Batman Vs Superman: 7 Key Details To Make Jeremy Irons The Definitive Alfred

7. Comic Relief

The original conception of Alfred was little more than a comedic foil for the Caped Crusader and his Boy Wonder sidekick. He appeared first in Batman #16 (1943) as a pudgy amateur detective who aspired to a level of crime detection achieved by Batman and Robin. Following the success and popularity of the 1943 Batman serial, Alfred's appearance and demeanor was changed. By January of the following year, Detective Comics #83 featured an Alfred very like the one we know today. But although the comedy has been toned down considerably from those initial appearances, Alfred still remains the primary source of comic relief in almost every incarnation of the Batman mythos. Michael Gough and Michael Caine - the cinematic predecessors to Irons in the role - took every advantage of this character element. Caine's portrayal was obviously a little more real-world, to match the rest of the Nolanverse, while Gough largely provided dry humor with a small side of fatherly wisdom. And so Irons's portrayal will likewise have to fit inside the universe that began with Man of Steel - a universe nearly as gritty as Nolan's, but lacking the same level of realism (hence, you know, aliens in Metropolis). Expect Irons's level of comic relief to fall somewhere between Gough and Caine. Irons isn't known for comedic roles, so his wit as Alfred should be fun to watch.