May your voice never die

I only knew his voice.

I was a child at the time, but his words echoed in me, were a source of wisdom and accompanied me.

For several years of my childhood my father was away for work; financially those were hard times for my country, so one of the solutions was to immigrate to a place that offered better opportunities. During that period, I relied quite heavily on cartoons: they represented a pastime, an enjoyable entertainment, as well as a way to learn a new language (a factor that quite frankly I did not consider at the age of five). One of those cartoons was Batman: The animated series from 1992.

Batman for me was much more that a cartoon. It was a way to understand life, to relate to different concerns and to learn. I was utterly enthralled by the character – so much so that I even wanted to become a superhero. In recent years I had the pleasure of rewatching the series and I can still assert that it was created masterfully: the stories have morals and teach ethics, the characters have their reasons and depths and use of a darker colour pallet within the animation is a reflection of life itself. The animated series, in its own unique way, portrayed the intricate complexities as well as the simple answers that one may find in life: nothing is ever entirely good or evil, black or white, and there are always shades and degrees that one does not necessarily see right away. I would go on to describe why that cartoon was and still is as good as it is, but sadly I am writing these lines for another reason.

Kevin Conroy, the voice behind the character of Batman, died on the 10^th of October 2022. I do not know anything about him or about his work; the only thing that I know is his voice. Through his rendition of Batman however I was able to grown, through his words and the character he brought to life I have learned certain values and ethics, because of him I have a pleasant memory of my childhood. Kevin Conroy’s voice, as well as Mark Hamill’s iconic laugh, will always echo within me while thinking back at the years of my youth; I will always cherish those moments.  

May your voice never die and may it always be a beacon for those who hear it; may it guide others through the blurred lines of a life where darkens and light continuously fluctuate. Thank you for everything Kevin Conroy.