10 Times Alfred Pennyworth Utterly DESTROYED Batman

The Dark Knight Returns is Frank Miller's seminal take on a Bruce Wayne ten years into retirement; a faded urban legend in a world where the only hero left is a government puppet Superman. A combination of factors culminate one stormy night in Bruce putting the suit back on and returning to the streets.

Alfred, naturally, feels it's his role to attempt to talk Bruce out of what he views as a needless effort - in his mind, Bruce did his part and now deserves a quiet life. The story is full of jabs from Alfred trying to remind Bruce of this.

The morning after Bruce's first night back, Alfred is healing the many aches Bruce is suffering from and advises him, "If it's suicide you're after, Master Bruce, I have the recipe for an old family potion. It's slow in working and quite painful. You'd like it".

A few minutes later he reminds him, "You know, sir, that there is precedent for wheelchair detectives". To which Bruce can only reply, "Shut up, Alfred."

While running through Bruce's daily schedule, another opportunity arises:

Alfred: "Your accountants wait in the West Wing, sir."

Bruce: "Tell them I'm sick."

Alfred: "I shan't have to lie."

Alfred even suggests that Bruce is now a member of the 'Committee for the Prevention of Obsessive Behaviour in Middle-Aged Men.'

Despite Pennyworth's best efforts, Bruce simply won't be deterred.