DC’s new Red Lantern is set to blow the minds of all Batman fans
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Looks like DC is shaping up BatmanAlfred Pennyworth, long standing butler, as follows Red Lantern. A former MI5 agent and professional actor, Alfred Pennyworth took over from his father as butler to the illustrious Wayne family, only to become the sole protector of young Bruce Wayne when his mother and his father was shot down in a senseless crime. Alfred re-dedicated his life to giving Bruce some peace, which eventually came when his mission as Batman expanded to include creating an extended “bat family” of young men and women .
However, in the world of Stopped, even 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 into violent slaves. Batman, Nightwing and Robin fell into the infection, and knowing that they would do anything rather than harm innocent people, Alfred did his duty, killing his adopted children. Tragically for Alfred, once Earth’s heroes began to fight 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 there was no turning back for Alfred’s family.
Now, DC is hinting that Alfred’s grief and rage over this will come to the surface in a shocking new transformation. In DCeased: War of the Undead Gods, Earth’s heroes confront Darkseid and the New Gods, the deadliest beings in the galaxy, now fallen by the infection. However, in #4, by Tom Taylor, Trevor Hairsine, Neil Edwards, Andy Lanning, Rain Beredo and Saida Temofonte, the story takes time to check in on Alfred, who has started a relationship with Leslie Thompkins. When Alfred wakes from a nightmare of shooting his children, Leslie warns him that his rage is in danger of consuming him, noting: “You’ve always been angry. You’ve kept your fury buttoned up in a three-piece suit, but you raised Batman.”
DCeased is defining Alfred by his rage
In a recent tweet, writer Tom Taylor drew attention to a CBR article about the moment, adding: “Alfred has a big role to play in the next issues of #DCeased: War of the Undead Gods.” It’s a particularly interesting comment when combined with the subject’s reflection on Alfred’s rage, especially given the Stopped the inclination of the saga to pass on existing mantles to new characters. In the story so far, Batgirl Cassandra Cain has become Shazam’s new champion, Cassie Sandsmark has become the new Wonder Woman, and several other junior heroes have stepped up to take on the identity of their mentors or fallen parents
DCeased is obsessed with creating new flashlights
Despite this, Stopped He especially enjoys handing out rings from the various Lantern Corps that make up the emotional spectrum, with Black Canary becoming a very powerful Green Lantern, and the recently returned Darkseid getting a Sinestro Corps (aka Yellow Lantern) ring. Completing the trifecta of the most offensively powerful lantern corps with a red Alfred Lantern would make perfect sense, especially considering how the narrative emphasizes his growing anger. Red Lantern rings turn their wearers’ blood into superheated plasma that they can manipulate as a weapon and can turn any being into a deadly assassin; in fact, the Corps has taken in an injured domestic cat in the past. The only entry requirement is an eternal rage, usually fueled by injustice, which Leslie points out Alfred has in abundance.
Batman’s butler is a surprisingly perfect Red Lantern
Seeing the great butler Alfred Pennyworth become DC’s new Red Lantern would be a real sight, although it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. Alfred is a former secret agent who has spent his life coordinating the best vigilantes in the world and has now experienced a zombie apocalypse. While fans will want to see Alfred gain immeasurable power to fight Darkseid, their new romance may give them pause as this upgrade comes at a significant cost; red lanterns they can never remove their rings under penalty of death, meaning that if Alfred does indeed indulge in rage, he will likely never return, far from destiny. Batman he would have wished for his most loyal ally.
Source: Tom Taylor
