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...

Andrea Romano Week

Good day and hello to my readers and sorry if I didn't make it clear on Facebook as I was stumped for a week.  Luckily I managed to drag myself out of that, kick my muse in the tuckus and get some neurons and electrons flowing to the coconut to bring you Andrea Romano Week.   Who the heck is that some of you are asking?   Well, this woman is one of the most influential voice casting directors in the biz.   Still no idea?  I feel her work speaks for itself but I am willing to give you some highlights.  From putting voices to faces as far back as the Smurfs and getting recognition in the business for her success with a WB logistics nightmare Tiny Toons, our heroine went on to being forced to endure such bile as The Flintstone Kids, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo and The Land Before Time direct-to-video sequels when she got the call that would change her stance in the industry forever.

Yes, I do know Batman's secret identity...

Getting the hero and villains for Batman: The Animated Series.   Yes, scooping up Kevin Conroy for Batman, Mark Hamil for the Joker, Adrienne Barbeau for Catwoman, John Glover for The Riddler and Richard Moll for Two-Face, her ship had come in.  Mind you a gathering of these actors were stuck in a dinky studio during a infamous riot in L.A. and she had to leap down executives throats to point out how dangerous it is for them to be there and to post-pone the filming... hey you need to speak to Conroy or Hamil how that ended.  She is the go-to gal for the animation.  The lady that gets the talent to the pencil and ink and has more than 30 years experience in the biz, it is safe to know she will get the ace folk for the gig.  With that in mind we will touch base on her successful casting with a few episodes for each blockbuster collection.

Andrea Romano, you have been chosen as Green Lantern of Sector 2814!