Batman's Greatest Gift Came From Alfred, Not His Training
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman Black and White #4!
In order to become the ultimate crime-fighter, Batman trained under the world’s greatest martial arts masters. Much of his teenage and early-adult life was spent travelling around the globe to perfect his skills and find new ways to thwart his enemies. While all those years of training helped him tremendously with his war against evil, his most useful ability was learned from his very own butler, Alfred.
One of the most defining characteristics of the Dark Knight is his ability to imagine every possible scenario so that he is as prepared as possible for any challenge he might face. Sometimes, this can lead to more trouble, like in Max Waid and Howard Porter’s Tower of Babel storyline, wherein Batman’s contingency plans to defeat the Justice League are enacted by his adversary, Ra’s al Ghul, but generally, his preparedness comes in handy. On top of this, Bruce Wayne is an expert at improvisation when faced with new and unexpected challenges, helping to prevent him from falling to his rivals. Even though Batman tends to use these skills in extreme situations, a new story reveals that he learned them while engaged in an everyday activity.
Batman Black and White #4 is an anthology filled with several of the Dark Knight’s adventures, including a story called “Checkmate,” by Daniel Warren Johnson. The tale opens on Batman, who is being beaten by a group of thugs while strung in the air by his wrists, when a flustered Two-Face enters the room. The villain furiously asks his henchmen why the Dark Knight is there, shouting, “This man is only captured if he wants to be!” Then, a smirk appears on Batman’s face as readers are greeted to a flashback in which Alfred teaches a young Bruce Wayne to play chess.
As the two prepare to play, Bruce asks if he has to think multiple steps ahead in order to win, but Alfred points out that this is impossible due to the sheer amount of variables in any given game. Confused, the young hero asks how one is able to master the game, to which Alfred replies, “Mastery comes from memorizing the many different situations you could be in and being prepared for each one.” With that, the story bounces back to the present, as Batman cuts himself loose from his restraints and starts taking down the criminals around him. As the fight rages on, the butler adds, “And when you discover a situation you’ve never encountered before, you must learn to improvise.” It becomes clear that Batman takes Alfred’s chess advice into account when facing his opponents, coming well prepared for battle and thinking on his feet when necessary. By the end of the story, Batman defeats Two-Face and his goons before going back home to find that Alfred has won their most recent chess game.
Without his training, there’s no way Batman could compete with the villains of Gotham City, but it’s Alfred’s words that truly give him an edge in a fight. Even though Alfred was only teaching Bruce about chess, the Dark Knight sees quick wits and preparedness as a great tool to use against his enemies. The story also features other tips from Alfred that apply to Batman’s heroics, like how he should focus on wits instead of strength, and how he must learn to think like his opponents. Alfred claims that using his recommendations will make it difficult for Bruce to lose, and given the Dark Knight’s track record, he’s absolutely right.
Bruce Wayne has much to thank his butler for, but giving him a sharp mind should be at the top of the list. Thanks to Alfred, the Dark Knight has the mindset to take on any challenge and he’s prepared for whatever he may face. Even with so many wins under his belt though, Batman still hasn’t figured out how to outthink the man who raised him. Batman Black and White #4 from DC Comics is available now in stores and online.