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Comic books, babes, villains and a female superhero are the key elements that make SciFi
Channel's latest original program, "Black Scorpion," an entertaining Friday night
popcorn munching series.
Direct from Roger Corman and Craig J. Nevius (co-creator/supervising producer/head
writer), "Black Scorpion" is a comic book-style action series starring former Miss Kansas
Michelle Lintel as a straight-laced cop by day who turns into a sexy
crimefighter, "Black Scorpion," at night. Featuring Playboy Playmates, this comedic adventure series wouldn't
be complete without Adam West as Black Scorpion's arch nemesis, Breathtaker.
Darcy Walker (Lintel) is a second-generation cop whose father was murdered at the hands of
the evil Breathtaker (West). Unable to obtain justice through the system, Darcy finds
herself taking the law into her own hands. Donning a disguise and flanked by high-tech
weapons and a super-fast Scorpionmobile, Darcy's superhero alter ego "Black Scorpion" is
born. Dangerous, ruthless and sexy, Black Scorpion can do what Darcy can't ¾ trading in
her badge for a more maverick approach against the colorful array of villains that
threaten the safety of the City of Angels.
Craig J. Nevius' enthusiasm about the series is admirable. "My inspiration in creating
Black Scorpion came from childhood. As a kid I loved comic books and superhero TV shows
like Spiderman, the Hulk and Wonder Woman. But Batman was my all time favorite. The show
was genius in the way it worked on two levels: as a kid I took the 'cartoony' criminals
and their evil schemes very seriously. But when I got older and watched the show, I
realized that it was pure camp. That's one of the reasons Batman was so successful: it
played to both children and adults. I think Black Scorpion is the same in that regard. I
believe it will play to everyone from boys who read comic books to their fathers who read
Playboy. Mothers and daughters will even want to watch because our superhero is a
superheroine. She doesn't wait for a man to save her, she saves the men."
Black Scorpion is filled with content as well as beauty. Victoria Silvstedt, Playboy's
Playmate of the Year, plays "a super villain called Hourglass who is bigger than life and
sexier than anyone." It's easy to see that Ms. Silvstedt enjoyed the episodes she's
worked on. "I had to do a lot of kicking and fighting," she recalls, "and we had a
martial arts trainer on set that I worked with a lot prior to the shoot. They also used
special effects. It was a lot of fun to feel like a superhero!"
Mr. Nevius feels like a superhero now that his dream has come true, but bringing Black
Scorpion to light wasn't all fun and games. "The birth of Black Scorpion is closely
connected to another comic book movie, one you may or may not ever get to see, " he
explains. "In 1993 I landed the plum assignment to write the screenplay adaptation of
Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four. A German production company had owned the option on
Stan Lee's (creator of Spiderman) franchise for close to ten years. The catch was that it
if wasn't in production by January 1, 1994 they would lose all rights, including rights
for a sequel and/or remake. With the deadline only six months away, the Germans turned to
the only man in Hollywood who could make a movie that fast -- legendary horror producer
Roger Corman. Roger hired me to write the script, which we shot for only four million
dollars. Unbeknownst to either of us, however, the German company only wanted the movie
made so they could hold onto their rights and remake it for one hundred million dollars at
20th Century Fox. So, at the end of the day, the Germans bought out Roger and took both
my script and the finished movie over to Fox (where it is still in development). But all
of this actually turned out for the best. Sensing my disappointment, Roger suggested that
I write an original superhero movie, which he would include as part of his multi-picture
deal at Showtime. Well, the original superhero turned out to be a superheroine called
Black Scorpion."
Even though the tone of Black Scorpion is that of a comic book, there's no kidding around
when it comes to the production itself. As professional as ever, the schedule is hectic,
but Mr. Nevius loves every minute of it. "I've never had such an exhausting yet
invigorating schedule as I did on Black Scorpion. I'd be at the studio at 6AM to
supervise the start of that day's production. During lunch, I'd watch the footage that was
shot the day before, then go to the corporate office to hold auditions for guest stars.
I'd stop off at the editing bay to give notes on rough cuts and finally go home at 8PM to
have dinner and polish the script for next week's episode. Weekends were great because I
didn't have to do anything but write new scripts, which I would do for 48 hours, trying to
get far enough ahead so I could get up on Monday and do it all over again."
But it's all worth it! Viewers get to watch an extremely entertaining show and the actors
get to build up their characters. Adam West and Frank Gorshin (The Riddler in the Batman
TV Series) portray their roles very seriously.
"After playing the ultimate good guy for so many years," Adam West says, "I jumped at the
chance to play a truly bad guy. Craig wrote the Breathtaker in a very complex way. He's
sinister but at the same time sympathetic. The part was worth waiting 30 years for." The
make-up for Mr. West's character is complicated: "Playing the Breathtaker could be...
uncomfortable... at times. I had to sit in a make-up chair for three hours every morning
and get staples shot into my face and tubes run through my nose and cheeks. All I had to
do with Batman was put on a mask!"
As for Frank Gorshin's view on his character "Clockwise," "at first I was reluctant to
play another comic book supervillain. After all, the part would have to be as good as the
Riddler. And Clockwise was. Craig's writing is genius. His use of language and word
play is on par with the classic Batman show." And what would a villain be without a
costume? "I loved Clockwise's costume. It's second only to the question-marked suit of
the Riddler. Clockwise had spinning glasses and dozens of timepieces strewn through out
his black cloak. I also wore a derby which, although I didn't know it at the time, was
Craig's tipping his hat to the Riddler's first hat -- also a derby!"
There's plenty to look forward to, with Craig J. Nevius already planning a special event
movie (Black Scorpion 3) that would reunite Adam West and Frank Gorshin as partners in
crime. "I already have the storyline worked out," smiles Nevius, "and it's a killer.
Batman fans will be crazy about it and seeing the two of them together again."
Black Scorpion will bring out the little kid in everyone. "Creating, writing and producing
a TV show has been a great professional accomplishment for me," Nevius continues. "But
personally, it's meant even more. As I mentioned, I loved comic books as a kid. In fact,
I even owned all 33 of the Meego superhero action figures (I still have them today and now
they're collector's items) and used to spend hours making up stories with them. And
that's what Black Scorpion has really been about for me: a childhood dream come true.
Only now I don't make up stories using the dolls. I have my own real life Wonder Woman in
Michelle Lintel as Black Scorpion. And I have the real Batman and Riddler in Adam West
and Frank Gorshin. What kid didn't want to meet Batman? Or match wits with the
Riddler? Working with Adam and Frank was everything that I hoped it would be. They're fun and funny
and I'm proud to call them both friends. In fact, on the last day of Adam's last episode,
I said goodbye and thanked him for guest starring and he replied in a very Batman-like
voice, 'Anytime you need me, Craig, I'm here.' But as thrilling as it was to work with
Adam and Frank, working with the 17 Playboy Playmates (who play the bad girls) was even
more thrilling ...just in a different way."
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"Black Scorpion Stings on Friday Nights"
