The Captain Marvel serial is generally regarded as the best one ever. It's public domain status makes it widely available and it was one of the very first serials I ever saw. I hadn't watched again for many years, but I got a new DVD version a few weeks ago and finally got around to it last weekend. It was splendid!
The advantage it has is the decision to make Captain Marvel's backstory different from the comic pretty much and linked specifically to the particular threat of the Scorpion. Binding the hero and the villain together makes for more immediate tension.
The variation on threats in this one is pretty good. They rely mostly on using unseen footage to explain the escapes which is mostly fair. I get weary of serials that just have the hero dust himself off after landsides and such. It makes it all less intense. Captain Marvel's threats were exotic and his escapes mostly reasonable within the story's parameters.
The villain is a good one and the way the story gives you red herring after red herring suggesting first one guy then another as the perp makes it all hang together quite well. The Scorpion seems to don that costume in some strange places but overall I like his presentation, particularly now that I've been able to compare it other villains.
And of course the flying is outstanding. I expected that, well remembering it from previous viewings and it didn't disappoint. Tom Tyler looks outstanding as Captain Marvel, the best looking hero ever on screen most agree.
All in all a dandy serial, and a great way to spend an afternoon.
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