Speaking of Alfred Pennyworth, the casting of the gruff, tough Sean Pertwee in a role that has previously been essayed by the likes of Michael Caine and Michael Gough as a stereotypically well-mannered English gentleman has definitely turned heads. Where previous Alfreds have been utterly butlery, for lack of a better word, Pertwee's version of the character is reportedly a former MI6 agent who still knows how to handle himself. Now this is something that we have seen before: in Grant Morrison's recent virtuoso run of Batman comic books and his controversial appearance in the recent animated series Beware The Batman, where he appeared in promo materials dual wielding pistols with a bodybuilder's physique rippling beneath his three-piece suit and bowler hat. Pertwee's character doesn't appear to be going that far, but we will be getting a hard-bitten version of the Wayne family butler who's believable as a resident of the crime-ridden Gotham.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
