Written by Alan Grant.
Art by Bret Blevins; Adrienne Roy; & Todd Klein.
Cover Art by Brian Stelfreeze.
SUMMARY:
Entitled “The Battling Butler,” DC Comics released this Zero Hour tie-in for September 1994. After a long night of crime-busting, Batman & Tim Drake’s Robin encounter one last yet inexplicable heist where a bewildered business owner robs his own company office. Upon returning to the Batcave, the Dynamic Duo discovers that their estranged Alfred Pennyworth has been replaced by his Golden Age counterpart (complete with a Cockney accent) from another reality — i.e. DC’s original Earth-Two.
Seeking to emulate Batman & Robin as an amateur detective, this bumbling Alfred intends to prove his worthiness as their partner. He may be their only hope against a vengeful hoodlum gang, who have set up a deadly Bat-trap.
REVIEW:
Supported by good artwork, this issue’s sole distinction is its playful homage to the original ‘Alfred,’ in an otherwise predictable caper. Still, the parental upside is that Batman: Shadow of the Bat # 31 delivers a kid-friendly read.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There is a single-page letters-and-answers column. In tongue-in-cheek fashion, the “DC Universe # 19” column hypes potential Zero Hour plot twists, no matter how ludicrous.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars
