R.I.P. KEVIN CONROY - THE VOICE OF BATMAN
I was extremely saddened this morning to learn that Kevin Conroy, the man who has been THE voice of Batman for thirty years, has passed away from cancer.
Conroy first won over audiences and comic book fans with his spot-on portrayal of Bruce Wayne and Batman in Batman: The Animated Series (1992). This also the start of the DC Animated Universe.
He continued as Batman in the spin-off animated film, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. The film was loosely based on the comic book story Batman: Year Two, and is considered by many to be the best Batman film - live-action or animated - ever!
Conroy returned to voice Batman again when The New Batman Adventures (1997) premiered, which - even though it featured different character and production design, was a continuation of B:TAS.
In 1997 there was a three-part World’s Finest crossover between Superman: The Animated Series (1996) and The New Batman Adventures. Conroy’s Batman met - and briefly fought - Tim Daly’s Superman, before both heroes teamed-up to take down the Joker and Luthor. This crossover was later complied into the straight-to-video The Batman/Superman Movie: World’s Finest.
This was followed up by Batman Beyond (1999), where Conroy portrayed a much older Bruce Wayne who, very reluctantly, passes on the mantle of Batman to a young successor.
Following that, Conroy and Batman returned to the present day for Justice League (2001) and Justice League Unlimited (2004).
Along the way, Conroy voice Batman for additional, straight-to-video films, video and computer games, and would even record messages on answering machines (remember those?) for friends.
Conroy again returned to the role in the 2009 animated film Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. Here he was reunited with actor Tim Daly, who returned for the first time as Superman (actor George Newbern voiced Superman in the two Justice League series).
The two men would reprise their roles a year later in the follow-up film Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010).
Skip ahead to 2016 and Conroy’s Batman appeared in Justice League Action, a fun-filled, action-packed series that took refused to take itself too seriously while telling great stories. Conroy was the only original Justice League voice cast member who returned for this series.
The final time I encountered Conroy as Bruce Wayne was in the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths mega-crossover in 2019. It was a surprising departure from his previous portrayals, as this Bruce Wayne was bitter, deranged, and more than a little homicidal.
It’s a shame to lose a man who has defined Batman, and entertained millions of people, for so long. However, we are extremely lucky that he left such a large body of work for us to enjoy.
Rest in peace, Kevin Conroy.
