Summary
Debuting all the way back in 1939, Batman has come a long way in the last 85 years. From campier takes on the character by beloved actors like Adam West, to more grounded portrayals by more recentactors like Christian Bale and Ben Affleck, Batman has seen more than his fair share of memorable interpretations over the years. However, Kevin Conroy’s performances have often towered above the rest, even in projects likeSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewhere he doesn’t take center stage.
Born in 1955, Kevin Conroy’s first portrayal of the Caped Crusader took place in 1992, debuting alongside the excellentBatman: The Animated Series. Since then, Kevin Conroy has voiced Batman in countless DC projects ranging from animated movies to TV shows to, of course, video games. Unfortunately, Kevin Conroy passed away in 2022 at the age of just 66, leaving an astounding legacy that won’t be forgotten anytime soon - a legacy thatSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueputs an intriguing new spin on. In fact, this new take is so strong that another game down the road should feature an evil Batman, as more can absolutely be done with the concept.
Kevin Conroy Thrives As a New Type of Batman
Over the last few decades, Kevin Conroy has become the definitive voice of Batman for so many DC fans. From the moment he first stepped into the role, Conroy delivered a voice performance that granted Batman the gravitas and stoicism that had rarely been seen in portrayals to that point. Striking the perfect balance of intimidating yet calm and collected,Kevin Conroy’s Batmanbecame a highlight of just about any project he appeared in, from major appearances in theBatman: Arkhamseries to smaller cameos in shows likeTeen Titans Go!.
Though Kevin Conroy would shift his voice slightly depending on thedifferent versions of Batmanhe was playing, the vast majority of his portrayals often fit into the general category of stoic and disciplined. But inSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Conroy got an opportunity to play a Batman that was completely different from his usual portrayals, and he seemingly had a lot of fun doing so.
InSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Batman has turned evil, having been brainwashed by Brainiac. While fans have seen evil Superman a ton, they very rarely get to see a truly evil Batman, and it’s one of the biggest highlights ofSuicide Squad. TechnicallytheArkhamseries Batman, Conroy not only gets to return to performing his usual Caped Crusader, but simultaneously gets to portray a villainous Batman, delivering some pretty brutal lines of dialogue and committing some heinous acts during the game’s story.
Kevin Conroy’s Batman remains a constant presence throughoutSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguethanks to the in-game audio comms, which allowTask Force Xto hack into Brainiac’s network and listen to Batman command his forces across Metropolis. Though it isn’t the portrayal that many fans were expecting, it’s clear that Kevin Conroy was really enjoying putting a fresh new spin on this beloved character that he played for decades. And while future games won’t be able to replace Kevin Conroy so easily,Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguedoes leave a strong blueprint for a future game to explore this evil Batman character archetype even further.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as the Suicide Squad to take down the World’s Greatest DC Super Heroes, The Justice League. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, is a genre-defying, action-adventure third-person shooter from Rocksteady Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham series.
