By uttering the phrase May the great force of the galaxy be with me into his wristwatch, mild-mannered reporter Paul (Michael Colby) transforms into Kronos aka Supersonic Man, a bulkier actor who wears red tights, a blue cape and a sequined mask. Thats right hes Spains knock-off version of Superman. Supersonics powers include the ability to see through walls, lift bulldozers (once theyve turned into wooden props) and turn handguns into bananas, though he spends most of the film being dangled in front of rear-projected aerial footage while chintzy music plays. Will you believe a man can fly? No, but theres laughs to be had. Hes on Earth to stop Dr Gulik (Cameron Mitchell), an evil genius living in a toy model volcano accessible only by wire-supported helicopters, who wants to kidnap a famous scientist and develop a world-conquering weapon. Nothing comes of it because Gulik spends the whole movie puttering around the sets quoting Shakespeare and comparing himself to Julius Caesar until Sonic turns up and puts the kibosh on the enterprise with suspicious ease. Then the credits roll.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'
