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Matthew Blackheart: Monster Smasher has all the hallmarks of a breezy sci-fi series that should have worked. It strings together some pretty good effects scenes to tell a clever and campy story about a reluctant superhero with a past fighting Nazis and a seemingly endless future combating man-made monsters. The twist comes when he learns he isn't a man-made creation himself -- that he's a character in a young writer's popular comic book, and the boy is calling all the shots. Rob Bogue works hard to do his best sardonic, eye-rolling Bruce Campbell (Army of Darkness) impression, but he's considerably less wry and funny, and futile side stories dilute the promising main plot. Still, it's bright and fun and produced with top values by famed director Richard Donner. The action and effects will appease fantasy fans not expecting too much, but those who can see the potential will be frustrated.