10 Times Alfred Pennyworth Utterly DESTROYED Batman

Mask of the Phantasm is perhaps the finest Batman movie, animated or otherwise. Aside from creating a fantastic character in Andrea Beaumont/Phantasm, it gives a very nuanced look at Bruce's final transformation into Batman.

At this point in Bruce's life, Alfred is still making attempts to bring some normalcy to his surrogate son's existence - suggesting he pursue relationships, reminding him of the good things in the world, and trying to steer him away from the darkness that Batman continuously walks so close to.

As he often does, Alfred relies on wit and sarcasm to do this, and he of course does it extremely well.

During a news broadcast, a corrupt Gotham politician (is there any other kind?) named Arthur Reeves critiques Batman's work as being that of a "potential madman".

Bruce, who is clearly annoyed, turns off the TV, whereupon Alfred steps in to 'reassure' Bruce with, "Why, you're the very model of sanity. Oh, by the way, I pressed your tights and put away your exploding gas balls" - to which Bruce simply replies, "Thank you, Alfred."

While still proving he is ever the capable servant, Alfred takes this opportunity to point out just how bizarre Bruce's existence as a billionaire playboy who can have literally anything but who spends his days in an underground cave and his nights zipping around Gotham with 'exploding gas balls' really is.