For anyone who hasn't heard yet, Alfred died in the comics a while ago, and this year his "replacement," Verity Pennyworth, was introduced.
And this might be an unpopular opinion, but I'd love for her to end up being one of DC's aroace characters.
Yeah, part of the reason is the lack of representation (there are fewer than ten aroace characters in DC, and most ace characters aren't even aroace or aromantic). But that's not my main reason.
If Verity is going to take Alfred's place, I'd like her to inherit the kind of relationships he had. Alfred never needed a romance to become one of DC's most beloved characters (honestly, I think most people don't even know he has a daughter or had a few love interests). He was Bruce's support, practically a father to the Batfamily, someone who took care of them, called them out when they needed it, and, like any good character, made mistakes too.
Verity is young and pretty. And if we've already seen DC do things like Barbara x Bruce or Selina x Dick... what's stopping a writer from eventually making her the love interest of someone in the Batfamily?
That's where I'd like her to be aroace.
Not because being aroace would automatically make her a better character, but because an established LGBTQ+ identity is one of the few things DC tends to respect across different creative teams. Kate Kane, for example, has never been given a boyfriend after being established as a lesbian.
And since Verity will probably become an important character because of her connection to Alfred and the Wayne family, it'd be even harder for a future writer to suddenly decide she should date someone in the Batfamily.
I just like the idea of her remaining what Alfred's successor is supposed to be: someone who supports the Batfamily, not the next romance of the month.
I also hope she doesn't end up being just "female Alfred." Let her have her own strengths, flaws, and personality. She can absolutely keep some of Alfred's wit and sarcasm, but I'd rather see her become her own character. I called her Alfred's "replacement" at the beginning because, well... she basically is. But I'd love for DC to show that she's really his successor, not just a copy.
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