Classic villains join Batman at Thomas & Mack

Forget the Joker. How can Batman and Robin fare against Phineas and Ferb?

An abundance of sports arenas puts "Batman Live!" at the Thomas & Mack Center the same weekend as the Disney "Phineas" spinoff at the Orleans Arena.

Producers of the Batman show attempt to distance themselves from the kiddie shows starring people in foam mascot suits that "Phineas" seems to be. Trying to pull in older Bat-fans, they hired real actors, some of them even British, to speak live dialogue in the show by real comic-book writers, Alan Burnett and Allan Heinberg.

"It's actually a difficult show to explain to people because it is quite unique," said producer Nick Grace, even before he knew Phineas and Ferb would be in town.

The origin story of Robin packs in all the classic villains: The Joker, Penguin, Riddler, Two-Face, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, even the Joker's gal Harley Quinn. Whew.

Good thing the Caped Crusaders have a custom Batmobile by race designer "Professor" Gordon Murray.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at
mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.