Alfred Pennyworth

Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth is a character from the DC comics.

Alfred Pennyworth is Bruce Wayne's loyal father figure and butler. Alfred raised Bruce (and later Dick Grayson) after the death of the Waynes. A former British secret agent, Alfred is a skilled surgeon who often fixes members of the Bat-Family.

Personality
Alfred can be described as Batman's confidant and moral compass. He often patches Bruce when he is severely injured. Alfred is most famous for his dry wit and often advising Batman on his personal matters. Alfred's advice has helped Batman out more than once, in an issue of Detective Comics, Alfred figured out a way to defeat a more powerful Doctor Phosphorus: baking soda, which Batman used to defeat Phosphorus. Alfred has also helped other members of the Batman Family during their times of Crisis. He is also the only member of the Batman Family that is allowed to own firearms. And he knows how to use them.

Abilities
You don't get to be Batman's butler/getaway driver/waiter/counselor without expecting him coming home with injuries. Alfred was a former military surgeon and knows his stuff. Through the years Alfred has repaired Bruce's most serious injuries from broken bones to fractured limbs. However, after Batman's back was broken by Bane, Alfred stabilized Bruce's condition due to the severity of Batman's injuries. Alfred's skills have also extended to helping other members of the Batman Family.

Alfred is a skilled fighter and still retains those abilities. In The New Adventures of Batman comic book, it is said that Alfred has been kidnapped 27 times and in that issue Alfred was kidnapped, but escaped and defeated his kidnappers without getting dirt or anything else on his suit. Considering his age and lack of superpowers, and also in comparison to the advanced combat training Bruce associates received, Alfred is the only member of the Batman Family who possess the permission of Bruce Wayne to use firearms when facing danger, and in this case, giving preference to his shotgun.

Trivia

 * Alfred and Bruce started collecting first edition books after the murder of the Waynes and they kept doing it for the remaining of their time together.
 * He is the only member of the Batman Family that is allowed by Bruce Wayne to own a firearm.
 * The character is very popular, having received a nomination for the R.A.C. "Squiddy" Award for Favorite Supporting Character in 1994 and for Best Character in 2001. He was also nominated for the Wizard Fan Award for Favorite Supporting Male Character in 1994.
 * The New Earth Alfred was the first mainstream Alfred to have been shown to have been Bruce Wayne's butler from childhood, and to have raised Bruce after his parents' deaths. Both the Earth-Two and Earth-One Alfreds came to work for Bruce after he had became Batman. The idea that Alfred raised Bruce was introduced on the Super Friends TV show, and was brought into comics in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns before being brought into the main continuity.
 * Dick Grayson has referred to Alfred as his "best friend" on multiple occasions.
 * Alfred has admitted to having been drunk twice in his life; before he left England for America, and the night he left Gotham City.