Batman Annual

Synopsis for ”Waiting in the Wings”

Certain night, when Bruce Wayne returns to Wayne Manor after a long journey, Alfred informs him that he wants to resume his acting career, choosing to end his work as the butler for the Wayne Family.

This was not an easy decision by Alfred. Ever since a kid, he was raised under the instruction of his father, the previous butler for the Waynes, as was his father before him. Alfred was supposed to carry the family’s tradition, but his mother, who was a former stage actress, wanted a diffent destiny for her son. For the best part of Alfred’s early life, he pursued his acting career until the sudden death of his father, whose last wish was for Alfred to carry on the tradition. Like this, Alfred started working for the Waynes as their butler until their unexpected deaths, which left the young Bruce alone in the world. With help from Leslie Thompkins, Alfred raised the young Bruce until his teenage years, when he moved to Europe to continue his studies.

Alfred remained as the guardian of Wayne Manor until Bruce’s eventual return as an adult. However, Alfred noticed a drastical change in Bruce and he was the first one to learn of Bruce’s secret desire to start a lifelong manhunt against criminals. Alfred scorned the decision, but he supported Bruce in all ways he could. Soon, Alfred started to realize that his job now was not that of a mere butler.

During his last night workig in Wayne Manor, Alfred received some guests on Bruce’s behalf, but when the host didn’t show up, Alfred turned on the TV to set a distraction. Much to his dismay, Batman was on the news, fighting criminals on an old abandoned theater. While the event was a perfect distraction for the guests, Alfred could barely remain calm as he noticed that the theater was the last place the Waynes ever went to. Alfred also had to keep his stoic performance when Batman was stabbed by one of the thugs and even though his desperation was growing, he kept calm when Batman’s voice was heard on the TV. Some of the guests noticed that the voice was similar to that of Bruce, but Alfred suggested otherwise, surprisingly calm for a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Moments later, Bruce called home and apologized to his guests, who left the place immediately. Batman arrived shortly afterwards and Alfred helped the man he cared for as his very own son. Thanks to his military medical training, Alfred tended Bruce’s wounds and the next morning, Alfred was still in Wayne Manor, much to Bruce’s surprise. After making a call to postpone a date impersonating Bruce, Alfred explains that his role as part of Bruce’s life has grown so large that it could fulfill him as an actor as he has to keep people convinced that Bruce is less of what he really is. But most importantly, Alfred keeps the last thought to himself, because he also has to act everytime Bruce goes out at night, pretending it doesn’t bother him. And he has to pretend that his heart doesn’t cry with every wound he has to heal. And that is the best a man can do... waiting in the wings.
Appearing in ”Waiting in the Wings”

Featured Characters:

Batman
Alfred Pennyworth (Origin)
Supporting Characters:

Patti (Single appearance)
Alfred’s Father (Flashback only)
Alfred’s Mother (Flashback only)
Other Characters:

Jackie Melville (Flashback only)
Locations:

Gotham City
Wayne Manor
Items:

Batrope
Batsuit
Synopsis for ”Who’s Who Entries”

A list of updated Who’s Who profiles on the Batman Family.

Continuity Updates/Mistakes

Dick Grayson: Harriet Cooper is still listed as Dick Grayson’s aunt. She was prominently used in the Earth-One continuity and future updates indicate she is no longer part of the New Earth continuity.
Jason Todd: This profile marks Batman #408 as his first appearance, indicating that previous appearances by Jason after the Crisis on Infinite Earths, still belong to the Earth-One continuity and the character officially debuted on the issue that revamped his origin.
Alfred Pennyworth: Wilfred Pennyworth and Daphne Pennyworth are still listed as Alfred’s relatives. They were used in the Earth-One continuity and future updates indicate they are no longer part of the New Earth continuity.
Vicki Vale: Vicki’s history seems to remain unchanged after the ”Crisis”, which implies that her character was not rebooted from the previous continuity into the new one.
Appearing in ”Who’s Who Entries”

Featured Characters:

Batman
Dick Grayson
Jason Todd
Alfred Pennyworth
Barbara Gordon
Vicki Vale
Batman (Earth-Two)
Robin (Earth-Two)
Other Characters:

Joker
Locations:

Gotham City
Wayne Manor
Items:

Bat-Signal
Batcomputer
Batrope
Giant Penny
Mechanical T-Rex
Vehicles:

Batcycle
Batmobile
Notes

Both stories are reprinted in Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 2.
The Who’s Who entries were reprinted in Who’s Who Omnibus Vol. 1.
In the story ”Faces”, Two-Face easily recognizes Jason Todd as a different Robin from Dick Grayson, the original Robin.
”Waiting In The Wings” is reprinted in Batman Allies: Alfred Pennyworth.
The story features special thanks to Greg Boone and Dom Carola, although it’s not specified what their contributions were.
The story makes several references to the events of Batman: Year One.
Trivia

In ”Faces”, Jason Todd is seen wearing a winter version of his outfit.
In ”Faces,” Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne say that it has been six years since Jim’s wife died as a ”[casualty] of his personal war on crime.” Barbara Eileen Gordon later appears alive in the New Earth continuity.
In the Young Sheldon episode ”Teenager Soup and a Little Ball of Fib”, Sheldon Cooper can be seen reading this issue.

May 1989

DC Comics Inc.

070989331204

13

1

May

1989

Cover A

A

Direct

1st

United States

$2.25

Batman Annual

Copper Age

English

Annual

2018-07-02 22:22:04

Vol. 1

Batman Faces

~$69.98

2026-03-24

2018-07-02 22:22:04