Hey guys!
Welcome back to Top 10 Nerd, I’m Ron McKenzie-Lefurgey.
We’ve had, like, a million Alternate Batman lists, but poor Alfred has yet to see some
love!
But never fear, Ron is here to give the butler his moment in the sun.
Yes, I’m still obsessed with Galavant.
If you enjoy this, check out our Alternate versions of Batman lists!
Now get ready, it’s time for the
Top 10 Alternate Versions of Alfred Pennyworth!
Number 10: Golden Age Alfred.
If you never read the golden age comics, you will probably be shocked.
Because this is a very different Alfred.
Rather than the ever-stoic and helpful butler, Alfred was this chubby, bumbling detective
that kept screwing things up for Batman.
His last name wasn’t even Pennyworth!
It was Beagle!
Gross!
It wasn’t until 1944, after Alfred was portrayed as a thin moustached man in the Batman serial,
that he slimmed down in the comics.
And they actually explained it by sending him to a health spa and having him lose weight.
I’m not joking.
Fun fact, this version ended up being the Alfred from Earth 2.
Number 9: Alfred by Gaslight.
This Alfred isn’t super different from other versions, other than period appropriate facial
hair.
That was a Galavant reference but I couldn’t find the clip.
Any Galavant fans get that?
Anyone?
I’ll stop the references when I get a third season dangit!
Anyway, while this Alfred doesn’t look so different, he’s pretty badass.
After Bruce is framed as Jack the Ripper and sentenced to death, Alfred breaks him out
and takes his place in prison so Batman can go save the day.
Way to take one for the team.
Number 8: Dark Knight Returns Alfred.
The Alfred of Dark Knight Returns is a bit different, since both he and Bruce Wayne are
older in this story than most.
He’s still the same old Alfred, but now he’s the same OLD Alfred.
And as he gained age, he lost fucks to give.
I really like this version because his interactions with Bruce are just amazing.
It’s less like their usual boss/servant relationship, and more like two old farts
being hilariously sarcastic to each other.
It’s like Grace and Frankie Batman edition, and it’s awesome.
Get like…
Ian McKellen and Robert DeNiro and make it happen.
Number 7: Beware the Batman Alfred.
This version of Alfred is pretty much as different as you can get; this Alfred is swole.
He looks like Lex Luthor’s servant brother, and he can kick butt and take names when the
situation calls for it.
He used to be an MI6 agent, and uses his skills to train Bruce in combat himself.
This burly version of Alfred was fittingly voiced by JB Blanc, who also lends his voice
to another burly Batman character, Bane.
And he has one of my favourite Batman lines ever, which hopefully won’t sound Australian:
“Never sneak up on an old spy while he’s making a sandwich.”
I’m sure I messed that up.
Number 6: The Outsider.
This is one of the few evil versions of Alfred.
Way back in 1964, Alfred pushed Batman and Robin away from a falling boulder, but died
in the process.
When he was revived by Brandon Crawford, he was very different.
Suddenly he was totally white, had telekinetic powers, and wanted the kill the crap out of
the Batboys.
He kept messing with the guys from issue 329-356, using other people to do his bidding, before
being changed back to normal by the regeneration machine.
Number 5: The other Outsider.
Yep, in the New 52, Alfred broke bad once again.
The Alfred of Earth 3 helped Thomas Wayne Junior kill his parents, then served him as
he rose to become Owlman.
He became the Outsider after travelling to Earth Prime through a portal.
Here, he built a team of villains in order to get Pandora’s Box, so that he could bring
the Crime Syndicate to Earth Prime.
I’m not sure how I feel about these evil versions, on the one hand it’s cool knowing
that Alfred is completely loyal, but it’s kind of a bummer that he’s fine being evil
if his boss is evil.
Let me know what you think in the comments!
Number 4: Soldier Alfred.
Or should I say…
Sexy Alfred.
The Alfred from Earth-1 was a member of the Royal Marines, and met Thomas Wayne in the
Middle East.
Alfred saved Thomas’ life at the cost of his right leg, and was later named Bruce’s
guardian.
This Alfred is a lot gruffer than most, often telling Bruce that he should just shoot the
bad guys instead of using the gadgets.
And seriously, this looks like Alfred reimagined in that Daddy Simulator game, and…
I’m not mad at it.
I’m not mad at alllll.
Number 3: Young Alfred.
The recent All-Star Batman comics have really delved deeply into the relationship between
Bruce and Alfred.
We’re getting to see a new side to Alfred, with flashbacks to his younger days with MI5
and the Nemesis Program.
The younger Alfred that we see in these flashbacks is really great; sarcastic, adventurous, with
the same Devil-may care attitude we see in Bruce.
He really reminds me of Vlad Taltos from the Dragaera books, right down to the moustache.
I really dig young Alfred, but he isn’t QUITE as badass as…
Number 2: Dark Knight Alfred.
The Dark Knight was created to do what has to be done to protect the world, hated by
all while secretly defending the world from evil.
Alfred initially agreed to become this knight and wear the crown of thorns, but later changed
his mind when his boss Briar revealed that he planned to kill Alfred’s father.
However, Briar got his hands on Alfred’s genetic information, and created his own Alfred
to turn into the Dark Knight.
And just look at him.
So sick.
Not only that, but he’s actually pretty honourable, and in the end decides to do the
right thing.
What a boss.
Number 1: Murder Machine Alfred.
Okay, I know I said I wasn’t sure how I felt about evil Alfreds, but in this case,
I definitely know that he is totally wicked.
In every sense of the word.
After having his back cracked by Bane, Alfred is brought back to the world in AI form…
only problem is, AI Alfred is kinda murdery.
The machine replicates itself and kills Batman’s villains in an attempt to protect him, then
merges with Bruce and turns him into an unfeeling machine.
He later acts as a kind of minion for Murder Machine, showing up when he rings to take
out his enemies.
And it’s just so sick.
Even if it is a bit Ultron-ish.
That’s it for today!
Hope you guys enjoyed, if you did please smack that thumbs up button and subscribe to Top
10 Nerd for more videos!
Which of these versions do you like best?
Let me know in the comment section down below!
Until next time, I’m Ron McKenzie-Lefurgey with Top 10 nerd.
Later nerds!
Serial Alfred.
Not, like, Shreddies, the TV serial.
The one I was just talking about.
This version wasn’t the most interesting of the Alfreds, mostly because it wasn’t
the most interesting show, but it was super important to the development of the character.
William Austin played the butler, and rather than being the chubby, clean-shaven, bumbling
idiot, he became a thin, moustached guy who was the definitive proper Englishman.
And this set the bar for pretty much every future Alfred.