Bruce Wayne thought he was the Batman who made people laugh, when really it turns out – in Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #5 – his trusted butler Alfred Pennyworth was footing the bill to get people to play along the entire time.

Jimmy Olsen’s shenanigans have recently brought him to Gotham City, where (along with his best pal, Superman) he desperately seeks the attention of the Dark Knight in order to get his attention and help him figure out who exactly tried to off him in previous issues of the story. Unsurprisingly, a hyper-gritty Batman doesn’t want anything to do with him.

Batman is having a day to forget. While in the bathroom, he overhears a Wayne Enterprise employees talking about how they were paid to laugh at Bruce’s jokes. One guy claims he was paid “twenty a laugh,” by Alfred and that he teared up upon request because “Master Wayne enjoys seeing people cry.” Batman is a tough cookie. Bane broke his back and left him to die before. The Joker brutally murdered one of his sidekicks, as he was left to pick up the pieces. However, he seemingly cracks at the news Alfred has been paying for people to laugh at his jokes. It’s hard for him to swallow.

Rushing home to the Batcave, Bruce confronts Batman asking him how much he’s paid to have people laugh with him. Alfred utters the exact number, a staggering $85,400. He asks Bruce how he knew? “Because I’m an amazing detective, Alfred. AMAZING. Ask anyone.” Batman informs Alfred the amount will be docked out of his pay, and tells him to leave the edible arrangement he has because of course, “bwoocey… hungy.” As he sits around the Batcave with relics of his past, he puts a gag arrow on his head and claims “I’m also hilarious.”

There’s absolutely no way this joke works in any other story featuring Batman. Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber’s hilariously meta series is the perfect spot for the utter ridiculousness. Earlier in the book, they play up Bruce Wayne’s ego, parodying Tom King’s “Double Date” with a shallow date with an Instagram-like influencer. Bruce Wayne is exactly the guy who would think he’s hilarious when in actuality someone is paying for those laughs. It’s sad but perfect.

In his time as Bruce’s guardian, Alfred has done practically everything he can to protect Bruce. Pennyworth will patch him up when he’s hurt, give him assistance in cracking a case when needed, and apparently, will give people money for making Bruce seem hilarious. It’s a tough gig, but someone’s got to do it - even if it gives Batman a false sense of comedic confidence.

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