The following article contains spoilers from Batman vs. Robin #1, on sale now.
Alfred Pennyworth's return within the pages of Batman vs. Robin #1 (by Mark Waid, Mahmud Asrar, Jordie Bellaire, and Steve Wands) is as much cause for joy as it is skepticism. However, by the end of the issue, Batman seems to accept that this is Alfred, and who better to make that judgment? What needs to be asked now is this: How will Alfred's return affect the status quo of the Bat-Family?
For most, it will be a reason to celebrate. One member, however, might find his return slightly inconvenient. As fans of Nightwing will know, he recently inherited a vast fortune from Alfred, which he used to fund the creation of a massive homeless shelter, as well as an entire charity foundation in Alfred's name. If this truly is Alfred, then this could mean Nightwing will have to give the money back to its original owner.
Now, this is a series of questions one could only ask within comic books. It's not every day that a fortune worth billions is bequeathed to a beloved surrogate son, only for the fortune's owner to actually be raised from the dead. Aside from the legal issues of trying to restore Alfred to a living status within proper documentation, there is also the question of what happened to his liquid assets that he held.
Alfred's fortune comes from careful investment over the years, as well as a gift of gratitude from the Wayne family that went unknown to many up until he died. It was perhaps the biggest proof of his undying love for the Wayne family: that he never quit being their trusty butler even though his fortune meant he would never have to work another day in his life. Now that he's back though, the question needs to be asked if, alongside his other legal holdings, will the money return to him as well?
The immediate consequence of such a decision would be to essentially bankrupt Nightwing. The funding for the Alfred Pennyworth Foundation would dry up almost instantly and all the hard work Nightwing put into making this place would be gone. On a more personal level, it would really force Dick Grayson to get an actual job. While he may be using this money for good, it's also highly likely he's been using it to keep himself afloat as well.
Alfred would likely feel guilty about such a turn of events, as he of all people could see Nightwing's done so much good work with the money that he otherwise left to languish. Which really begs the question of why Alfred didn't do something similar with his money. He may have just trusted that it would go to someone who could put it to better use. Ultimately, he was right, but if the money does go to him, it will force Nightwing to adapt his civilian life to accommodate such a change.