I Do Not Own Batman
In 1992, Batman: The Animated Series premiered staring Kevin Conroy as the voice of Bruce Wayne/Batman. I was two years old at the time, and don't remember it. What I do remember is watching Batman as a kid. Now, Batman: The Animated Series was just one of many cartoons that I watched growing up, but it held, and continues to hold, a special place in my heart.
My Dad was not big on children's programming. When he had the remote control, we watched the news, car shows, This Old House, sports, or fishing programs. In order to watch cartoons, I either had to put a VHS on in my bedroom, or my Dad had to be gone, and my mother willing to let me watch them. But Batman: The Animated Series was a rare exception. My Dad would actually sit down and watch Batman with me, he'd actually encourage me to watch Batman. It was the beginning of my love of Batman, and comics in general, a love that my Dad encouraged, eventually turning me into the acknowledged comic nerd amongst my friends that I remain to this day.
Kevin Conroy, the voice of Bruce Wayne/Batman, was actually the first voice actor I can remember learning the name of. I got excited whenever I heard Kevin Conroy was going to voice Batman again, and was pleasantly surprised, when watching opening credits of shows, to see Kevin Conroy's name. He made Bruce Wayne come alive, and seem like a normal man, all while Batman sounded menaceing and confident.
He passed away on November 10, 2022...
….I wrote this poem to honor both the character that brought my Dad and I closer togethor and gave us something to share in common, and the man that brought that character to life.
THE DEATH OF BATMAN
A Hero has fallen,
Proven mortal at last,
Felled not by Villain,
Nor by bullet or blast.
A giant among men,
A legend to all,
A Hero that seemed,
As though he'd never fall.
Looked up to by millions,
He was who we all wished to be,
His signal in the sky,
Gave us hope which we could see.
The Cowl sits empty,
No one patrols this night,
As we celebrate the life,
Of this mighty Dark Knight.
But another shall inherit,
This hero's great mantle,
To give us hope,
To make evil tremble.
But it will be a great task,
To take up that cowl,
To follow that Legacy,
To go out on the prowl.
For now we mourn,
Our hero who fell,
And gave us a legend,
One we will gladly tell.
In Memory Of
Kevin Conroy
November 30, 1955 – November 10, 2022
Rest In Peace