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Kevin Conroy, the voice behind Batman in many DC properties, penned a personal coming-out story in DC Pride 2022. The story is a must-read for all comic book fans and humans, as it details the actor’s journey of self-discovery and coming out. Aptly titled “Finding Batman,” Conroy wrote the story alongside artist J. Bone and letterer Aditya Bidikar. It details his experiences as a closeted gay man and how discovering Batman was a turning point in his life and career.
Who is Kevin Conroy?
For those not familiar with the name, Conroy is an iconic and recognizable voice in the world of superheroes. Originally from New York, the actor gained notoriety in the early 1990s for voicing Batman in Batman: The Animated Series. He continued to be the voice behind the mask in Batman Beyond, Justice League, and other animated DC projects. He remains a familiar figure in the world of Batman. He even portrayed the masked crusader in the Arrowverse Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. His portrayal of the Gotham Knight is one of the best out there and one that many associates with the role.
What Is The Story About?
As part of the DC Pride anthology, Conroy penned an incredibly personal and touching story. “Finding Batman” details Conroy’s experiences hiding parts of himself growing up. Living in a devoutly Christian and troubled family, the young man kept his sexuality a secret for many years. He kept that part of himself a secret through much of his public life as well. The story details his experiences of living through the HIV/Aids epidemic in the 1980s. He speaks about losing close friends and the hate directed at him by other actors and producers in the industry. This led to an internal struggle where Conroy began to doubt himself and his career. However, that all changed when he got the call for Batman: The Animated Series.
The actor shares the parallels he found between himself and Bruce Wayne. Particularly, Conroy saw the connection of leading a dual life and how that weighs on the soul. While not fighting crime in the late hours of the night, Conroy did struggle to reconcile the sacrifices he made in his public life versus his personal one. This struggle to bury a part of your personal self for decades to feel safe in public helped Conroy a lot. It allowed him to find a voice for Bruce Wayne that would become synonymous with Batman.
Conroy’s story is beautiful and one that many can relate to. Whether you are struggling to come to terms with your sexuality or just trying to find your place in the world, “Finding Batman” is a must-read.