In the LEGO Batman Movie, there is an exchange where Alfred asks Batman whether it is time to face his greatest fear.
LEGO Batman: “Snakes?”
Alfred: “No.”
LEGO Batman “Clowns?”
Alfred: “No.”
LEGO Batman: “Snake clowns?”
Alfred: “Bruce, listen. Your greatest fear is being a part of a family again.”
After a long pause, during which Batman looks at some family portraits on the wall, he turns and replies, “No, now it’s snake clowns, because you put that idea in my head!”
Since it is a LEGO movie, this exchange is a humorous caricature of the Batman mythos, but Batman does sometimes appear as one of the more solitary of the mainstream superheroes. While Superman, Iron Man, Green Arrow, Spider-Man, and so on have friends, spouses, and coworkers, Batman has few connections that do not immediately relate to his mission. He is occasionally abrupt or even harsh with those he works with, and is by nature distrusting even of his fellow superheroes.
On the other hand, the majority of Batman stories involve him working with allies. In the comics, Batman’s inner core of allies has varied slightly, but the idea of Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and a few others as a “Bat-Family” has been strong for several decades. In comics, the various animated DC series, and the current DC Extended Universe movies, Batman is a key player in the Justice League, working alongside Superman, Wonder Woman, and others. Even in the 1960s Batman TV show, there was a Robin and a Batgirl. At various times, there has also been the Outsiders, Batman Incorporated, and so on. Batman’s strong moral compass, his loyalty, and his leadership abilities have caused many people to look past his gruff approach and to count him as a friend.
One way in which Batman nonetheless seems alone is that he has no blood relatives. The myth of Batman is built on him being orphaned at a young age. He enters young adulthood with no parents, no siblings. During Grant Morrison’s long run on Batman, in the last issue of “The Return of Bruce Wayne,” Bruce says “The gunshots left me alone. For years, I was alone in the echoing dark of that well.” However, he goes on to say “But something else defined the exact moment Batman was born. The first truth of Batman… The saving grace. I was never alone.”
That issue poignantly leaves that thought open-ended, with images of many of Batman’s current allies. But fans will recall that there is really only one person who was present at the moment Batman was born, someone that a more recent story arc (in All-Star Batman) referred to the first ally. Alfred has been present in most different incarnations of Batman- at most times, in all continuities, Alfred is providing vital assistance, ranging from advice, to his medical abilities, to serving as dispatch and switchboard. He does this all while simultaneously carrying out his traditional butler roles of serving dinner, driving the car, and maintaining the appointment book!
The recently-concluded TV series “Gotham” sought to explore the dynamic between Alfred and Bruce earlier on, when Bruce was still a minor and thus Alfred was also his guardian. Saint Joseph is faintly echoed in how Alfred must be both the foster-father and the servant. There is no parallel to “Gotham” for the Holy Family; we know very little about the time between the Nativity and the time Christ entered His public ministry. However, the few scenes we do see are instructive. First, when the visit of the Magi draws King Herod’s attention to the activities in Bethlehem, Saint Joseph acts promptly to protect his family. Second, Joseph is monitoring security issues in the homeland; he knows when it is safe to return. Third, by age 12, Joseph is confident in Jesus’ ability to fend for himself, since he is initially unconcerned about not seeing Him in the caravan when they leave Jerusalem. Finally, though, even though he knows Jesus is the Son of God, he does go back to make sure He is safe, eventually finding Him in the temple. In all these glimpses, we see Joseph’s strong concern for ensuring he could provide a safe environment for his family.
By the time Jesus does enter His public ministry, it seems Joseph has passed away, as he does not appear anywhere during the preaching, teaching, or miracles, nor during the Passion. Mary, on the other hand, stands at the foot of the Cross and then waits in the Upper Room. She must endure watching her Son suffer and die to fulfill His purpose on earth. This is also faintly echoed in Alfred. In many stories, we see glimpses of Alfred’s pain as he patches up Bruce and must watch him go out again to risk everything for his mission, and often, to save people who are not grateful for those sacrifices. In Scott Snyder’s New 52 run on Batman, there is a story arc where Bruce has, through a complex preceding series of events, forgotten that he is Batman. When Gotham needs him to be again, he remembers something, and goes to Alfred. Alfred initially asks him not to press it, not to look, not to give up being the person he could be without Batman’s burdens – but ultimately knows that to be who he is, Bruce cannot turn his back on his calling. And in that story (“Bloom”), through a process much like a death and resurrection, Batman returns to save his people.
Although these are very small echoes of the Holy Family, they point to a balance that Christian families today also need to strike. We must, like Joseph, protect our younger children from the dangers in our world. This includes not just the physical dangers, but also the moral and psychological dangers that lurk in various places. We should actively monitor and be aware of these threats, and like Joseph, be prepared to take the vulnerable away from them. As children acquire maturity, like Joseph, we must help them begin to engage with more of the world. We need to prepare them, and be ready to help if still needed. And then finally, like Mary, be ready to willingly offer them back to God, for whatever calling He has for them.
The heroic family today, like Alfred, will protect, train, send out, and then welcome back and heal its members. While our spouse, children, or siblings might not be putting on a mask and a utility belt, they still might be encountering darkness, challenges, or craziness in the world. Some food, first aid, and reassurance when they return home, whether delivered in a tuxedo or not, can help them continue living their vocation. If our households and churches could be a little more like Alfred, perhaps we would find we would also be just a little more like the Holy Family. And by doing so, perhaps we would send out a few more heroes into our world.
Matthew Heffron
Matt Heffron is an Iraq veteran and an attorney. He lives with his wife and nine kids in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and loves Catholic tradition, practicing martial arts, riding motorcycle, and superheroes.