10 Terrible Mistakes That Almost Ruined Batman For Everyone

7. Alfred Pennyworth: Bungling Detective

Alfred wasn't always the pinnacle of virtue and the grounding influence that he currently is on Batman (particularly in the film series,) he was originally conceived as a comic foil for Batman and Robin, and his early appearances reinforced that agenda.

Rather than the near-regal companion he would later become, Alfred's early duties saw him attempting to be a detective in his own right, bungling his way through cases, including in his own four-page feature, which somehow lasted for thirteen issues up to Batman #36.

In those stories, Alfred would invariably foil a criminal plot entirely by accident. It's difficult not to imagine Alfred as similar to Inspector Clouseau, and the long-term consequences of that could have cast massive ripples on the universe

Thankfully, the comedic aspects of his character were downplayed and dropped, reinventing the character for the better and establishing the model for the character that would continue up to the modern day. And even worse than his short-lived exploits as a clown detective€, he almost didn't last at all...