DC is seemingly setting up include raising an extensive 'Bat-Family' of young men and women.
However, in the world of DCeased, yet more tragedy was waiting. In DC's standalone zombie-apocalypse saga, a corrupted version of the Anti-Life Equation spread through technology, turning normal people and superhumans alike into violent thralls. Batman, Nightwing, and Robin all fell to the infection, and knowing they would want anything rather than to hurt innocent people, Alfred did his duty, gunning down his adopted sons. Tragically for Alfred, once Earth's heroes began fighting back, it was discovered that the plague could be reversed. But while other heroes had their humanity restored, his execution of Gotham's protectors meant that for Alfred's family, there was no return.
Now, DC is hinting that Alfred's grief and rage at that fact will bubble to the surface in a shocking new transformation. In DCeased: War of the Undead Gods, Earth's heroes are facing off against Darkseid and the New Gods - the deadliest beings in the galaxy, now fallen to the infection. However, in issue #4 - from Tom Taylor, Trevor Hairsine, Neil Edwards, Andy Lanning, Rain Beredo and Saida Temofonte - the story takes the time to check in on Alfred, who has begun a relationship with Leslie Thompkins. When Alfred wakes from a nightmare of shooting his sons, Leslie warns him that his rage is in danger of consuming him, pointing out, "You have always been angry. You've kept your fury well buttoned-up in a three-piece suit, but you raised Batman."
DCeased Is Defining Alfred by His Rage
In a recent tweet, writer new Champion of Shazam, Cassie Sandsmark has become the new Wonder Woman, and various other junior heroes have stepped up to take on the identities of their fallen mentors or parents.
DCeased Is Obsessed with Creating New Lanterns
However, DCeased particularly likes handing out rings from the various Lantern Corps that make up the Emotional Spectrum, with Black Canary becoming a wildly powerful Green Lantern, and the recently returned aggrieved house cat in the past. The only entry requirement is an undying rage, generally fueled by injustice, which Leslie notes Alfred has in abundance.
Batman's Butler Is a Surprisingly Perfect Red Lantern
Seeing the staid butler Alfred Pennyworth become DC's newest Red Lantern would be a true sight to behold, though it's not as far-fetched as it seems. Alfred is a former secret agent who has spent his life coordinating the world's finest vigilantes, and who has now lived through a zombie apocalypse. While fans will want to see Alfred take on immeasurable power to fight Darkseid, his new romance may give them pause, as there's a major cost for this upgrade; Red Lanterns can never remove their rings on pain of death, meaning that if Alfred truly gives himself over to rage, it's likely he's never coming back - far from the fate Batman would have wished for his most loyal ally.
Source: Tom Taylor
