RIP Kevin Conroy, the Definitive Batman

I can’t believe I’m writing this.

I’m sitting here with tears welling up in my eyes as I think of what this man’s work, his career, has meant to me.

RIP, Kevin Conroy. The voice of Batman for 30 years. The man who owned the role for so long, to the point that I had a difficult time even listening to anyone else play the character. And there have been many others, even disregarding the live action versions of the Caped Crusader. Rino Romano, Diedrich Bader, Roger Craig Smith, Troy Baker, Bruce Greenwood, Jason O’Mara… even Michael Ironside played the role briefly.

But Kevin Conroy was a singular talent. From the moment I heard him say “I am vengeance! I am the night! I…AM…BATMAN!!!”, I was amazed. Thinking back to three years before I heard that iconic line, I was eight years old when Batman ‘89 released in theaters (I wasn’t allowed to see it because of the dark, gothic tone, haha), but I beheld the Batmania. I bought the toys. I collected the Topps trading cards, which was how I learned the story of the film. Eventually, I saw it, and it’s one of my top five favorite comic book movies to this day. Michael Keaton was awesome as the Dark Knight.

Then, in 1992, I saw the first episode of Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, and Paul Dini’s Batman: The Animated Series. This was EXACTLY what I wanted from a Batman cartoon. And over the years, it’s remained an all-time favorite of mine. A legendary series, with not one, but two, amazing lead performers heading up the cast. One was Mark Hamill, our erstwhile (at the time) Luke Skywalker, as the Joker. The other was Conroy, delivering note-perfect lines, elevating the material beyond anything I’d seen up to that point in my life.

I never had the opportunity to meet the man, but Conroy always seemed like he had the sweetest, most empathetic, kindest soul. He made time for his fans, and he helped people wherever he could through charity work. I wish I could have spent just a minute with him. Thirty seconds, even, just to express my appreciation for everything he’s done. Not just for me, but for society in general.

And I’d thank him for sharing his own story, as well, because his Batman was born out of painful, but incredible, circumstances. The catharsis that role brought him is the same catharsis I feel now, as I write this. Maybe that’s the silver lining here: even though he’s gone, Kevin’s life has touched so many others, including mine. And we’ll never stop singing his praises, or quoting and paraphrasing his infamous line.

So, say it with me, in his honor:

WE ARE VENGEANCE. WE ARE THE NIGHT. WE…ARE…BATMAN!!!

Thank you, Kevin Conroy. Rest in peace. Rest in power. And we’ll see you on the other side.

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