Kevin Conroy was the voice of the Dark Knight for the last 30 years. Many of today’s generation might not know it, but odds are their first iteration of Batman most likely came from Kevin Conroy. Before Bale, Affleck, or Pattinson, they most likely came across an episode of Batman the Animated Series or an animated film. The voice has been imprinted in our brains for so long that we can’t help but hear Conroy’s voice when we read Batman comic books. Which makes his passing that much more heartbreaking so to honor him, these are the 10 Best Kevin Conroy Performances as Batman
Also Read: James Gunn Prioritizing ‘Superman: Legacy’ over John Cena’s Peacemaker Season 2
Justice League Unlimited, Season 1, Episode 5 “This Little Piggy”
This one might come off as a bit of a weird choice for this list, however, this is a list that covers Conroy’s best performances and we can’t help but appreciate that one time Batman sang on stage. When Wonder Woman gets turned into a pig by the sorceress Circe, Batman decides to take the help of Zatanna. Except this isn’t a battle that can be won on a battlefield, but rather an exchange. Circe makes a request for Batman to sing Am I Blue on a stage to an audience. Batman agrees and we get one of the most selfless moments by the Dark Knight for his friend. A moment we never thought we’d experience from Batman, let alone Kevin Conroy.
Batman Beyond, Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2 “Rebirth”
Many episodes from this hit series could have been added to this list, but we had to go with the one that kicked it off. The idea that Kevin Conroy signed on to return for a completely new series that asks him to play only Bruce Wayne and not Batman, is a tough pitch to make. But Conroy agreed and gave us a new perspective on the mythos that we didn’t know we needed until we saw it for ourselves. Portraying a much older and grumpier version of Bruce Wayne, as he once again takes on a prodigy to become the new Batman.
Batman the Animated Series Season 1, Episode 34 “I am the Night”
Potentially one of the most emotional and deep episodes of the Animated Series. When Commissioner Gordon is injured during an altercation that involves a battle between Batman and the mob, Batman fails to protect Gordon which results in serious injury. Batman takes full responsibility and begins to question the purpose of his crusade as the Dark Knight. Kevin Conroy shines in this episode by projecting the emotional conflict of Batman and the struggles he faces as he tries to refocus on his mission.
Batman the Animated Series Season 1, Episode 10 “Nothing to Fear”
The Dark Knight confronts his darkest fears when he faces off against the Scarecrow. This episode finally gave us the first time Conroy spoke the words “I am vengeance, I am the night, I am Batman” which has since been a staple of Batman. Since this episode, it is the line fans would beg Conroy to say when they would meet him. It has since been redone by Kevin Conroy over the years in other forms of media, including Arkham Knight. Even though Keaton might have been the one to first “I’m Batman” it was this episode where Kevin Conroy made it iconic.
Batwoman Season 1, Episode 9 “Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Two”
A moment Batman fans never thought we would get the chance to see, Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne in a live-action performance. During the epic CW event that saw a massive crossover between the Arrowverse, Kate Kane and Kara Danvers travel to reality with a jaded Bruce Wayne that has become angry and hateful towards Superman and others with similar abilities. A unique spin on Batman and an even better performance by the man himself, which also took inspiration from the graphic novel Kingdom Come. Thankfully, we were able to get a memorable live-action iteration before he passed away.
The Arkham Games
Prior to this iconic video game series, we didn’t have very many great superhero video games. But in 2009, that all changed with Batman: Arkham Asylum. And just when we thought that game couldn’t be topped, we got the acclaimed Batman: Arkham City which set the standard for comic book video games. But developers Rocksteady decided to take one step further with the conclusion to their trilogy Batman: Arkham Knight. Gratefully, we were blessed with the best Batman games to date and made all that much better by not only Conroy as Batman but Mark Hamill as The Joker.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
The first animated Batman film with a theatrical release, Mask of the Phantasm provided a compelling origin story for Batman from the animated series and gave us a story that didn’t just give the Dark Knight a unique perspective but Bruce Wayne as well. As a man on a mission that is suddenly in jeopardy of being completed when Bruce manages to fall in love and find real happiness. Kevin Conroy had already been doing such a great job through the animated series, but it was this film that really allowed Conroy to discover his true Batman voice and perfected it for the future.
Batman: The Killing Joke
Skip to the last 30 minutes of this film, that’s the part you came to watch. Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke is one of the most renowned graphic novels of all time. Fans have been begging for an animated adaptation for years, so the hype was there when it was finally announced. But the hype skyrocketed when it was announced that Conroy and Hamill would be showing up as Batman and the Joker. While the studio wanted to create enough content for a full feature-length film, it’s the last 30 minutes of the movie that truly delves into the iconic story and we finally get to see Moore’s story adapted with those voices in the role.
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
An often-underrated film, but truly a masterpiece of an animated film. Return of the Joker takes place in the future of the animated series, with an elderly retired Wayne and his prodigy Terry. While Terry has managed to develop his own deadly rouges gallery, nothing has prepared him for the return of Batman’s greatest foe the Joker. Now Terry has to face this new Joker and uncover how the Clown Prince of Crime is back before he destroys Gotham. Kevin Conroy provides us with moments we haven’t normally seen from Bruce Wayne, from fear and disappointment to a burst of hysterical painful laughter.
Justice League: Doom
Another underrated animated film that finds Vandal Savage form the Legion of Doom with a plan to not only defeat the Justice League but completely annihilate them. Savage sends the Mirror Master into the Batcave to extract files on Batman’s computer with plans on how to subdue each member of the Justice League. Savage takes one step further and alters the plans to kill each member, so just as the League thinks they are under attack by the Legion of Doom, they are actually attacked by Batman himself. Kevin Conroy as Batman provides some of the best one-liners and monologues in the film. With an entire scene dedicated to Batman explaining the purpose of the plans and his concerns about a member of the League becoming evil.
What are your 10 Best Kevin Conroy Performances as Batman? Let us know what we missed!
