When Alfred Pennyworth was tragically killed by Bane during 2019’s “City of Bane” storyline, nobody thought it would stick. These things never do in comics. Seven years later and Batman is still sans butler, never really having the heart to replace his most trusted companion. That opening is finally set to be filled in the pages of Batman #12 with the arrival of a new butler, and it turns out she’s a Pennyworth.
DC Comics has been teasing the arrival of a new butler in Matt Fraction’s ongoing Batman run for a while now. The identity of the woman has been the subject of much theorizing. Could she be a version of Alicia Silverstone’s character from 1997’s Batman and Robin? Or perhaps a revived take on his canon niece Daphne Pennyworth? Maybe she’s an entirely original character? Well, it now appears we have the answer, as artist Jorge Jiménez has officially identified the character as Verity Pennyworth in an Instagram post. The post coincides with the reveal of a “Verity Pennyworth Design Variant” cover for Batman #12 featuring the same art.
The official solicitation for the issue gives a little more information on the role Verity will play, without detailing just what exactly her connection to Alfred is. It reads as follows:
SIX ASSASSINS. ONE CITY. COUNTLESS WAYS TO DIE! Six of the world’s deadliest killers have descended on Gotham City at once–but who hired them, and who’s the target? Surely, it can’t be the Batman… As the Caped Crusader races to uncover who set this deadly plan in motion, the late Alfred Pennyworth provides a gift from beyond the grave with the arrival of a brilliant new ally to the Bat-Family at a time when it needs one most.
If you’ve been out of the loop on Batman comics, or just reading the amazing Absolute Batman instead, then you might be surprised to hear Alfred is dead. The event occurred at the end of DC star writer Tom King’s three-year stint leading the main Batman book. King himself has revealed that Aldred’s death was intended to be a fake-out, but that DC publisher Dan DiDio decided to make it real following the strong reaction fans had.
Matt Fraction has been writing the ongoing series since 2025 and has made the Caped Crusader’s relationship with his deceased butler a major focus. In the first issue of the series, Batman is shown having discussions with an apparition of Alfred. There was confusion over whether this was a hologram or A.I. recreation of the character, but Fraction set the record straight during an AMA, saying that he’s more of a Jiminy Cricket figure on Batman’s shoulder.
With the arrival of a living Pennyworth, perhaps Batman will have a new moral compass to steer him.
Batman #12 will be released Aug.5.