Alfred Pennyworth

When you’ve taken it upon yourself to thwart the crimes of a corrupt city you may notice the housework can get on top of you, unless of course you have the unerring service of an impeccable valet. Equally dapper portrayed by Michaels Caine or Gough, Alfred Pennyworth is the gentleman’s gentleman, the chap’s chap and has been a constant feature in the Batman comic franchise since 1943. Between ironing shirts and fetching bottles from the cellar Alfred has proven himself to be more than a mere housekeeper but rather a trusted friend, respected ally and surrogate father, raising Bruce Wayne (after the death of his parents) as well as a succession of Robins.

“I do believe you’ve splashed Sulfuric acid on the Chippendale table. Personally, I prefer to use Lemon Pledge. Ah, well, what’s a priceless antique in the pursuit of science?”

His loyalty and devotion to the dynamic duo was so great that it stopped a fierce looking boulder from bringing about his untimely demise as he rushed to save their lives; although believed dead Alfred had, in fact, been alive for two years in his refrigerated tomb. Admittedly this same dedication was not enough to stop him from being accidentally transformed soon after into a super-villain named The Outsider who hated his former employers so much that he tried to turn them both into coffins (a baffling plotline if ever there was one), still even the most cherished of gents have their moments of imperfection.