Andrea Romano Week: Batman: The Animated Series: The Lion and the Unicorn

Welcome readers to Day 1 of Andrea Romano Week and I thought I would start us off with a clever story involving espinoage, global threats and maybe a manservant or two.  With the phenomeonal story telling of Batman: The Animated Series hails an old enemy of Batman, dubbed Red Claw.  A ruthless terrorist/freedom fighter who works as a mercenary or her own objects.  This time around she seeks to start a thermonuclear crisis and Batman and Robin may be the world's only hope.  This is The Lion and the Unicorn.

Really sir, an obscene phone call... at this hour?

Robin: And here I thought all you did was dust spoiler.
Alfred: A Louis Quinze: what a pity.







Auspicious theme music sweeping into our ears by Danny Elfman, our story opens another day in the Batcave.   Bruce (Kevin Conroy of Tour of Duty, The Office, Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, Superman, Batman Beyond, Batman: Vengeance, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited) implementing some new criminal database while Dick (Loren Lester of Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, Men in Black: The Series, Batman: The Brave and the Bold- The Videogame and Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds) is working out a gymnastics routine on the uneven bars and Alfred has prepared them both lunch when a call is made to the manor from England.  Alfred's "cousin" Fredrick calls begging for Alfred's help ASAP.   The next morning Dick wakes up to find Alfred is nowhere to be found and a note was left for them to so they would not worry.   Arriving in London, Alfred (Efrem Zimbalist Jr. of 77 Sunset Strip, The F.B.I., Hot Shots! and Batman: The Animated Series) is met at the airport by a couple of goons claiming that Fredrick sent them.  Alfred's keen mind sizes them up, thumps them proper and makes his way to a telephone to inform Master Wayne of the faux pas he has made and could use assistance.

You're standing on my cape.

Reacquainted with his old chum Fredrick, it is revealed they have been abducted at the behest of Red Claw (Kat Mulgrew of Ryan's Hope, Remo Williams, Throw Momma from the Train, Star Trek: Voyager, The Black Donnellys and Warehouse 13) who wants access to a hidden missile silo that only these two men have access to.  Batman and Robin hot on the trail, Batman tells Robin about Alfred's MI-5 status in the day for logistics, analysis and that it is most likely both men and the world are in terrible danger.   Will our heroes be in time to prevent World War III?   Will Red Claw get justice between the eyes?   Will Alfred's recipe for scones go with him to the grave?

Just a few side notes now.  Kate Mulgrew came in to audition for Catwoman and Andrea Romano was so taken back by her performance that she had mixed feelings now to have cast Catwoman so soon but always wanted to keep Mulgrew available for a part.   With her smooth lines, confidence and professional attitude, Romano hoped to find Mulgrew a tough as nails, take no prisoners kinda gal and with that came Red Claw.

We have to make our own sandwiches now. Grr...