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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

SUPERMAN/BAMTAN: APOCALYPSE -- KEVIN CONROY

The Continuum continues a series of question-and-answers from Superman/Batman: Apocalypse with Kevin Conroy, who voices Batman.

Following is an edited transcription of the studio-provided interview:

Question: Superman/Batman: Apocalypse features a foe powerful enough to require more than just one super hero to step to the plate. Can you speak to the importance of a great villain?

Conroy: Well, the major villain is Darkseid, and he is very apocalyptic. You know, i's in the title (he laughs). The bigger the villain, the greater the conflict – so as Darkseid is this epic-sized villain, it gives a lot of dynamic for Batman and Superman to work off, and creates that much more drama. Which means lots of action.

Question: Do you have a preference for the type of story that goes with Batman?

Conroy: What makes Batman interesting to audiences isn't just the fact of the personal drama, or the darkness of his having a secret identity, or his avenging his parents' death. All of that personal drama makes him appealing to people. But I think of all the super heroes, what sets him apart is that he's the only one that doesn't have any superpowers. He is the great detective. So in every story, it always comes down to his using his wits. I think everyone relates to that and loves that about him. I really admire that aspect of his character -- I wish I was wittier. That's why I think audiences get into him so much, and that character trait is very important to this story.

Question: Batman is a basically a loner. What are your thoughts about his lone wolf approach, and how that works in a buddy adventure like the Superman/Batman films?

Conroy: Batman's isolation and his singularity, his inability to really let other people into his personal world, is really essential to the character. It's part of what audiences expect. Even in a series like Justice League, where he was one of seven super heroes, Batman was always the odd man out. The others would go off as a group to do something -- you know, they might go have pizza == and Batman was always the guy left back in the cave.

So in these Superman stories, I think it's the closest Batman gets to having a brother, a kindred spirit. Superman understands Batman. He understands his need to be alone and his isolation. He's probably the only one of all the super heroes who can balance Batman in terms of wit and power, so they're a very good balance for each other.

Question: How does Batman see Superman?

Conroy: I think Batman thinks of Superman as the Dudley Do-Right of super heroes. He admires his strength and his character, but he also he thinks he's incredibly naïve and very unsophisticated about the world. Remember, Batman is also Bruce Wayne, so he's very urbane. He's very versed in the way of the world. And Superman is Clark Kent, and he's such a goof (he laughs). So it's almost all about the alter-ego -- the darkness of Batman's Bruce Wayne is balanced out by the sunny demeanor of Superman's Clark Kent. That's where I think the distinction is. Batman just thinks that Superman is kind of a very, very naïve guy who always sees the goodness in everybody. And Batman tends to see the darkness.

Question: You attended Comic-Con International in San Diego last year for the first time in six years. How did that experience impact you?

Conroy: The experience with the fans always re-energizes me for Batman. I've always been really into meeting and interacting with the fans. I understand why a lot of actors don't like to do that because it can be very invasive of your private life. But I'm just so appreciative because I figure I wouldn't have a job if it wasn't for them. Also, my background is the theatre, and the fun of doing theatre is the interaction with the audience, the feedback you get every night. You just don't get that in Hollywood. You don't get that with television or film, and you certainly don't get it working in animation. So the only place you get it is to go to places like the Cons.

Question: Away from the Cons, how often are you recognized?

Conroy: It happens in some unusual places. A number of years ago, I was in the Hollywood Post Office parking lot. I left everything in the car, because I was just going straight to the mail drop with the envelope. This guy, who was sitting on the curb, obviously homeless, says to me "Hey, buddy, have you got a quarter?" And I said, "I'm so sorry. I literally don't. I have nothing." He said, "You're Kevin Congroy." I got really nervous; you just assume that your job is anonymous working on animation, so I asked him how he knew that and he said, "Oh, everybody knows who's Batman." I said, "No, believe me, everyone doesn't know who's Batman." He said, "Oh, please--please--please--please do the voice." He said, "Just say it … I am vengeance." He knew the lines. I said, "I am vengeance." He said, "Oh, my God. Batman's here! Batman's here!" He said, "Say it: I am the night." I said, "I am the night." He said, "Go! Go! Finish! Finish!" And I said "I am Batman!" So the two of us are there screaming "I am Batman!" in the parking lot, and he started clapping and clapping, yelling "I can't believe I have Batman in the parking lot."

He went on to explain to me that all television monitors at the Circuit City on Hollywood Blvd. showed Batman every day, and he would stand outside and watch the show. So I said, "Wait, just a second," and I went running back to the car for some cash. He said, "Oh, I can't take Batman's money." I told him he was going to take Batman's money so he wouldn't tell anyone that Batman is cheap (he laughs). That whole scene was wild, though -- the last place you'd expect for someone to recognize a voice actor is in the parking lot of the post office.





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