Spotlight #196/197: Becoming Batman/Spaces

Have you ever wanted to know just a little bit more about your heroes? If so, then strap up, youngins, because I will give a short summary of the two DC Pride shorts, Finding Batman by Kevin Conroy and Spaces by Phil Jimenez.SummarySince 2021, DC June has tried to honor the various LGBT characters in its catalog from new to old. However, to an even more important degree, DC Pride has also been used to tell the stories of the multiple queer creatives that make it what it is. This is why I wish to tell you all the story of actors Kevin Conroy and Phil Jiminez through their respective issues, Finding Batman and Spaces.OverviewSince these are short stories based on real people, adding a "character: section would be off-kilter to me. While I understand why some could be disappointed by me not covering every entry of every DC Pride, I think covering all will be very tiring very fast. Not only because of the breadth of stories but also because, as much as I appreciate the effort, some of the characters mentioned should get ongoing.Hence why I shited to the pride entries, which focused on real people. Kevin Conroy and Phil Jiminez narrated the last 2022 and 2024 Pride entries, respectively. Starting with Conroy, I'm certain most don't need a proper introduction. But for the few who live under a rock, Conroy is most famous in regards to DC by essentially being "THE" voice for Batman. And I'm not talking about the Batman Animated series and DC animated universe from 1992-2006.Conroy would also voice Batman in live-action shows, video games, and other animated series. Kevin also embodied the character in real life when he made Batman impressions while volunteering to cook for people recovering from 9/11. During an interview in 2016 during the Killing Joke animated movie, Conroy revealed he was gay. The Eisner-winning Finding Batman story effectively details his experiences of hiding that fact to push forward his career.Penciled in black, white, and blues by J. Bone, lettered by Aditya Bidikar, and edited by Arianna Turturro and Jessica Chen, Finding Batman is Kevin's personal experience. Growing up in the 50s and 60s in a Christian household with a schizophrenic brother and alcoholic father, Kevin couldn't afford to reveal his homosexuality at a pressing time.Still, no matter how hard he tried to separate his personal and professional life, it didn't work out fully. The man lost his roles, friends, and even his relationship with his brother Chris. So when WB reached out to Kevin about the role of Batman, the tragic boy who hid a piece of himself after losing his parents, Kevin could feel the character bubbling within him.This is a note that leaves a pretty bittersweet tone when you remember Kevin passed away due to a battle with intestinal cancer on November 10th, 2022. While Batman has and will continue to live long after Conroy's passing, he will forever be a mark on the character, the same as it was a mark for him. Above all else, Kevin Conroy wasn't just the Caped Crusader; he was a good man, and the world is a little lighter having known him and a little dimmer losing him.On a more positive note, Spaces by Phil Jiminez is a little less heavy and more hopeful. For those of you who followed my spotlight on Wonder Woman HIstoria or just comics in general, you'll know Phil as one of the premier writers and artists to have ever touched Wonder Woman. Written by Phil himself with art by Giulio Macaione, Letters by Frank Cvetkovic and edits by Andrea Shea Spaces depicts his love of the character at an early age plays the rigors of writing during the comic book event War of the Gods in 1991.From there, Jiminez consistently worked with some of the biggest names in comics, like Joe Quesada, George Perez, and Grant Morrison. Outside of comics, though, Phil teaches a life drawing course at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan and provides art to aid awareness of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.As a writer myself, I find Phil Jimenez's book rather hard. It talks about the struggle of getting to write for your favorite character while under editorial demands at the time. So much of the book features him looking back at his child self, who crafted grand sweeping worlds as a paradise against an all-too-cold heternormative society.While his writing successes are immense, he expresses his gratitude for doing it anyway. Not only because he gets to spread the favor of writing his favorite words to people but also because he gets to try and inspire others—a goal I hope to execute as I keep writing.EpilogueAnd that's that. I know I was super late on these spotlights for Pride Month, but I'm still thankful I did it anyway. As I wipe away the tears from recollecting these two stories, I hope to learn far more about those who don't share the same skin, sexuality, or gender I do. If only I could get to learn more about myself. As the 200th spotlight approaches, I hope to cover plenty more stories in due time. Till then, though, let's see where the spotlight takes us next.