Review of The Masked Marvel

For me this is one of the best serials Republic ever put out. It's a grand wartime serial about a group of insurance investigators, one of which is the masked marvel, battling the evil Sakima. Sakima is in cahoots with the head of the insurance company the men work for and he is giving enemy agents info on which targets to pick. Its got great action, wicked dialog and pacing that just won't quit. For me it's the point at which Republic hit their prime with balancing a fast pace with its tendency to have plots that are little more then fleshed out Cliff Notes. To be certain there are other Republic serials that may be better or more detailed or have better action, but this is the one serial where what would be the studios plan for how to make mass produced serials all came together to make something special. Where other similar serials are too plot heavy (Captain Marvel) or too action oriented (Spy Smasher) this just balances it all together for great effect. One of the best. Look for this one. (Interesting footnote, Tom Steele the stunt man who plays the Marvel through the whole serial is didn't not play one of the investigators who might be the hero. He actually gets no screen credit what so ever, despite being on screen more than most other characters. (A possible in joke has Steele in one of the chapters, sans Mask, asking someone who the Marvel is)