Batman is one of the most iconic superheroes in comics, and one of the most complex, with almost a century of accumulated knowledge behind him. With that Mariana Trench from mythology to explore, adaptations have always made perfect sense. From early film series to TV shows and beyond, we live in a world where Batman is always being remade and reimagined by someone.
One of the most successful remakes is Batman: The Animated Series, created by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski. Set in stark skyscraper canyons falling away beneath a menacing red sky, this cartoon introduced a new generation of viewers to Batman and his rogue’s gallery. The art was great, as were the noir-infused stories, but the casting was just as important. Here was Mark Hamill as the Joker, and the late Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn. And holding it all together was Kevin Conroy, stern and completely unknowable, and with only the slightest trace of grim humor, as Batman.
I’ve been thinking about Conroy a lot these past few days. His death among fans in 2022 devastated the community and underscored something that had been felt for a long time: Here was truly a Batman for the ages. This summer brought news of a new Batman game, Batman Arkham Shadow, with Roger Craig Smith returning to the character after his turn in Batman: Arkham Origins. New Arkham games are always welcome, and I’m sure Smith will do a great job. But it was a perfect opportunity for me to think about Conroy again and be grateful for what he brought to the role, regardless of the medium.
I can honestly say that Conroy’s voice defined a large part of my childhood. When he died, and I’m sure I’m not alone, I felt like part of my childhood memories had been changed forever. When I think of Batman these days, I think of Conroy. Even now, when I read a Batman comic, it’s Conroy’s voice speaking the lines in my head. Again, I’m sure I’m not alone in this.
Crucially, Conroy’s performance is, for me, the definitive take on both Batman and Bruce Wayne. He created the perfect dual-identity voice, where the change in tone as he moves between identities is subdued yet clear and distinctive. As he spent more time with the character, his performance also seemed to deepen. You feel more and more sorry for this tired man fighting a war he knows he can’t really win.
Even Batman fans who missed the Animated Series will be familiar with Conroy’s Batman. In the main trilogy of Arkham games, he gave an astonishingly rich performance. From that first ride to Arkham Asylum with the Joker in hand, Rocksteady’s decision to use the voices from the Animated Series paid off in terms of depth and groundedness. Here was a Batman you could actually believe in.
You see this in different ways. Despite the wide cast of villains and heroes, the main Arkham games are often essentially two-handers. There’s Batman crawling through a vent, and there’s the Joker, mocking him in his ear or in his head. Conroy and Hamill’s work on the Animated Series gave them a history of playing off each other to build on – Hamill becoming shriller and more devious as Conroy became quieter, more menacing and more reserved. Conroy channeled controlled anger into these performances, but there was something more: recognition, deep, deadly frustration with someone he’s had a real history with. These two were brilliant together.
And as the Arkham games progressed, they became more interested in exploring the psychological aspects of Batmam, all aided by the immersion that gaming provides, allowing players to delve into that head and into the character’s internal world of personal fear. The games take Batman to some truly strange places. A moment I’ll never forget is the death of the Joker at the end of Arkham City: a perfect moment of deep emotion from Conroy. I can see it now. Batman walks out the doors of the Monarch Theater and solemnly carries Joker’s body, clearly distressed and clearly confused. The scene almost suggests that Batman has lost a friend. Only Conroy could have made the following quote believable, in part because his Batman had already shown a range of emotions throughout the animated series:
“Even after everything you’ve done, I would have saved you.”
It’s clear that the role meant a lot to Conroy as well. For anyone interested in learning more about this remarkable actor, I recommend his contribution to DC Comics’ Pride Anthology 2022, Finding Batman, in which he talks about his experiences as a gay man working in the entertainment industry. (Conroy had felt the need to hide his sexuality over the years and spoke movingly about the discrimination he faced and the jobs he missed out on.)
Sometimes it feels like with Conroy gone, we live in a world without Batman. But the power of the character, and I think Conroy has understood this beautifully, is the way he can be reimagined and reinterpreted. There will be plenty of Batmans in the years to come, but Kevin Conroy will always be my Batman. And I will always be grateful.