Of all of the superheroes to grace the pages of comedian ebook historical past, none is extra immediately recognizable than Batman. With extra books persistently revealed than every other single character, and big quantities of live-action, animated, and online game content material launched yearly, The Dark Knight is by far the preferred superhero. Having been performed by a wide range of performers, out of all those that have portrayed the Caped Crusader all through the years, nobody is extra synonymous with the character than Kevin Conroy.
With the information of Conroy’s tragic passing, it makes us marvel if anybody will be capable of rise to the identical iconic standing as his Batman. Having performed the character in additional particular person mediums than anybody else, Kevin Conroy’s huge legacy will little doubt be remembered for many years to return, and he’ll endlessly be immortalized by many as their Batman. To honor Conroy’s legacy, listed below are his 9 greatest Batman performances throughout the varied mediums during which he portrayed the character. Sure, nearly each Kevin Conroy-as-Batman efficiency is flawless, however these are among the best possible.
9/9 Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995, 1997-1999)
The one which began all of it, Conroy’s work on Batman: The Animated Series was groundbreaking because the collection grew to become the quintessential Batman work that reestablished the character for generations to return. More followers had been launched to Batman by means of Conroy’s work on The Animated Series than every other medium, and there’s a transparent motive why. Between the present’s trendy animation, gothic world, and unbelievable vocal performers (Mark Hamill’s Joker got here out of this collection too), Batman: The Animated Series might be probably the most notable Batman-related work exterior the unique DC comedian books.
But the present didn’t simply dive into Batman’s superheroics, it additionally delved into the private lifetime of Bruce Wayne, and Conroy’s clear change in cadence between the 2 just isn’t not like Christopher Reeve’s transformation from Clark Kent to Superman. The collection was so immensely fashionable that it sparked a 24-episode revival dubbed The New Batman Adventures, just a few function movies, and your complete DC Animated Universe. For a full have a look at Conroy’s vary because the Dark Knight, try the enduring episodes “Heart of Ice,” “Nothing to Fear,” “Perchance to Dream,” “I Am The Night,” and “Over the Edge.”
8/9 Batman Beyond (1999-2001) / Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
The quick sequel to Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond was a trailblazer for Batman-related media because it featured a futuristic Batman that wasn’t truly Bruce Wayne. Following the adventures of the younger Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle), this Batman is educated and mentored by an aged Bruce Wayne, with Conroy reprising the position. Conroy’s Batman might not be the lead right here, however he nonetheless brings his A-game, coaching his successor to keep away from his errors and, ultimately, be his personal sort of Batman.
Batman Beyond ended up tying in deeply to the remainder of the DC Animated Universe and spawned the universally-loved function movie Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, which primarily ended the collection. To today, Return of the Joker — which does function some Conroy-as-Batman in there — continues to be thought-about one in every of one of the best Batman animated motion pictures, and it is apparent why. Both the Batman Beyond collection and the Return of the Joker movie show that Kevin Conroy has the power to not simply make Batman attention-grabbing, however Bruce Wayne as nicely. An spectacular feat certainly.
7/9 Justice League/Justice League Unlimited (2001-2006)
To tie Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series collectively, the animated Justice League collection was born in 2001. The collection united Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and a number of different heroes collectively to cease among the DC Universe’s worst threats, from alien invaders and historic gods to supervillains and alternate universe counterparts. Naturally, Conroy returned to play the Dark Knight in a collection that might develop the character in methods he by no means had the possibility to on his personal solo collection.
Here, Batman is compelled to work alongside different superheroes, particularly those that are extra highly effective than he’s. The collection ran for 2 seasons earlier than its sequel collection, Justice League Unlimited was launched, increasing the Justice League far past the unique seven members. This allowed Conroy’s Batman the chance to work alongside different distinctive heroes and even additional challenged the character’s personal fears about metahuman dominance. Conroy followers ought to particularly try the JLU episode “This Little Piggy,” which exhibits the total scope of the actor’s vocal vary (belief us, it’s a must to see it).
6/9 The Arkham Trilogy (2009-2015)
Though Kevin Conroy was most well-known for his animated appearances because the Dark Knight Detective, he wasn’t essentially restricted by that medium. Beginning in 2009’s Batman: Arkham Asylum, Conroy portrayed Batman within the Arkham collection of video video games that featured the Caped Crusader as he infiltrated Arkham to cease the Joker from utilizing Gotham’s best villains to ultimately take over your complete metropolis. As the collection continued with Arkham City and the finale Arkham Knight, Conroy follows the Dark Knight to his ultimate finish.
With the exception of Batman: Arkham Origins, Conroy did the vast majority of the Dark Knight’s vocal work all through the Arkham collection, together with the cell video games and the spin-off animated movie, Batman: Assault on Arkham, which is a fairly nice standalone. As one full story — with a “detective mode” function in addition — the Batman: Arkham trilogy is without doubt one of the greatest Batman tales instructed in recent times, taking Conroy’s Batman and Mark Hamill’s Joker to new heights (and deeper lows). Though the Joker is the principle adversary, the Scarecrow ranges are one of the best components of the sport, reminding us that Conroy’s Batman is at his greatest when he faces his fears.
5/9 Injustice: Gods Among Us/Injustice 2 (2013, 2017)
Another online game collection, this one isn’t strictly concerning the Dark Knight. Rather, Injustice: Gods Among Us and its sequel Injustice 2 happen in a world the place Superman misplaced his Lois Lane (and unborn youngster) to the Joker and determined to take his revenge. After killing the Clown Prince of Crime, Superman launches his personal regime to crack down on crime and scare the world into submission. Opposing him stands Kevin Conroy’s Batman who leads his personal Insurgency to take down the Man of Steel and reclaim the world for the powerless.
Not solely is the Mortal Kombat-style gameplay enjoyable and thrilling, however this resistance-leader Batman is a compelling tackle the character, full with uneasy alliances and sophisticated rivalries with former family and friends members. There’s loads to like about these combating video games, which even spawned an incredible prequel comedian ebook collection and an animated adaptation, which oddly didn’t function Conroy as Batman… Still, the Insurgency Batman is a fantastic addition to Conroy’s huge assortment of Batman performances, and one which’s fairly distinctive within the grand scheme.
4/9 Justice League: Doom (2012)
Based on the Mark Waid story “JLA: Tower of Babel,” Justice League: Doom is an animated function that exhibits what would occur if the Legion of Doom discovered and took Batman’s contingency plans towards the Justice League, plans that included their best weaknesses. As Batman races to avoid wasting the League, he’s compelled to confront the results of his selections, and his allegiance to the JLA is even introduced into query. Not solely is that this one of many higher DC animated options, however it’s based mostly on top-of-the-line Justice League tales ever written.
Kevin Conroy’s Batman is unbelievable right here as at all times and seems like a pure continuation of his position on Justice League Unlimited. The means Conroy coolly performs Batman right here, who doesn’t appear as remorseful as he possibly ought to’ve been contemplating his plans virtually helped finish the world, is a signature of the character. A really Batman-centric Justice League story, this one is a must-see for followers of the larger DC Universe, particularly those that cherished the unique Justice League animated collection.
3/9 Crisis on Infinite Earths (2019)
The first and solely live-action efficiency that Kevin Conroy gave because the Dark Knight, his position within the five-part “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover occasion is outstanding, and the one official look of Bruce Wayne within the Arrowverse up to now. In the Batwoman hour of the crossover, Conroy performed the Earth-99 model of Bruce, which was impressed by the model from the epic Kingdom Come comedian ebook. Unlike his different performances as Batman, this older and defeated Bruce Wayne is one unafraid to kill.
While this isn’t the standard Batman, Kevin Conroy sells it in live-action simply as a lot as he does behind a microphone. His confrontation along with his alternate universe cousin Kate Kane aka Batwoman (Ruby Rose) is direct and form of terrifying. Though he isn’t on-screen for very lengthy, Kevin Conroy’s live-action Batman calls for your undivided consideration — he even sucker punches Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) with a Kryptonite gauntlet! Admittedly, it was an odd option to solid Kevin Conroy as an evil Batman in his solely live-action flip because the Dark Knight, however it’s however fairly cool to see his iconic Batman voice truly match his bodily lips.
2/9 Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
Although this animated function was based mostly on top-of-the-line Batman comics ever written, Batman: The Killing Joke is sarcastically one of many worst Batman animated options on the market, however that does not imply Kevin Conroy would not ship. The first half of the movie is an odd Batgirl-centric prequel that doesn’t do a lot for the again half of the movie, which fortunately follows the unique comedian ebook. Regardless of the vital reception to the general plot, Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill shine brightest right here as Batman and the Joker, reciting Alan Moore’s epic Killing Joke dialogue verbatim, which brings chills to any Batman fan watching.
After ready years to see Moore’s Batman basic dropped at life, many people had been a bit upset by the primary half of the movie, however as soon as The Killing Joke story will get rolling, Conroy brings his A-game because the Caped Crusader. His monologue when confronting the false Joker at Arkham Asylum is Conroy at his greatest as Batman flirts with darkness. If you narrow out a lot of the Batgirl stuff (and the bit the place the Joker sings), there are some highly effective moments right here ripped straight from the comedian ebook, moments that remind us simply why Kevin Conroy is the definitive Batman.
1/9 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
The greatest Batman movie of all of them (sure, together with the live-action ones), Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was the primary animated Batman function to be launched theatrically, and there isn’t any query why. It’s an epic story that dives deep into Bruce Wayne’s previous, his reasoning for changing into Batman, and his ill-fated love affair that turned bitter. Of course, Conroy’s Batman goes up towards Hamill’s Joker on this one too, however the true deal with is his confrontations with the titular Phantasm who has terrorized Gotham’s felony underbelly. Of all Kevin Conroy’s Batman performances, there’s one thing nonetheless very particular about Mask of the Phantasm.
Yes, this one is a Batman: The Animated Series function movie, one which captures the very coronary heart and soul of the basic collection, however it’s a lot greater than that. Though others like Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero are wonderful additions, Mask of the Phantasm is what all actually nice Batman tales must be. Though his Batman might have been solidified as the best in his work on The Animated Series, it is Batman: Mask of the Phantasm that explores Kevin Conroy’s vary one of the best. It’s apparent right here why he’s the definitive Batman, and why he at all times will likely be.