Review by Gary Tooze

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Description: "Commando Cody, the venerable Sky Marshal of the Universe (Judd Holdren, Captain Video, Master of the Stratosphere), along with trusted aids Joan Gilbert (Aline Towne, Radar Men from the Moon) and Ted Richards (William Schallert, TV's The Patty Duke Show) and later joined by Dick Preston (Richard Crane, The Eternal Sea), must foil the various schemes of The Ruler (Gregory Gay, Flying Disc Man from Mars), an evil alien life form hell-bent on taking over Earth.

All twelve pulse-pounding episodes of Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (including Enemies of the Universe, Nightmare Typhoon, Robot Monster from Mars and the exciting final installment, Captives of the Zero Hour), directed by Fred C. Brannon (The Invisible Monster, The Crimson Ghost), Harry Keller (Tammy and the Doctor) and Franklin Adreon (Panther Girl of the Kongo) are now available for your home viewing enjoyment in one exciting package.

Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe also features Craig Kelly (The Furies), Dale Van Sickel (Johnny Reno), Gloria Pall (The Crimson Kimino), and William Henry (Secret of the Incas)."

 

 

Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (or, informally, Commando Cody) was a Republic Pictures multi-chapter movie serial which began as a proposed syndicated television series. It consisted of twelve 25-minute sequential episodes directed by Harry Keller, Franklin Adreon, and Fred C. Brannon, starring Judd Holdren, Aline Towne, Gregory Gaye, William Schallert, Richard Crane and Craig Kelly.

Originally intended to be broadcast on television as a 12-episode weekly series, Sky Marshall was first released theatrically in 1953 as a 12-chapter weekly serial; it was finally syndicated to television on NBC in 1955. The Commando Cody character was introduced in Republic's earlier serial Radar Men from the Moon of 1952, with actor George Wallace in the title role.

Dangerous weather and climate changes are ravaging the earth and masked super-scientist Commando Cody is approached by the government to investigate. Among the tools at his disposal are a jet-powered one-man flying suit, and a rocket ship. With his colleagues Joan and Ted, who is later replaced by Dick, he ascertains the disasters are being caused by space-alien forces led by a mysterious "Ruler" of unknown planetary origins, with occasional help from earth-born criminals. Warding off dangers, Cody and his associates are able to methodically close in on the culprits, and reveal The Ruler to be a rogue from Venus who meets his end on Mercury with the help of the Mercurians.

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No supplements - not even a trailer which is the bare-bones route that Olive are going with the majority of their releases.

BOTTOM LINE:
Whether technically a 'serial' or not - it has all the same conventions - and looks to have similar sets/costumes as Flying Disc Man from Mars. It's just as hokey but in a loveable way - I've always enjoyed the whole concept of the 'serial'  -from Jungle Girl to Judex. Olive's Blu-ray package is certainly the absolute best way to relax to these nostalgic gems. If this sounds like your cup of tea - I suggest going for it. Lots of campy 'B'-style pleasure here. I 'm encouraged that Olive are releasing more of these kitschy serials come to Blu-ray.