Good Knight sweet Bat-Prince: RIP Kevin Conroy

Bucketman

I have bad news everyone, it is being reported that after a brief bout with cancer, Kevin Conroy, the voice of Batman, has passed away at 66.

https://gizmodo.com/kevin-conroy-dead-obituary-batman-dc-comics-rip-1849772917

I don't think I would be into comic books, or cartoons as much as I am if it wasn't for Batman the Animated Series and the amazing performance by Conroy. Dude was a treasure and will be missed

BahamutZERO

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck

Depressperado

aw dangit

Donnicton

He is also the voice of Batman for most of Batman's appearances in video games as well, so even if you never saw TAS or later Justice League cartoons, chances are you've at least heard him from the Arkham games. He's as iconic to Batman as Hamill is to Joker/Sorkin as Harley.

DarkPrimus

I had no idea he was ill.

Raijin Quickfoot

Fuck cancer

GR_Zombie

https://youtu.be/wThPHMGWZXg

Brolo

TheySlashThem

there's been a lot of talk over the years about what makes a good batman performance

usually the prevailing theory is that it comes down to playing two modes, the grim noire I AM THE NIGHT-ass batman, and the goofier bruce wayne persona

most actors get at least one right, a few get both

but in my mind, conroy's secret sauce was nailing a third mode that gets ignored too often: the batman who wants to help people

like the voice is still gruff and still clearly batman but he's trying to comfort you

and like, that can be a hard sell! okay sure, yeah, this maniac in a bat costume wants to help the mutilated district attorney with his mental illness, or help the blob man find a cure, or hell get the mob boss ventriloquist a steady job so he can get back on his feet, whatever you say dude

but conroy made it work like no one else has

he was fucking batman

The Judge

Generational loss.

Cancer can get fucked.

Brolo

TheySlashThem wrote: »

there's been a lot of talk over the years about what makes a good batman performance

usually the prevailing theory is that it comes down to playing two modes, the grim noire I AM THE NIGHT-ass batman, and the goofier bruce wayne persona

most actors get at least one right, a few get both

but in my mind, conroy's secret sauce was nailing a third mode that gets ignored too often: the batman who wants to help people

like the voice is still gruff and still clearly batman but he's trying to comfort you

and like, that can be a hard sell! okay sure, yeah, this maniac in a bat costume wants to help the mutilated district attorney with his mental illness, or help the blob man find a cure, or hell get the mob boss ventriloquist a steady job so he can get back on his feet, whatever you say dude

but conroy made it work like no one else has

he was fucking batman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOooJW5SSDA

yeah

HeadCreeps

The Batman Animated Series was one of my and my brothers' favorite shows growing up in the 90s, and learning more about Conroy especially over the past few years, really deepens the pain

And TheySlashThem really hit the nail on the head regarding Conroy's performance - he brought that element of empathy and ultimately, humanity to the character, something which is sorely lacking with Batman's newer iterations

God, this fucking sucks. I'm not usually so emotional over "celebrity deaths," but this one really stings

GR_Zombie

TheySlashThem wrote: »

there's been a lot of talk over the years about what makes a good batman performance

usually the prevailing theory is that it comes down to playing two modes, the grim noire I AM THE NIGHT-ass batman, and the goofier bruce wayne persona

most actors get at least one right, a few get both

but in my mind, conroy's secret sauce was nailing a third mode that gets ignored too often: the batman who wants to help people

like the voice is still gruff and still clearly batman but he's trying to comfort you

and like, that can be a hard sell! okay sure, yeah, this maniac in a bat costume wants to help the mutilated district attorney with his mental illness, or help the blob man find a cure, or hell get the mob boss ventriloquist a steady job so he can get back on his feet, whatever you say dude

but conroy made it work like no one else has

he was fucking batman

That voice is seriously so key to the whole thing. That voice feels the closest we get to hearing the real Bruce Wayne, and the way he used it less and less as the DCAU went on and his Batman became more jaded and cold was masterful if intended, pure kismet if not. You can hear Bruce lose more of himself to the Bat, to the point where by Batman Beyond, he no longer even thinks of himself as anything but Batman.

Straightzi

He wrote a very good comic for DC's Pride special this year about his journey with finding the iconic Batman voice - I highly recommend tracking that down if you've not read it


Found it. Content warning for the f-slur, but y'know, highly, highly recommended:

https://twitter.com/_hanatwothree/status/1591100740290113536

Kyougu

Obligatory

https://youtu.be/57zFkL9GSZA

Munkus Beaver

Well this came out of left field and hit like a truck.

Johnny Chopsocky

Usually celebrity deaths are kinda just... there. Some are more tragic than others, some are shocking, but the most I feel towards them is "Well, that stinks"

Kevin Conroy, though... feels like my childhood just got punched in the solar plexus. That's Batman who just died. And Bruce Wayne, because he was the only actor who successfully pulled off being both.

... After I'm done with God of War, I'm going through the Arkham games again. And watching BTAS.

destroyah87

Yeah. This loss hurts. Usually I get a little sad but am going on with my life pretty quick. But this one hits different. Batman was my first superhero exposure vie my dad's old DC comics.

The Btas and Justice League are still the versions of the characters that live in my head. Conroy was Batman. The one clip from Batman Beyond ("The voice kept calling me "Bruce". In my mind, that's not what I call myself.") is still the one I point to as the iconic distillation of Batman.

Even with Conroy gone, I'm mostly ok. But the day feels a little darker than it was going to be.

Munkus Beaver

And here's his first line reading of perhaps his most iconic line:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xbbpH-20ak

RoyceSraphim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLQmfxWjNoI

Sweeney Tom

This makes me even madder that HBO Max cancelled the Abrams "Batman: Caped Crusader" show, and I hope someone somewhere picks it up for distribution down the line so the last Batman stuff he got to do voice acting for gets a chance at being heard and seen

AngelHedgie

Munkus Beaver wrote: »

And here's his first line reading of perhaps his most iconic line:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xbbpH-20ak

That scene hits a lot harder after reading the story he did for DC Pride.

DouglasDanger

Damn

Kyougu

The thing that struck me about Conroy is that he truly seemed to realize what impact he had in some many people lives.

And he always appeared to be grateful and enjoy all those interactions.

Ms Dapper

https://twitter.com/abrahamjoseph/status/1591110521377280004/video/1

MegaMan001

Man. Fuck!

Tonkka

I just-

I'll come back later.

MegaMan001

I've been thinking about this for the last hour or so and man, this really bothers me.

RT800

Always felt odd to hear anyone else voicing Batman. He and Hamill really owned their respective roles.

Athenor

Ms Dapper wrote: »

https://twitter.com/abrahamjoseph/status/1591110521377280004/video/1

WB execs: Fucking with things for decades.

RMS Oceanic

Mask of the Phantasm is the best Batman movie hands down

Alexandier

This guy was my Batman, my introduction was reruns of Adam West and Caesar Romano live ove action in the 80s but animated series with Conroy and Hamill was what made me love Batman in middle/high school.
Granted I'm into my cups, but this is the second time I have shed tears for the man, the first was when I read his contribution to DC pride(which is free now and worth a ready if you do.egow.missed it).

Taken too young, rest well.

Dirtyboy

I had just started replaying Arkham City yesterday so this really hurts.

Munkus Beaver

Ms Dapper wrote: »

https://twitter.com/abrahamjoseph/status/1591110521377280004/video/1

Yeah, this scene is perhaps the best someone has ever been at portraying batman.

Johnny Chopsocky

Ms Dapper wrote: »

https://twitter.com/abrahamjoseph/status/1591110521377280004/video/1

My favorite thing about the Robert Pattinson Batman is that his Batman is the one that got the closest to this scene. This portrayal, that admission that being Batman sucks and he's never allowed to turn it off and he'd love for a way out to exist but the world refuses him time and time again.

Kevin Conroy left the world a 30 year blueprint on how to portray Batman, and it's a crime that so few of the live action filmmakers and actors even look at that blueprint.

Ms Dapper

Another great part, especially in early days of B:TAS is you really get to see Bruce as a guy who exists and has fun in addition to his Batmaning. Him being friends with Harvey for multiple episodes before he turns makes it hit so much more and it's a lot cause he makes them come across as actual friends.

GR_Zombie

Watching The Grey Ghost, and this hits different now that they’re both gone.

Donnicton

https://twitter.com/MarkHamill/status/1591165187293609986

Centipede Damascus

https://twitter.com/EmpireStateBldg/status/1591120008209256448

FCD

Ms Dapper wrote: »

https://twitter.com/abrahamjoseph/status/1591110521377280004/video/1

I've always loved that this scene ends with Andrea telling him it's okay to let go. The mercy and kindness of that is beautiful.

Tonkka

Also RIP Captain Sunshine.