Summary
The release ofJustice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths Part Threetoday comes with a sad but poignant Batman milestone forDCfans. While the Crisis On Infinite Earths storyline has been adapted on-screen before - withthe Arrowverse timelineusing it to combine its universe together for an impactful major crossover several years ago in 2019 - theanimated DC movieadaptation has been a notable iteration of the comic narrative. This is in no small part due to the film series' cast, which comprises a wide range of talented and effective voice actors taking on some of DC’s most important roles.
This cast includes the prestigious Kevin Conroy, with his performance inJustice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths Part Threebeing the actor’s last appearance as Batman due to his pasting in 2022. Conroy voiced Batman in many appearances since his debut inBatman: The Animated Seriesin 1992, and in that time made an immense impact on the franchise and those connected to it. Given Kevin Conroy has been such a defining and iconic Batman actor, the movie’s release marks an emotional milestone that has seen many fans pay tribute to Conroy and his remarkable legacy online.
Mark Hamill Says He Won’t Return As The Joker
Mark Hamill has also stated that he will not be returning as Jokerafter his appearance inJustice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths Part Three. At the 2023 San Francisco Fan Expo, the actor stated that he wouldn’t voice the role without Kevin Conroy to play Batman, referencing one of his Joker lines by quoting that, “without Batman, crime has no punchline.” Hamill had already suggested he wouldn’t continue voicing the Joker without Conroy alongside him in 2022, mentioning in aninterview with Empire Magazinethat “without Kevin there, there doesn’t seem to be a Batman for me.”
Given Mark Hamill’s Joker and Kevin Conroy’s Batman both first appeared inBatman: The Animated Seriesand have been thus naturally associated with one another even more than three decades down the line, Hamill’s statement aboutJustice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths Part Threemakes sense, and reflects a respect for his fellow actor that makes their time in the roles all the more meaningful. With both Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill being immeasurably important when looking at Batman’s history, hopefully their legacies in the roles will continue on for as long as DC itself does.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
