From "Here Comes Alfred" by Don C. Cameron, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson and George Roussos, Batman #16 (May 1943)
Though called Alfred BEAGLE, not Pennyworth, Batman's butler first appears in this issue, likely introduced to match the character about to premiere in the first Batman movie serial. No photo reference was likely available (if the character was even cast) because the thinner, moustached version of Alfred started appearing, AS PER the casting, AFTER the serial's release. Now, you can say he turned into Pennyworth, but I don't think they used the last name much, so in the Golden Age, it's always Beagle. Alfred Pennyworth is said to first appear in Batman #92 (June 1955).
But I do find it interesting that he's an amateur sleuth here, which puts Alfred's exciting past into the character's DNA very early. It's not Special Forces, or whatever else they grafted onto the character now, but it gives him his own agency.
Though called Alfred BEAGLE, not Pennyworth, Batman's butler first appears in this issue, likely introduced to match the character about to premiere in the first Batman movie serial. No photo reference was likely available (if the character was even cast) because the thinner, moustached version of Alfred started appearing, AS PER the casting, AFTER the serial's release. Now, you can say he turned into Pennyworth, but I don't think they used the last name much, so in the Golden Age, it's always Beagle. Alfred Pennyworth is said to first appear in Batman #92 (June 1955).
But I do find it interesting that he's an amateur sleuth here, which puts Alfred's exciting past into the character's DNA very early. It's not Special Forces, or whatever else they grafted onto the character now, but it gives him his own agency.
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