Batman vs. Robin #1 brings back a beloved member of the Bat-family... or does it?

gamesradar.com:

Batman fans have mourned his beloved friend, surrogate father, confidant, and butler since he died three years ago... 

But despite a reluctantly hopeful opening to the new Batman vs. Robin limited series, Alfred Pennyworth might not be back from the dead. At least, not according to the ominous tone set by a new Batman vs. Robin #1 preview from DC. 

Batman vs. Robin #1, written by Mark Waid, illustrated by Mahmud Asrar, colored by Jordie Bellaire, and lettered by Steve Wands will be available September 13, and following a first look in which it seems Alfred has somehow been resurrected, the newest preview suggests something might not be what it first appears. 

It'd be a cruel joke to play on Bruce Wayne, seeing as his parents' murder drives his entire mission to rid Gotham of crime, and Alfred is the closest thing he's had to a father since his childhood. But with Bruce's son, Damian, potentially giving into his al Ghul ancestry and demonic side, it makes sense that someone might be trying to lure Batman into a trap. 

But to be fair, the preview ends ambiguously enough that things could go either way. And 2020-2021's Dark Nights: Death Metal did leave an editorial back door open to pretty much any and all dead characters being resurrected. 

So we'll see on September 13. 

Check out the 10-page preview below for the context along with a gallery of covers:

Alfred was killed in the 2019 'City of Bane' arc written by Tom King. He was brought back as a desiccated corpse in 2021's Death Metal #7, and now something else might be wearing his skin... though he has so much knowledge of Bruce's manor and how to get into the Batcave that it's more than a little worrisome. If this is truly Alfred, Bruce can rest easy. But if it's