For all his talk of brooding and being alone and striking fear into others, Batman has quite the large family. Sons, daughters, butlers, and lovers. Dogs and cows and giant bat monsters. Well, today you'll meet the weird uncle. Today's Z-Lister is Harold Allnut from DC Comics.
Dennis O'Neil and Alan Grant created Harold Allnut in "The Question #33" in 1989, but after his brief appearance there he migrated into O'Neil and Grant's "Batman" in #458. Harold was a mute man with Kyphosis-a physical disability that makes him a hunchback. Despite his appearance and shy nature, Harold is a gifted inventor. Harold fled Hub City after being dispatched by the landlord and fled to Gotham City where he mislead by The Penguin. By conning him with food, shelter, and safety, The Penguin manipulated Harold into building deadly weapons for him. After Batman vanquished The Penguin, Harold ran off.
Months after this adventure, Batman finds Harold being chased by an angry mob of parents. Apparently a child molester had been in the neighborhood and the mob assumed it was Harold by his appearance. Batman and Harold find and apprehend the actual criminal and Batman offers Harold a job. Harold lives in the Batcave and is given all the tools he needs to help equip Batman with weapons and gadgets. In return for a nice home. Though Alfred is hesitant, he and the rest of the family come to like Harold. Due to his gentle nature Harold also strikes up a friendship with Ace The Bat-Hound.
During a story called "Knightfall", Bane breaks Batman's back and Bruce is left immobile. While Harold builds a high-tech wheelchair, Batman's friend and partner Jean-Paul Valley takes up The Batman mantle. Sadly, he takes it too far. Using his own high-tech weapons to kill criminals and become more ruthless by the day. Valley expels Harold and the others from The Batcave, but Harold and Ace sneak into a hidden subsection of the cave and work on gear to defeat Valley. Along with Robin and Nightwing, Harold helps Bruce defeat Valley within the cave. After Valley psychologically recovered, he became an agent of Batman. Batman sent Harold to live with Jean-Paul at a renovated castle so the two of them could fight crime together. Before leaving Harold made a new costume for Nightwing too.
In the storyline "Hush", Harold returns from years of absence now able to speak and stand upright. He confronts Batman during Batman's investigation of a new villain in Gotham City. Harold reveals this villain-Hush-repaired his body in return for a hidden circuitry relay in the Batcave. Hush used this relay to send Batman subliminal messages while he was unconscious, setting to motion the events of the story. Before Harold can reveal Hush's identity, but is shot by Hush from a distance. Batman holds his dying friend and forgives him for the betrayal as he understands how powerful the desire to be happy can be.
Harold reappears in 2017's "All-Star Batman" by Scott Snyder. In that series, he meets with Batman on a farm to perform surgery on Harvey Dent's face. By the dialog it would seem Harold is back to non-normalcy and is considered family by Batman.
Harold is one of the more obscure additions to Batman's supporting cast. He's no vigilante or officer of the law, but rather a kindred spirit who just wants to help the people who care about him. There is something admirable about Batman taking Harold in, it shows a shade of sympathy we don't see from Batman. Sure, adopting a few orphans is commendable, but you can chalk that up to self-impression. Batman adopts orphans because he is one. But Harold is a grown man, with no abilities of describing his past or how he feels. And yet Harold is treated with such respect and care, that truly shows Batman has a softer side. A side not driven by guilt or lust or fear, but rather compassion. The same compassion his parents felt for the people of Gotham City. I'm glad Harold is back and I hope to see him help the Batman Family in the future, he could make a great foil to Damian or maybe Jason. Wherever he may go, he's got my support!
Thanks for reading.
During a story called "Knightfall", Bane breaks Batman's back and Bruce is left immobile. While Harold builds a high-tech wheelchair, Batman's friend and partner Jean-Paul Valley takes up The Batman mantle. Sadly, he takes it too far. Using his own high-tech weapons to kill criminals and become more ruthless by the day. Valley expels Harold and the others from The Batcave, but Harold and Ace sneak into a hidden subsection of the cave and work on gear to defeat Valley. Along with Robin and Nightwing, Harold helps Bruce defeat Valley within the cave. After Valley psychologically recovered, he became an agent of Batman. Batman sent Harold to live with Jean-Paul at a renovated castle so the two of them could fight crime together. Before leaving Harold made a new costume for Nightwing too.
In the storyline "Hush", Harold returns from years of absence now able to speak and stand upright. He confronts Batman during Batman's investigation of a new villain in Gotham City. Harold reveals this villain-Hush-repaired his body in return for a hidden circuitry relay in the Batcave. Hush used this relay to send Batman subliminal messages while he was unconscious, setting to motion the events of the story. Before Harold can reveal Hush's identity, but is shot by Hush from a distance. Batman holds his dying friend and forgives him for the betrayal as he understands how powerful the desire to be happy can be.
Harold reappears in 2017's "All-Star Batman" by Scott Snyder. In that series, he meets with Batman on a farm to perform surgery on Harvey Dent's face. By the dialog it would seem Harold is back to non-normalcy and is considered family by Batman.
Harold is one of the more obscure additions to Batman's supporting cast. He's no vigilante or officer of the law, but rather a kindred spirit who just wants to help the people who care about him. There is something admirable about Batman taking Harold in, it shows a shade of sympathy we don't see from Batman. Sure, adopting a few orphans is commendable, but you can chalk that up to self-impression. Batman adopts orphans because he is one. But Harold is a grown man, with no abilities of describing his past or how he feels. And yet Harold is treated with such respect and care, that truly shows Batman has a softer side. A side not driven by guilt or lust or fear, but rather compassion. The same compassion his parents felt for the people of Gotham City. I'm glad Harold is back and I hope to see him help the Batman Family in the future, he could make a great foil to Damian or maybe Jason. Wherever he may go, he's got my support!
Thanks for reading.
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