Kevin Conroy: The Voice of Batman

Kevin Conroy has defined the voice of Batman over twenty years

Kevin Conroy has long been the voice of the Dark Knight both in movies, TV shows, and video games. Conroy’s first role as Batman was in the 1992 series Batman: The Animated Adventures. The series covered many of Batman fans favorite story lines with iconic DC villains and setting up Batman’s story for the longest on screen run of any of the connecting films or series. The series begins in Batman’s early days and ends with Batman at his prime and setting up the Justice League. The series was critically acclaimed and ranked the second best all-time animated series only after The Simpsons by Wizard magazine while being ranked the 7th best by TV Guide. It went on to spawn two feature films Batman Mask of the Phantasm, which covered the Joker’s origins and a former love interest. While another (Batman and Mr. Freeze: Subzero) covered a new Mr. Freeze story line. The series was not afraid to cover some of the darker tones of batman and was praised for its artistic quality.

At the show’s end a new series was released in 1997 as a continuation of the Batman story known as The New Batman Adventures. Kevin Conroy again voiced Batman although the stories often focused less on Batman and more so on the cast around him with Batgirl, Robin and future Justice Leaguers being featured in the series. The series also focused on transforming Conroy’s Batman to a more grim and serious character to contrast the lighthearted characters they had surrounded him with for this story line. Overall the series was a success although it was still not as successful as its original predecessor.

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Conroy’s next role as Batman would come directly after The New Adventures of Batman ended in 1999 as he would take on an aged role in Batman Beyond. The story yet again focuses primarily on the characters around Bruce Wayne and much less on the original Dark Knight himself. The premise is based on the fact that Batman has been retired for 20 years and the city is in need of a new Dark Knight which introduces high school student Terry McGinnis. Reluctant at first the series transforms the character and by the series end sees Terry as transformed into the new Batman aided by a high tech suit and fighting futuristic villains. The series while successful definitely is one of the saddest Batman animated stories due to taking place so far into the future and taking a darker tone then any of its predecessors. It later spawned a direct to video film Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker covering the possible return of the Joker and again features Conroy as Batman telling of the final confrontation between Batman and the Joker.

Conroy’s final appearance within this particular animated universe would span from 2001-2006 in the best Justice League story the animated universe has seen as of yet. The story begins during the large chunk of time that is missing between Batman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond the first series entitled The Justice League covered the early days of the League and Hawk Girls subsequent betrayal. Directly after the series ended a new series was formed Justice League Unlimited while it was a continuation of the Justice League story it faded many of the character out focusing on the supporting cast. While Batman was still a part of many of the story lines it hinted at the fact that Batman was beginning to be ready to re-focus his attention on Gotham.

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While these are the main roles that Kevin Conroy voiced Batman he also lent his voice to the role in many video games including the popular Arkham series and Injustice: Gods Among Us. A new film is in progress as well in which Conroy will voice Batman covering yet another Joker story line. Batman: The Killing Joke is slated to be released on DVD at some point in 2016 and will premiere at the San-Diego Comic Con in July. While Conroy has many accomplishments besides voicing the Dark Knight he will always be remembered by DC fans as the voice of Batman.

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