the present, this issue is the sendoff that Alfred deserves and for now, that will have to be good enough.