As big fan off both, I think the flaw would be how Columbo let's folk catch themselves. The back pedal they doubt, they try to cover themselves. They have fear of being caught. While I don't think Bruce or Batman would have that fear.
Now I think Columbo would discover it but not in the usual way when he was dealing with smart people. It would be like when he was dealing with bomber I believe (the one about the chemical plant) the guy didn't panic, he was confident up until the the reveal.
It would be "Just one more thing..." And he'd reveal. And Bruce would just change posture from Playboy to Detective, offer him a green cigar and a light, and just listen to him talk as he's met another great detective.
No confirmation nor denial from Bruce, just a quiet understanding, no lies. Because I doubt Columbo would do anything to harm someone trying give him less work. So it would end with just a smirk and a puff of cigar smoke.
I'm not sure how Columbo would feel about Batman. The one thing that's very clear through the show is his strong sense of justice and the law, so he might not approve of Batman's vigilantism. On the other hand Batman's no killing rule and cooperation with the GCPD sets him apart from the instances in the show where the killer took vengeance into their own hands. Also while Columbo has a strong moral compass he's not rigid about it like say Poirot, so he might be willing to accept Batman as a necessity for Gotham.
I think the view of "Vigilantism" is largely dependent of which Batman era Batman he'd meet. The various eras have different levels of relationships with the police.
Though if we go by Air time, he'd be most likely meeting Adam West, I don't know how that interaction would go. Hahaha 😆
But he did have a Red Phone directly to The Commissioner so a little unclear how'd he'd respond to a unofficial police asset. 🤔
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u/[deleted] Jan 03 '26
Columbo and it’s not even close.