For many, the actor who best exemplifies Batman isn’t Christian Bale or Michael Keaton, but the longtime voice of the character in animated series and video games, Kevin Conroy. Since the actor’s death in 2022, multiple projects he was a part of have trickled out, leaving many to wonder what would be the final time we heard our Batman. With the release of the animated film Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Three (that’s a mouthful), it may finally be time to say goodbye to Conroy’s irreplaceable take on the character, and fans could hardly have asked for a more fitting or poignant send-off.
Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Three is the third and final part of a trilogy of animated movies, all released throughout this year. It adapts the iconic comics story of the same name from 1985 and is part of the larger DC Animated Movie Universe (which has a far better track record than its live-action counterpart). In Part 3, we see the classic Batman: The Animated Series versions of Batman and Joker fighting it out on the rooftops of Gotham as the world crumbles around them. In their final moments, Conroy, as Batman, utters the lines, “I care, Joker. About Gotham. About justice. And if it has to end, at least I go out like this... being Batman.” It’s an undeniably badass line, and it’s made even more poignant by the fact that this is Conroy’s last performance in the role. You can watch the clip in full on X (formerly Twitter) courtesy of DiscussingFilm.
For many this feels like the most fitting note that Conroy, who had brought life to the character across animation, video games, and occasionally live-action since 1992, could go out on. That’s especially true after we already thought we’d heard Conroy’s last performance. Rocksteady’s poorly received Suicide Squad: Kill the Justive League saw Conroy return to the role as an evil, mind-controlled version of the character who [SPOILERS] is eventually offed by the titular team of villains. That upset many fans, who felt it was a disservice to Conroy’s legacy.
Now, thanks to Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Three, Conroy can go out with a truly incredible last line… probably. Due to the nature of voice work it’s possible that Conroy has another Batman performance that hasn’t seen the light of day still coming, though as of yet we have no knowledge of such a project.
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