The Purple Monster (Roy Barcroft), vanguard of a Martian invasion force, takes over the body of Professor Layton (James Craven) as part of a plan to build a 'jet-plane' that will replace his destroyed vehicle (Martian rocket-science appears not to have mastered 'landing') and allow him to return to Mars with the technology needed to build an invasion fleet that can successfully land on Earth. Only hard-fisted and quick-witted G-man Craig Foster (Dennis Moore) and obligatory helpful/menaced dame Sheila Layton (Linda Stirling) can stop the malicious Martian and his treacherous human minions. As 'sci-fi' serials go, this 15-parter from Republic is pretty good. There are lots of chases, shootouts, and fist-fights and just about very episode produces a new scientific MacGuffin (rocket fuel, gas to replicate the Martian air, an atmosphere stabiliser, an meteor annihilator ray, etc.) that the Purple Monster needs to complete his nefarious plan and that Foster strives to keep him from obtaining. The 'science' in the fiction doesn't make much sense and there are a number of glaring plot holes (how does Professor Layton's corpse stay 'fresh' so long, why is getting Martian breathing air important when the Purple Monster has no problem breathing Earth's air) but the action is non-stop, well done and fun to watch Some cost-cutting typical of the studio's chapter-plays is apparent: only one 'Martian to human and back transition' scene was shot and the footage is reused ad nauseam, the same car is blown-up several times, the same footage is used for the arrival on Earth of The Purple Monster and the later arrival of his shapely but wicked Martian assistant Marcia (Mary More). There are several fights in each episode, often with Craig duking it out with the Monster himself and/or a couple of minions. The brawls are very energetic, well-choregraphed, full of smashed props, and everyone seems capable of absorbing impressive amounts of abuse without getting bloody (or even dirty) or losing their fedoras, even when sent flying backwards over tables. Although the action is bloodless the serial is a bit grim - numerous people are murdered or shot during fights and The Monster tests his annihilator ray by blowing up random cars on the local highway (not shown). Most of the cliff-hangers and their resolutions are nicely done (there is only one 'cheat' - the spikes about to impale Foster are much closer to him at the end of the episode than they are when he cleverly stops their advance at the beginning of the next episode). The cast is fine: Barcroft manages to be menacing despite wearing tights and Moore is fine as the heroic G-man whose prowess in fisticuffs and ability for making astute predictions based on minimal information are typical of the character-trope. Though a bit ridiculous at times, the serial takes itself reasonably seriously and is thankfully free of youthful sidekicks and comic relief. While not in the same league as the true space-opera-serials like 'Flash Gordon', 'The Purple Monster Strikes' is a entertaining sci-fi tinged adventure serial. No explanation is given as to why the Martian christens himself 'The Purple Monster' but it makes for a fun title.
