Batman #95, the latest issue of James Tynion IV's "Joker War" arc, appears to add credence to an old adage: nobody ever stays dead in comic books. A crucial, supposedly deceased ally rushes to Bruce's aid at a crucial moment, but Batman being Batman, things may not be as simple as they seem.
In Tom King's "City of Bane" arc, Bane, the villain who famously broke the Bat's back, savagely murders Bruce Wayne's oldest and most trusted ally, Alfred Pennyworth. The beloved butler and father figure has been absent from Batman books for nearly a full year, which is surprisingly long absence for a staple character, dead or not. Alfred has been portrayed on-screen by several luminary actors, including Michael Cain, Ralph Fiennes, Sean Pertwee, with Andy Serkis set to play the role in the forthcoming film, The Batman, which will tell a darker story than its predecessors.
After narrowly escaping an altercation with Joker's henchwoman, Punchline, Bruce hears the voice of his friend and former guardian, Alfred, in his earpiece. It is worth noting that Punchline managed to poison Bruce during their encounter with a horrifying trinity of toxins: Bane's Venom, Joker's Laughing Gas, and Scarecrow's Fear Gas. All three of these poisons affect their victims' mind powerfully, and in many media, including Injustice 2, Scarecrow's Fear Gas induces terrifying hallucinations, but it is unlikely that Alfred's return would be reduced to a drug trip—especially since the voice provides encouragement and advice that helps Batman escape.
When Bruce exclaims that Alfred is dead, the voice in his earpiece replies, "I'm sorry my boy! I'm so sorry!" rather than offering a rebuttal. If Alfred is still deceased, as the apology seems to imply, it is possible that his consciousness was digitized or mapped to some kind of AI. Another plausible possibility is that Alfred is alive, having been brought back to life by a Lazarus Pit, which is perhaps the most popular device for resurrection in Batman comics. But there are many ways to cheat death in Gotham City, as demonstrated by Rocksteady Games' still-cryptic secret ending to Batman: Arkham Knight.
So far, Batman's butler has played a relatively small role in video game adaptations of the character. PC Modders allowed players to play as Alfred in Arkham Knight, but the experience is played for laughs. That may change in the near future, however. Rumors surrounding Rocksteady's unannounced follow-up to Arkham Knight, (supposedly titled Gotham Knights,) suggest the game may be exploring the broader Bat Family, and perhaps, the DC Universe as a whole.
More Batman news will likely surface with WB Games' virtual reveal event, rumored to be scheduled for August. As for Alfred's fate in the Batman comics, only time, and Tynion, will tell.
Batman #95 is available now.
Source: Comic Book Reader