Batman: DC Comics’ Bat-Family characters ranked from worst to best
By Mark Lynch
![Ben Affleck (Batman / Bruce Wayne) in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Photograph by Courtesy of HBO Max Ben Affleck (Batman / Bruce Wayne) in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Photograph by Courtesy of HBO Max](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/23b9e38e0475cb8c74b6c83273c77a6b763e941be430b0f7729d54117ea5d05e.jpg)
1. Alfred Pennyworth
You don’t have to be a huge fan of Batman to know this man was going to be number one. Alfred Pennyworth is personally responsible for making Bruce Wayne the man he is today. He made sure that Bruce became smarter than most early on in his life. Part of it came from providing Bruce books. In Under the Red Hood, Alfred told a story about how he used to hide books and leave Bruce clues to find them. Things like this helped Bruce become the world’s greatest detective.
When Bruce became Batman, Alfred’s help continued to be vital (even if he didn’t approve of his new life). Alfred became Bruce’s eyes and ears from the Bat-Cave. There were times when he was asked to solve puzzles and mysteries while the Caped Crusader was in the field. Sometimes he even solved ones that Bruce couldn’t. Once, in I am Gotham, Alfred put on the Batman uniform to distract a villain who later defeated the entire Justice League. He may have done it with sass, but he got the job done.
If Alfred wasn’t the man he was, this list doesn’t exist. Alfred isn’t just responsible for Bruce. Jason, Tim, and Dick all look at him as a father figure. He raised them to be more than heroes. He showed them how to be adults and bestowed upon them life lessons they’ll never forget.
When Alfred died in City of Bane, it left a hole in the family. Everything chaotic we’re seeing in Bruce’s life at the moment wouldn’t have happened if Alfred was alive.
It’s likely we’ll see him back at some point. He’s missed by every Bat-Family member and the readers.
Comic book series to check out: Any Batman story he’s in. Alfred Pennyworth is flawless.
Next. All 11 Batman actors ranked from worst to best. dark
What do you think? How would you rank the members of the Bat-Family? Who else should’ve been on this list? Let us know in the comments below.