ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

[Also released as: "Satan's Satellites"]

This highly enjoyable sequel to Republic's "Radar Men from the Moon" pits Commando Cody against a coalition of Martians and turncoat humans. Together these villains are plotting to use a nuclear device to blow Earth out of it's orbit so that Mars can be moved closer to the sun, allowing the Red Planet to improve it's environmental conditions (nice concept).

The special effects are nicely done, such as the flying scenes involving the rocket man, the rocket ships, etc. Unfortunately we never get a glimpse of Mars or the rockets in space.

But Judd Holdren does a fine job as the handsome hero who dons his leather jacket and rocket-pack to zoom off in search of wrong-doers. Holdren went on to play Commando Cody in the television series that aired in the early 1950s.

Director Fred Brannon handles the fight scenes especially well.

Trivia note: the alien henchman who assists the Martian leader is played by a young Leonard Nimoy (with very little dialogue).

The computer-colorized version pumps new life into this fine serial, partly because the colorization is remarkably effective and partly because a great deal of artistic imagination is displayed by the people who did it. The aliens' wear deep purple outfits and have green faces! There's even a flashing red light added to the Martian robot's chest.

Here's chapter 1, and the others seem to be available, too. The picture is a bit soft-focus, but quite watchable.

Hey, save my seat while I go to the lobby to get us some popcorn and Raisenettes!


________ Zombies of the Stratosphere -Chapter 1


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)