Ortiz 1

Celeste Ortiz
English 113B
Professor Deohranessian
14 April 2015
The Help
In the many book that people have published over the years. There are not many that
contain illustrations and have speech bubbles coming from the characters. Reading books filled
with just chapters of words or not as stimulating sometimes can appear plain, however when
reading, people begin to create an image in their minds of what is the story and how the
characters look like and the motives behind why the characters do what they do. However this is
not the case within the novel, the Dark Night Returns, by Frank Miller. In Millers fantasy novel,
many graphics appear and the whole novel is a comic filled with pictures and word bubbles that
represents a ideas or words to show the effect of actions, for example,the sound effect BAM! In
this comic, it is easy for readers to understand the motives behind the main characters actions,
such as like Bruce Wayne. Bruce turned into Batman because something dramatic had happened
in his life, which was losing two parents due to two villans murdering them after leaving a
theatre. Being Batman, Bruce has put a lot of pressure onto Alfred, to live up to the expectation
of being a parent figure and his main source of help. Within the graphic novel images are shown
of Alfreds face in different panels, which seems to look scared and sad for Bruce, and
sometimes a bit stressed, the images help in many ways discovering the feelings and reactions
behind the dialog that explain why Alfred, Bruces caretaker became motivated to be the person
his is today in the graphic novel the Dark Knight Returns.

Ortiz 2
In the first novel within Millers Dark Night Returns a memorable scene is taking place.
Theres a family coming out of a theatre after seeing the motion picture of The Mark of Zorro.
After this family, who seems to be Bruce Waynes family is leaving the theatre they are held at
gun point. All faces looking terrified and scared for their life. There is a lot of darkness in this
panel foreshadowing that something bad might happen and the place looks lonely. Assuming
because of the trash on the ground in this scene, that area seemed deserted like no one picked up
the trash, like the workers of the theatre or the government werent doing their jobs.
Foreshadowing that government was useless. This left poor child, Bruce Wayne an orphan with
no parents. However, his caretaker Alfred was able to stay in his parents wealthy home and
continue to raise young Bruce without him being sent into a foster home. Within the scholarly
article titled the Motives of Foster Parents by Gunvor Andersson many of these people who
become a parent role to the orphan, chose this decision to avoid the child being emotionally
stable (Andersson 1). They want the child to grow up with good behavior and a feeling of safety
in a home (Andersson 1). Even though Alfreds character was not in the scene or panels when
Bruces parents died, this panel is a very important aspect that explain the reason why Alfred and
Bruce contain a good relationship throughout the graphic novel of the Dark Knight Returns.
Alfred, a parent figure for Bruce did not call him son, he called him master but he was
still caring and protective, similar to what any parent would be. Soon after Batman returns home
from fighting criminals in the construction area and realizes he is a bit too old and he is hurt he
returns home to Alfred. Alfred begins to act as a paramedic to Bruce, helping him with his
wounds. Because Bruce is Batman he is suppose to keep his identity a secret, so therefore he
doesnt go to a hospital like everybody else. Alfred response to Bruce after Bruce tells him to
take it easy saying that if he is looking for suicide , because of his wounds he is the master at

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that( Miller 43). Alfred did not react in a way that showed that he was mad or scared, he stayed
calm. According to the article Successful Parenting Skills that shape Childrens Behavior by
William Lopez, he states that in order to be a good parent one must calm during situations where
their child is hurt and they must stay cool before doing anything else (Lopez 1).
Also within another panel, after Batman tries to take on his enemy, the mutant leader in
Gothams dump, he gets really hurt. Robin, his soon to be sidekick tries to take care of him and
Alfred gets upset. Alfreds first reaction to this way oh dear hes not doing so well at all
addressing his concerns for Bruce (Miller 84). Like ant parent would be he was concerned. He
did not want Robin touching him as well and after she did he replied what are you doing young
lady? ( Miller 84). According to Lopez, a parent is one who should be aware of what is going
and not try to push the limit (Lopez 1). Alfred knows Bruce is strong and knows what pain he
could heal and what he cant. Alfred, being ready to take Bruce to the hospital without of care of
revealing his identity as batman showed an aspect parents take on, care and love. All he cared
was about his safety he insisted several times with worry that he is hurt and needs to see
someone who would help him. In the 3rd panel on the last column theres a picture of Batman.
Readers can see there is blood on his face with his forehead wrinkled and his clothes cut up.
There is no sense that Batman is fine, but he wishes to go to the cave, and Alfred respects his
decision (Miller 85).
Other than being represented as a parent figure in this graphic comic novel, Alfred is also
viewed as an assistant. Batmans old sidekick dies and Batman is alone until new young Robin
shows up to be his sidekick in the second novel. While Batman is out saying Gotham Alfred is
left checking up on his safety and guarding his home where his secret identity is safe. There is a
scene when Batman decides to take out the batmobile which hasn't been accessed in a very long

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time. the alarm goes off and Alfred then alerts Batman and then finds out he was the one who set
the alarm off. Alfred not only watches the items in the batcave but he also answers things like
important phone calls.
Some might argue that Alfred is not that much help or plays an important part of the
book, but he does. Alfred is apart of Batman's life and has helped him become the person that he
became and vise versa. Without Alfred there would probably be no Batman.
In this comic novel Alfred is presented the backbone of Bruce. He protects him, takes
care of him and his beloved property. Not many images of Alfred are shown but the ones that are
presented show a feeling of emotion. Readers can understand the feelings through the images
being shown in each panel .

Work cited

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Andersson, Gunvor. The Motives of a Foster Parents, Their Family and Work Circumstances.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. Print.

Dr. Christopher L Heffner, William Lopez. AllPsych.com, Psych Central Network, May 15,
2004. Web. April 21, 2015

Miller, Frank. The Dark Night Returns. Neywork: DC Comics. 1996. print