This past week, fans around the world heard the news that long-time Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy has passed away. I’m not gonna lie to y’all. This news gutted me. Ever since the ’90s, Conroy has voiced the iconic character, giving memorable performances that rival (and even exceed) the live-action adaptations of Batman. For many, whenever they read a Batman comic, they imagine Conroy’s voice saying those lines. For a special tribute, this will be dedicated to Conroy’s performance, how I first heard of him, and how no one can touch how he portrayed Batman for decades!
I was about 8 when Batman: The Animated Series first aired. After the success of the Tim Burton films, we got a new Batman show that was taken seriously. With mature themes that both kids and adults viewed, the show earned instant success and multiple spin-offs. But, if there’s one standout to this show that helped gain attention, it’s how Conroy played a Batman who was stern, but fair. Cold, yet human. (And a surprisingly great singing voice. If you know, then you know.) Using his voice, Conroy would go on to be one of the best voice actors of all time, joining the likes of Steve Blum, Cree Summer, Peter Cullen, and more. Conroy was perhaps the first to master making the “Batman” and “Bruce Wayne” personas sound different in cartoons, which translated to live-action films. Conroy would go on to voice the character for the spin-offs, the Arkham games (except for Arkham Origins, which is still fire.), various animated movies and projects. He even portrayed a version of Bruce Wayne in live action (FINALLY), during the CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover special. I collected a TON of Batman comics, as a kid. Whenever I would read them, Conroy's voice would be what I'd imagine Batman would sound like. A strong, firm, vulnerable at times, but wise. Not raspy, or barely above a whisper.
What made Kevin Conroy so special was his connection to the character. While he was young, he struggled to gain work as an actor, due to his being gay. Despite the homophobia he had to endure, Conroy used that experience to create a version of Batman that he could relate to. Gravitating to the pain of Batman losing his parents at an early age, Conroy’s performances became heartfelt and tangible that became the standard of voicing the character.
Perhaps his best performance (or, at least my favorite, anyway) was the 98 animated film, Batman: Mask of The Phantasm, in which we see Batman come to terms with an old flame of his past. The film also shows us a younger Bruce Wayne, right before he becomes Batman. He’s torn between love and a promise he made to his parents. Conflicted, Bruce goes to the graveyard to plead his case that things are different now. The pain is still there, but he’s actually happy. Bruce wants to be happy. However, he feels guilty about his newfound happiness. Bruce begs for permission on the gravestone of his parents, and we can hear the heartbreak that Conroy conveys. I swear, no live-action performance has EVER topped this emotional scene done by Conroy and actress Dana Delany (Bruce’s love interest and villain, in the movie.).
Hearing his now iconic line, “I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman!” hits harder now that Conroy is gone. And while he has done other projects that non-Batman related, to many, Kevin Conroy WAS the definitive version of the character. He will be missed. That’s all for now, friends. Until next time, fellow blerds.
The John Wick franchise has taken off better than fans hoped, with another sequel coming (with some of action cinema’s G.O.A.T’s coming, Donnie Yen and Hiroyuki Sanada) , a spin-off with actress Ana De Armas, and a rumored AAA video game. But how did we get here? How did a slept-on action movie, with a widowed dog lover/assassin get all this praise? In this article, we’ll delve into how the John Wick films practically saved modern-day action movies from obscurity.
I want you to think back to the 2000s when movies like the Bourne films, Taken, Columbiana, The Expendables, and even some of the recent 007 movies have come on screen. What do all those films have in common? For one, the cinematic phenomenon known as “shaky cam” was introduced. Where, once, we had fight choreography and stunts that audiences would rewind and watch over, now were introduced by directors. Instead of actually showing the action, directors would shake the camera around to simulate what it would be like to be in the action. While it was a niche for a time, every action movie in Hollywood would use this style. Either to cut corners with production, the actors’ lack of skill in fight choreography, or pure laziness. Meanwhile, across the world, movies like Oldboy and The Raid were gaining attention due to their attention to detail with the action. With movies like those, you saw the actors put in the time to learn the choreography, and even perform some of the stunts! Another reason why the John Wick movies are great is that they use a familiar plot device and expand on it. You know, in almost every action movie, we have the tried-and-true trope of “retired hero with special skill, being pulled into one last fight for loved ones/revenge/money, etc.”. But here, it hits in the feels that make Wick human. He lost his wife to cancer and was devastated. In one last act of love, his wife sends a puppy to help John grieve. Then, the b.s. happens, as John is beaten by some Russian Mafia members, his car is stolen AND they kill his dog. (Like, how inhumane are you to kill a puppy?!). Welp, after a brief dialogue with the Mafia boss, we learn why they should have left John alone. Mind you, it’s damn near a half hour before any action is shown to us. Once the action does start, however, it’s a nonstop ride filled with tactical reloading, wonderfully shot fight scenes and stunts that leave us breathless.
The second and third chapters of the Wick franchise ramp up both action and lore. We see John’s battle against members, of an elite society called The High Table, and how other assassins react to Wick. Some treat him with begrudging respect, such as Common’s character Cassian. Others use him as a tool, like Lawrence Fishburne’s character. The only one with who John has a more or less positive relationship with John is Continental owner Winston, who often bends the rules of his own establishment to help Wick. And he’ll need all the help he can get. In the sequels, John is being hunted not by Mafia thugs, but by fellow assassins who are similarly skilled. At the end of the second film, John kills a head of the High Table on Continental grounds, breaking the number one rule. Because of it, he has a bounty on his head which brings every hitman out of the woodwork!
The third film has John fighting off numerous attempts on his life, with even Halle Berry giving some assistance! With more top-tier fight scenes, stunts, and chases, the films are now the go-to for what fans what in action movies. Reeves, himself, has yet another iconic character under his belt. Fans should be grateful to have an actor put himself (and inspire others) to go through rigorous training that lasts months to produce jaw-dropping scenes that will last for a lifetime. If the fourth installment is any indication of how excellent this franchise has been, John Wick: Chapter 4 will be yet another action movie masterpiece. We should all be lucky to have these films, in an era of quick edited, copy-and-paste flicks that seem like they were churned out just to make a buck. The John Wick era is only getting better with each installment, and I can’t wait to see what they will come up with next. That’s all for now, friends! Till next time, fellow blerds!
Happy birthday to Hip-Hop! Perhaps the most popular genre of music today, Hip-Hop has been through an evolution that created some of the world’s best MCs, songs, sub-genres, clothing, and so much more. From the heart of where it originated, The Bronx, to the “dirty” South, to the West Coast, and even traveling international, Hip-Hop has stood the test of time. In this special article, we’ll be going briefly over the history of Hip-Hop, how it changed, and where it stands now.
From the turntables of DJ Kool Herc scratching records and introducing a new style in the South Bronx, to graffiti art on the subways, to breakdancing and beyond, the late 70s’ and early 80s in New York was the birthplace of Hip-Hop. With artists like Slick Rick, and Dougie. E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash, KRS-ONE, the genre showcased DJ’s “scratching” records and blending songs, rappers with their rhymes and fashion that still is the backbone for today’s looks.
The late ’80s and '90s brought in more “hardcore” acts, such as N.W.A, Public Enemy, Biggie Smalls, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and the Wu-Tang Clan. It was also a boom for more female artists. Roxanne Shante, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, and Missy Elliot were paving the way for more to come. Other groups like Gang Starr, Outkast, Del La Soul, and The Roots began to lay their foundations that would last decades. Label studios were also on the rise. Def Jam, Bad Boy, Rukus, and Death Row were churning out hits non-stop. Sadly, it was also bringing gang violence, drugs, and misogyny into the music. Record labels were pressured to either change lyrics or create some sort of warning for young listeners. But that didn’t deter artists from expressing themselves.
The 2000s, to some, was perhaps the peak of the genre. 50 Cent and G-Unit, Eminem, Ja Rule, and Murda Inc, Roc-A-Fela and the Diplomats, D-Block, DMX and Ruff Ryders, Nelly, T.I., Mos Def, Talib Kwali, Kanye West, the introduction of “backpack hip-hop” with acts like Lupe Fiasco, Little Brother, MF Doom, and others. Fast forward to the present, and we have Megan Thee Stallion, Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole, Tobe Nwigwe, Nicki Minaj, and Run The Jewels topping the charts. As of now, Hip-Hop is the number one music genre in the world. Not only a giant in music, but Hip-Hop has also inspired so much. Clothing lines, television, movies, and even video games. (STILL waiting on remastered versions of Def Jam: Fight for NY and NFL Street!)
Question: When did you first fall in love with Hip-Hop? For me, it was when I heard Common’s The Light. While well are that LL Cool J was serenading the ladies with his lyrics (Hey, Lover, I Need Love, Doin It Well…bangers), it was Common that really made me listen and appreciate lyricism. While I got down with Ice Cube, Jadakiss, and Redman who were raw (but also lyrical), artists such as Common, Guru, Black Thought, and GZA made me truly appreciate the craft.
That’s it for me, fam! Now, I know that I left some artists and sub-genres out, but it's literally too many to list! Tell me when you first fell in love with Hip-Hop (special props to the movie, Brown Sugar, for that quote.) and drop your favorite rapper in the comments. Till next time, fellow blerds!
