Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth is a fictional character appearing in
American comic books published by
DC Comics, most commonly in association with
Batman. The character
first appears in
Batman #16 (April 1943), and was created by writers
Bob Kane and
Bill Finger, and artist
Jerry Robinson. Alfred serves as a loyal, tireless butler who assists his employer's secret life as
Batman. In modern interpretations, he is depicted as Bruce Wayne's butler, legal guardian, best friend,
aide-de-camp, and surrogate father following the murders of
Thomas Wayne and
Martha Wayne. He sometimes has been called "Batman's
batman". He also provides
comic relief, as his sometimes sarcastic and cynical attitude often adds humor to dialogue between himself and Batman. A vital part of the Batman
mythos, Alfred was nominated for the Wizard Fan Award for Favorite Supporting Male Character in 1994.