Top 10 Iconic Lines by Kevin Conroy, the Legendary Voice Behind Batman Arkham Games And Animated Series

The world has seen and heard several iterations of Batman, but none of them could ever match Kevin Conroy. In saddening news, the legendary voice actor of Batman Arkham games and animated TV series has passed away at the age of 66, after losing his battle with cancer.

Although the legendary actor’s untimely demise has shocked his fans, his iconic portrayal of Batman will always remain in the hearts of the gaming community and fans of the Batman animated series. On this sad occasion, let’s take a look at some of the greatest works from Conroy’s legendary voice-acting career.

1. Every decision you’ve ever made ends in death and misery (Batman Arkham City)

One of the most iconic and heart-breaking quotes from the Arkham games. This quote comes when in Batman Arkham City, the caped crusader defeats clay face disguising himself as the Joker (Voiced by Mark Hamilton), and then tries curing the original Joker with a serum made by Dr. Freeze (refer to Batman Arkham City for context). Then the Joker starts asking for the game and says that whatever he does, Batman always saves him. To which the Dark Knight replies, “Every decision you’ve ever made ends in death and misery. People die. I stop you. You’ll just break out and do it again.”

But surprisingly, the Joker attacks him from behind, and the vial in which the cure for Joker’s illness (originated from Batman Arkham Asylum) was stored falls into the ground and breaks, leaving Joker licking the cure from the floor, but soon dies.

2. What’s wrong? Scared? (Batman Arkham Knight)

The Batman Arkham Knight game kicks off with Jonathan Crane, aka the Scarecrow, releasing a small quantity of his fear toxin in a diner. After this, he threatens the Gotham citizens to leave the city as he will release the toxin to take control of it.

But as Batman fails to protect the city from Crane’s fear toxin cloudburst, and several traumatic experiences due to his toxin, the dark knight decides to give the evil chemist his own dose and injects the toxin in Scarecrow’s neck in the final showdown and says, “What’s wrong? Scared?” Iconic isn’t it?

3. You think you know everything about me, don’t you? (Batman: Mask of The Phantasm)

A 1993 animated film based on the origins of Bruce Wayne and his turning into Batman. Notably, it is the line that Batman says to his trusted butler, Alfred, as Bruce thinks that Alfred doesn’t know anything about him and is just a simple servant. He says, “You think you know everything about me, don’t you?” 

Although the line shows some real potential to be an iconic rant toward his butler, but what Alfred says in return is even more paradigmatic. Alfred, in reply to his master Bruce Wayne’s insult, says, “I diapered your bottom; I bloody well ought to, *sir*!” Just speechless.

4. It was all a lie (Batman Arkham City)

‘Batman is nothing without Joker’. You might have heard the line many times by hardcore Batman fans, as it is arguably true. The duo is one of the if not the greatest hero-villain characters ever created. And this can be seen, not just in life, but in death as well.

In Batman Arkham City, when Batman finally gets to confront the real Joker during a major mission after capturing the Dark Knight and injecting him with his poisoned blood, Batman says, “It was all a lie. There’s nothing wrong with you.” Replying to which Joker says, “Nice of you to say, but you of all people should know… there’s plenty wrong with me!”

5. I’ve carefully studied every Justice Leaguer… (Justice League Doom)

Want to know why Batman is a superior superhero despite not having any superpowers? The explanation is in this iconic line from the 2012 animated movie Justice League Doom. In a curious take on what Batman can do if Superman gets out of hand, the team asks Batman does he have any plans to which he replies, “I’ve carefully studied every Justice Leaguer, past and present, and created contingency plans to neutralize you, should that become necessary.”

Thus showing why he is the leader of the Justice League, although many think that his only power is him being ‘rich’. It is also to be noted that the late actor Kevin Conroy brought a pinch of ‘badassery’ to his voice to make this line even more iconic.

READ MORE: Gotham Knights Is More Of A Superhero Crime Simulator Than A Batman Game, Here’s What You Need To Know

6. Gotham needs something more, something worse… (Batman Arkham Knight)

One of Batman’s biggest allies and frenemies is Selina Kyle aka Cat Women, who has been a constant love interest and partner for almost the entirety of Batman’s story. Thus when he released her from the Riddler’s trap and later gets to confront her, Batman reveals his plans to her for project Knightfall.

He then says to Cat Women asking her to take over the role of a new protector for Gotham by saying, “Gotham needs something more, something worse… to defend her. She needs a new myth, a legend more powerful than I can be right now. A legend that can only rise from the ashes of the Batman.”

7. Sometimes I ask myself if Batman is just the suit… (Batman Beyond: The Movie)

Batman Beyond: The Movie is a great piece of animated cinema in itself. With the great storyline and the amazing voice acting by so many memorable voice actors, the film is one of the most memorable of the series.

But what makes it so iconic are the dialogues that the original Batman shares with Batman Beyond. And one of those iconic lines by Kevin Conroy is, “Sometimes I ask myself if Batman is just the suit or the man inside,” showing the vulnerability of Batman without his mask.

8. Do you still follow your dad’s orders? (Batman: Mask of The Phantasm)

In Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, the entire story revolves around Andrea Beaumont aka Phantasm, who wants to take revenge on Joker because he murdered her parents. But despite all this, she somewhat falls in love with Batman.

Thus, during a confrontation, Batman asks Beaumont, “Do you still follow your dad’s orders?” To which she replies, knowing Batman’s motivations, “The way I see it, the only one in this room controlled by his parents is you.” Notably, this line by Kevin Conroy is iconic for another reason and that is because of how it is well adapted by the meme community and used almost on a daily basis.

9. I didn’t need your help (Batman Arkham City)

It is common knowledge that Batman has a tendency to work alone. But what is even more frustrating at times is when a player can clearly see that Batman is dying and still the story decides to continue the game without any external help to stick to the roots of it.

But Batman Arkham City does this a little differently by introducing Robin for a change. Although not playable, at least Robin acknowledges the player’s frustration by offering help to Batman and rescuing him. But Batman, in his arrogant and fatherly tone, replies, “I didn’t need your help.”

10. I am vengeance! I am the night! I am Batman! (Batman Arkham Knight)

Saving the best for the last, Batman during his confrontation with Joker in Batman Arkham Knight after a hallucinating, nightmare-fueled sequence in his own mind, trying to overcome the fear toxin inhaled by him, Batman takes charge of his mind by fighting Joker inside his mind.

And this brilliant set-piece becomes a masterpiece when Kevin Conroy, in his deep and traumatizing voice, said, “I am Vengeance! I am the Night! I am Batman!” literally giving goosebumps to the players.

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