Black Scorpion II: Aftershock on AllMovie

This campy but inferior sequel to the 1995 film has Joan Severance back as the masked avenger Black Scorpion, here pitted against a crazed earthquake researcher (Sherrie Rose). The mayor wants federal construction contracts, so he sabotages Rose's project, an earthquake-blocker. All Rose wanted was to be a hero, so the treachery drives her insane. She soon dons a tight red outfit and becomes a super-villain named Aftershock. Aftershock breaks crazed master-criminal Gangster Prankster (Stoney Jackson in a delightfully over-the-top turn) out of jail, and they plan together to level the city. This adventure is even more campily Batman-oriented than the original, with Gangster Prankster's Joker-like hideout and henchmen, deadly traps, and the like. Still, except for Jackson, the rest of the cast seems to forget that a deliberately camp piece requires enthusiastic performances. They mostly seem to be just going through the motions, with none of the fun or exuberance which drove the first film. Jackson's flamboyant turn, however, is reason enough to make this film worth watching on a rainy day.