We remember Kevin Conroy’s Batman following news of the actor’s passing.
James Bond fans will argue until they’re blue in the face which actor is the best 007.
On this, Batman fans are in near universal agreement.
Conroypassed away this weekat age 66, but leaves behind a permanent mark on the legendary comic book hero.
It’s not that any of the other actors who have played the character arebad.
Nearly every one of them brings something fresh to the role.
But Conroy’s voice work helped to define Batman and Bruce Wayne as separate, individual people.
Conroy’s Batman was burdened and tired, but had endless compassion.
His Bruce Wayne, meanwhile, was disarmingly smooth in that brown suit and yellow shirt he always wore.
It was such a clear, audible thing that the live-action Batmen to follow would all emulate it.
Bale, Affleck, and Pattinson all have Batman voices separate from their Bruce Wayne voices.
Affleck gave us a Dark Knight Returns-style older Batman–a tired but brutal bruiser of a hero.
And West’s Batman just can’t be replicated, and shouldn’t be.
Even the other voice actors each bring something fresh to the role.
Will Arnett’s gravelly voice was perfect for the LEGO movies.
But Conroy made Batman serious, cool, and mature without ever making himedgy.
Batman: The Animated series will cast a long shadow over the character for the rest of his existence.
There are so many ways to remember Conroy’s immense contributions to Batman history.
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