Black Scorpion 2 (4 Stars)

"Black Scorpion 2", later released as "Black Scorpion: Aftershock", is a sequel to "Black Scorpion". It was made two years later in 1997. Most of the cast returns from the first film, but Michael Russo is no longer her partner. He's been replaced by a detective called Rick, who acts just the same as Michael from the first film. He desires Black Scorpion, but he sees it as his duty to arrest her. My suspicion is that the actor Bruce Abbott was supposed to play the role, but he turned it down at the last moment, after the screenplay had already been written.

The scientist Dr. Ursula Undershaft has invented a machine that will stop earthquakes by creating counter-quakes to cancel them out. That sounds like a good idea. Is it feasible? The mayor of Los Angeles doesn't want her machine to be used, because he likes earthquakes. Whenever there's a quake he wins votes by being able to reimburse those who've lost property. He sends his thugs to wreck Ursula's machine. The next time there's a minor quake, her machine makes it worse.

To get revenge, Ursula steals an outfit from a fetish shop and becomes a villain called Aftershock. Wow! That's a terrific makeover! She invents power blasters that she wears on her  wrists. I have no idea what sort of power they use, but they're effective.

Another villain who appears in this film is Gangster Prankster, an obvious rip off of DC's Joker. He's annoying. Roger Corman should have thought up a more original villain.

This is the last time we see Joan Severence as Black Scorpion. In 2001 there was a Black Scorpion TV series, and the main role was played by Michelle Lintel. The series was wonderful, in my eyes, but it was hampered by the (relatively) small budget. It was all Roger Corman could afford.

In 2009 there was a Black Scorpion comic series that ran for four issues. It was meant to test the water, to see if there was interest in an ongoing series. I've read the comics, and I don't consider them particularly good. The character needed a top rate writer and artist to succeed, but the budget didn't stretch that far.

The character of the Black Scorpion has promise. The premise of a camp female counterpart to the 1960's Batman has promise. A sexy super-heroine in a fetish costume has promise. Someone needs to bring the Black Scorpion back to the screen, either as a film or as a new TV series.

"Black Scorpion 2" is long out of print. The DVD release is poor quality with a fuzzy picture, especially in the fight scenes. It's tragic.