History Main / BlackScorpion

* A {{WCW}} storyline from the early 1990s.

* Giant monster film ''Film/TheBlackScorpion''.

[[redirect:Film/BlackScorpion]]

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[[caption-width-right:297:{{Batman}} + MsFanservice = Black Scorpion]]

'''Black Scorpion''' is a made-for-TV movie that first aired on Showtime in 1995. It was followed by a sequel, ''Black Scorpion: Aftershock'' (1997), and a live-action series on the Sci-Fi channel. The latter lasted a single season, running from January to June, 2001. It was very {{camp}}y, almost like a live-action SilverAge comic book, using deliberately exaggerated and unrealistic characters and events to comic effect. The television series in particular was heavily influenced by the [[TheSixties 1960s]] ''{{Series/Batman}}'' series. The character was revived for a short-lived 2009 comic book from Blue Water Productions.

After her father is murdered before her eyes, police detective Darcy Walker becomes the vigilante Black Scorpion to avenge him. She is assisted in this goal by a former car thief, Argyle Sims, who turns her car into the [[CoolCar Scorpion Mobile]] and acts as her confident. Other important characters include Darcy's partner, Steve Rafferty, who is determined to capture Black Scorpion (and is more than a little smitten with the crimefighter), the corrupt Mayor Worth, her comically inept fellow officers Specs and Slugger, and their idiot boss Captain Strickland.

Not to be confused with the [[TheBlackScorpion 1957 giant monster movie]] of the same name.

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!!Tropes from the films and series include:

* ActionGirl: Black Scorpion, of course.
* AdamWesting: Not only did Adam West take over the role of Breathtaker for the series, but Frank Gorshin of [[{{Series/Batman}} 60's Batman]] fame appeared as Clockwise.
* TheAlcoholic: Judge Cheetum in "Crime Time" ''really'' likes his martinis, to the point that he keeps preparing one while Black Scorpion and [[ClockKing Clockwise]] battle in his office.
* AllCrimesAreEqual: The attitude of a {{Punisher}}-like vigilante fittingly called the Angel of Death.
* AnimalThemedSuperbeing
* AntiVillain: Formerly heroic firefighter [[PlayingWithFire Inferno]]'s desire to kill the Mayor seems pretty justified -- after slashing the fire department's budget, the Mayor hires an arsonist (his former cellmate!) to burn down numerous buildings in Angel City, which leads directly to Adam's transformation into a man with firestarting touch.
* BachelorAuction: The episode "No Stone Unturned" features one of these, complete with the guy who thinks he's hot stuff getting a lower than starting bid (Slugger), and a straight guy being won by a gay man (Specs), however while Darcy bids on LoveInterest Steve, she loses out to the vengeance-seeking Minerva Stone/Medusa.
* BadassNormal: Being a [[DistaffCounterpart distaff]] {{expy}} of Batman, Black Scorpion naturally has no superpowers. But she does have a lot of cool gadgets.
* TheBadGuyWins: While the villain of the week, a thrash band, are defeated by Black Scorpion, the mayor's plan to use them as a way to win his reelection succeeded.
* {{Camp}}: The first film took itself a little more seriously, but the second started to take it UpToEleven.
* ClockKing: '''Clockwise''' is one of these, complete with a time-stopping stopwatch.
* CoolCar: The Scorpion Mobile, a bulletproof black Porsche kitted out with a lightning gun (the "Scorpion Sting"), gatling guns, oil slick, and can transform into Darcy's white Corvette.
** Argyle has his own cool car, a classic Cadillac painted in his namesake pattern.
* CoolPet: Darcy keeps a emperor scorpion in her lair.
* TheCowl: Black Scorpion
-->'''Opening Narration:''' "In the light of day Darcy Walker is a cop, but in the dark of night she becomes Black Scorpion; doing with a mask what she can't do with a badge."
* CreateYourOwnVillain: Inverted as the the villain of the first film creates the ''hero'' by killing her father. Played straight with the mayor in the second film as he ends up turning Dr. Undershaft into Aftershock when his men sabotage her invention. This repeats several times in the series with the mayor's crooked schemes creating several villains.
** Flashpoint is a tabloid photographer obsessed with discovering Black Scorpion's secret identity who is blinded by her energy ring, but his eyesight was restored by advanced laser surgery, making him one of the heroine's most persistent archenemies.
* {{Cyborg}}/DarkActionGirl: '''Aerobicide''' is a physical fitness themed supervillain enhanced by cybernetics. Unsurprisingly, she's one of the more physically competent villains Black Scorpion faces.
-->'''Aerobicide:''' "I'm an exercise ''machine''!"
* DarkerAndEdgier: The comic book adaptation is far less campy.
* DatingCatwoman: Darcy and Adam Burns/Inferno.
* DeathIsCheap: Thanks to the city's MadScientist odd experiments, most of Black Scorpion's RoguesGallery don't stay down for long even if killed.
* DisproportionateRetribution: '''Medusa''' turns Steve into stone because years ago, after her face was horribly scared by acid, he let her down gently when she threw herself at him.
* FiremenAreHot: Darcy falls for firefighter Adam Burns, making it all the more tragic when he becomes the supervillain Inferno.
* [[TheFarmerAndTheViper Frog And The Scorpion]]: The tale that inspire Darcy to become Black Scorpion.
* HeroWithBadPublicity: Black Scorpion is considered a criminal vigilante by the police.
* HurricaneOfPuns: In each episode the villain's theme becomes a fountain head for various [[IncrediblyLamePun bad puns]] from the criminal or Black Scorpion.
* ICannotSelfTerminate: Adam Burns/Inferno.
* InSeriesNickname: Argyle has one of these for Darcy; he calls her "Blue" (because she is a cop).
* KarmicDeath: '''Clockwise''' is killed by one of his own age-inducing bombs.
* KarmaHoudini: Despite being the cause of most of the city's problems and the [[CreateYourOwnVillain reason]] for most of its super villains, Mayor Worth remains free ''and'' the mayor. It's even lampshaded.
-->'''Darcy: '''"Doesn't matter what happens, he (Mayor Worth) ''always'' survives."
* KissOfDeath: The method used by the Angel of Death.
* KissOfLife: Steve gives one of these to Darcy in "No Stone Unturned."
* LeotardOfPower: Black Scorpion wears this, as do all the female supervillains.
* LoveInterest: Steve is this for Darcy, but (of course) Steve only has eyes for her alter ego, Black Scorpion.
* MadScientist: Dr. Phineas Phoenix. Not evil, but certainly mad. The first time we meet him he's working on resurrecting dead supervillains in order to rehabilitate them. He gets the resurrection part right...
* MeaningfulName: Most [[SuperVillain super villain's]] [[SecretIdentity real names]] are a direct reference to their theme/power:
** [[ArmCannon Firearm]]/Jack Ames ("Aims")
** [[ClockKing Clockwise]]/Benjamin Tickerman
** [[GreenThumb Greenthumb]]/Eugene Gardner
** [[WeatherDissonance Hurricane]]/Dr. Gail Waters
** [[PlayingWithFire Inferno]]/Adam Burns
*** That one is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Darcy.
-->'''Darcy:''' A fireman named Burns?
* {{Minion}}: Almost all of the supervillains have exactly two of them.
** [[UnfortunateImplications Even the mayor has two.]]
* MostCommonSuperpower: Black Scorpion really fills out that suit.
* MotiveDecay: Inferno's reason for being a Super villain is forgotten due to Dr. Phoenix's attempt to rehabilitate him. Needless to say it didn't work out.
* MsFanservice: Black Scorpion fights crime in what is essentially a one piece bathing suit. The films even feature full frontal nudity.
* NightmareSequence: The episode "Out of Thin Air" is full of them, thanks to Breathtaker's plot to flood the city with fear gas.
** Darcy's personal nightmare? Being hunted by her own alter ego.
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Argyle in the series. In the films he's merely [[TheOldConvict a former carjacker]] who tricked out Darcy's car thanks to stuff that FellOffTheBackOfATruck. In the series he's able to develop counter moves to the tech of the SuperVillain of the week. Oddly he says he's never been to college.
** Argyle is DangerouslyGenreSavvy: He knows that in his city, when a guy graduates from college, there is a high chance that he becomes a SuperVillain.
* PointyHairedBoss: Captain Strickland is a nice guy, but he's more or less completely incompetent.
* PoliceAreUseless With the exception of Darcy, and to a lesser extent Steve. Captain Strickland even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades it]]:
-->'''Captain Strickland:''' "Now I know why [[SleazyPolitician the Mayor]] called us incompetent. Because ''we are''!
* PoweredArmor: Slapshot uses one which doubles as a SuperWheelchair.
* PsychoElectro: Stunner, formerly the mayor's deputy.
* RoguesGallery: Naturally, though most seem to want to kill the ''[[SleazyPolitician mayor]]'' rather than Black Scorpion. Darcy even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades it]]:
-->'''Darcy:''' It ''does'' seem to be a favorite pastime of the [[SuperVillain super villains]] in this city.
* SleazyPolitician: Mayor Worth is a prime example. The series takes it even further with the comments of Darcy's coworkers:
-->'''Steve:''' "Who would gain from Mayor Worth's death?"
-->'''Captain Strickland:''' "Mrs. Worth."
-->'''Specs:''' "His kids."
-->'''Slugger:''' "His employees."
-->'''Strickland:''' "The taxpayers."
-->'''Slugger:''' "Plants and animals."
-->'''Specs:''' "Basically future generations."
* SpecialGuest: The episode "Love Burns" features ''Dave Mustaine'' (of Music/{{Megadeth}}!) as an arsonist named Torchy Thompson.
* StockFootage: The TV series was produced by RogerCorman and nearly every episode features stock footage from various Corman films. The car chase sequences are also always the same footage.
* StrawFeminist: Aerobicide is a man-hater with an axe to grind -- she and her minions rob men's clubs. Every male character in the series conveniently becomes a one-episode misogynist when she shows up.
* TakenForGranite: Doing this to people is Medusa's schtick.
* TheCity: Angel City
* ThoseTwoGuys: Slugger and Specs
* ThouShaltNotKill: Averted with Darcy due to her being a cop she is willing to kill when necessary.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Many of Black Scorpion's enemies are these.
** The cyborg Firearm seeks to punish the mayor for passing a bill that would make it easier for citizen's to get the sort of high powered guns that nearly killed - when he learns that the mayor was forced to pass the law by a gun craving public, he goes on a [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge shooting spree]] to teach the citizens of Angel City that Guns Are Bad.
** Hurricane is an (completely insane) environmental activist who is willing to destroy Angel City to prevent further polluting of Angel Bay.
** Aerobicide destroyed her body trying to live up to chauvinistic beauty standards and now seeks to destroy patriarchy.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Recurring theme in the series. If any character gains a {{Power}} from an accident, then [[EvilLaugh insane laughter]] is sure to follow.
* YellowPeril: Red Dragon and his goons.
-->'''Black Scorpion:''' "The problem with fighting Chinese gangs is an hour later I wanna fight again."

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* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Argyle in the series. In the films he's merely [[TheOldCon a former carjacker]] who tricked out Darcy's car thanks to stuff that FellOffTheBackOfATruck. In the series he's able to develop counter moves to the tech of the SuperVillain of the week. Oddly he says he's never been to college.

-->'''Darcy: '''"Doesn't matter what happens, he (Mayor Worth) ''always'' survives."'''

** Even the mayor has two.

-->'''Darcy:''' It ''does'' seem to be a favorite pastime of the [[SuperVillain super villains]].

[[caption-width-right:297:{{Batman}} + MsFanservice = BlackScorpion]]

'''Black Scorpion''' is a Made-For-TV movie that first aired on Showtime in 1995. It was followed by a sequel, ''Black Scorpion: Aftershock'' (1997), and a live-action series on The Sci-Fi channel. The latter
lasted a single season, running from January to June, 2001. Know for it's heavy {{Camp}} appeal, using deliberately exaggerated and unrealistic characters and events to comic effect. The television series in particular was heavily influenced by the [[TheSixties 1960s]] ''{{Series/Batman}}'' series. In 2009 the character was revived for a short-lived comic book from Blue Water Productions.

The title character is police detective Darcy Walker. After her father is murdered before her eyes she becomes a vigilante to avenge him. She is assisted in this goal by a former car thief, Argyle Sims, who turns her car into the [[CoolCar Scorpion Mobile]], and acts as her confident. Other important characters include Darcy's partner, Steve Rafferty, who is determined to capture Black Scorpion (and is more than a little smitten with the crimefighter), the corrupt Mayor Worth, and her comically inept fellow officers Specs and Slugger, and their idiot boss Captain Strickland.

* AdamWesting: Not only did Adam West take over the role of Breathtaker for the series, but Frank Gorshin of [[{{Series/Batman}} 60's Batman]] fame appear as Clockwise.

* AllCrimesAreEqual: The attitude of a {{Punisher}}-like vilgiante fittingly called the Angel of Death.

* BachelorAuction: The episode "No Stone Unturned" features one of these, complete with the guy who thinks her's hot stuff getting a lower than starting bid (Slugger), and a straight guy being won by a gay man (Specs), however while Darcy bids on LoveInterest Steve, she loses out to the venegance seeking Minerva Stone/Medusa.

* CoolCar: The Scorpion Mobile, a black Porsche which has a lightning gun (the "Scorpion Sting"), gatling guns, produces oil slicks, andtransforms into Darcy's white Corvette. It's also bulletproof.

* CreateYourOwnVillain: Inverted as the the villain of the first film, creates the ''hero'' by killing her father. Played straight with the Mayor in the second film as he ends up turning Dr. Undershaft into Aftershock due to his men's sabotage of her invention. This repeats several times in the series with several villains created by the Mayor's crooked schemes.

* HurricaneOfPuns: In each episode the villain's theme becomes a fountain head for various [[IncrediblyLamePun bad puns]] said by the criminal or Black Scorpion.
* ICannotSelfTerminate: Adam Burns/Inferno

* KarmaHoudini: Despite being the cause of most of the city's problems and the [[CreateYourOwnVillain reason]] for most of it's super villains, Mayor Worth remains free ''and'' the mayor. It's even lampshaded.
-->'''Darcy: '''"Doesn't to matter what happens he (Mayor Worth) ''always'' survives.

* NightmareSequence: The episode "Out Of Thin Air" is full of them, thanks to Breathtaker's plot to flood the city with fear gas.

** Argyle is DangerouslyGenreSavvy: He knows that in his city, when a guy graduates from College, there is a high chance that he becomes a SuperVillain.

* PsychoElectro: Stunner, formerly the Mayor's Deputy.
* RoguesGallery: Naturally, though most seem to want to kill the ''[[SleazyPolitician Mayor]]'' rather then Black Scorpion. Darcy even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades it]]:

* StrawFeminist: Aerobicide is a man-hater with an axe to grind -- she and her minions rob men's clubs. Conveniently every male character in the series becomes a one-episode misogynist when she shows up.

* MotiveDecay: Inferno's reason for being a Super villain is forgotten due to Dr. Phoenix's attempt to rehabilitate him. Needless to say [[{{Understatement}} it didn't work out]].

lasted a single season, running from January to June, 2001. Know for it's heavy {{Camp}} appeal, using deliberately exaggerated and unrealistic characters and events to comic effect. The television series in particular was heavily influenced by the 60's Batman series. In 2009 the character was revived for a short-lived comic book from Blue Water Productions.

'''Black Scorpion''' is a Made-For-TV movie that first aired on Showtime. It was followed by a sequel, ''Black Scorpion: Aftershock'', and a live-action series on The Sci-Fi channel that lasted a single season. Know for it's heavy {{Camp}} appeal, using deliberately exaggerated and unrealistic characters and events to comic effect. The television series in particular was heavily influenced by the 60's Batman series. In 2009 the character was revived for a short-lived comic book from Blue Water Productions.