Harold Allnut

Harold Allnut
Harold Allnut on the cover of Batman 458
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	The Question #33 (Dec 1989)
Created by	Dennis O'Neil Alan Grant
In-story information
Full name	Harold Allnut
Team affiliations	Batman Family
Supporting character of	Batman
Abilities	Gifted technologist

Harold Allnut is a fictional character in DC Comics and is an aide of Batman. He helped to design, build, and repair Batman's equipment.

Harold has two major disabilities: he is mute and suffers from Kyphosis (the same condition afflicted on Quasimodo). However, he proved to be very gifted in terms of technology and electronics.

Harold Allnut first appeared in The Question #33 and was created by Dennis O'Neil and Alan Grant.

Harold is a mute hunchbacked man who is expelled from his house in Gotham City and subsequently travels to Hub City. Initially his full name is not revealed and he goes only by 'Harold'. His first appearance in a Batman comic occurs the first part of the story arc Penguin Affair. Harold is initially cast as a henchman for the Penguin, who had conned Harold to work for him and build deadly machines with which he could threaten Gotham City. Months after putting an end to Penguin's scheme, Batman finds Harold in an abandoned building and saves him from a mob of angry parents who have mistaken him for a child molester due to his appearance.

After rescuing Harold, Batman gives him a home and a position in the Batcave, working as a technological aide in his war on crime. A diary entry in 'The Batman Files' explains Alfred's first encounter with Harold. The newcomer is delighted to have advanced technology to work with while Alfred has doubts. Batman explains Harold's poor living conditions and Alfred is pleased at Harold's rescue. Harold's assistance continues even after Bruce Wayne is disabled while fighting the villain Bane in the Knightfall storyline. Harold builds a unique wheelchair for Wayne, which includes multiple surprises such as emergency shelter. During the story arc Knightsaga, the new Batman, Jean-Paul Valley, ejects Harold, along with Ace the Bat-Hound and Robin, from the main Batcave. Harold and Ace manage to sneak into a hidden subsection of the cave where Harold continues to work, eventually aiding Nightwing, Robin, and Bruce Wayne to retake the cave from Valley. Harold resumes his position as Batman's technological aide and also designs a new costume for Nightwing. He worked with Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley) by request of Batman for a time before the death of the former. During this time he lived in Azrael's new home, a converted castle.