#superargo

SUPERARGO vs. DIABOLICUS (1966)

What do you get when you mix masked wrestlers, spies, superheroes, and a total disregard for logic and common sense?

This crazy flick, featuring a hero who is equal parts Santo, James Bond, and Batman. I first discovered this bizarre Italian/Spanish co-production on New York City's Channel 5 Saturday movies at noon (where I first encountered the Starman series of films) when I was a wee lad. So many, many, many years ago.

German lobby card for Superargo Versus Diabolicus. The German title translates to The Red Phantom Strikes.

Superargo is a masked wrestler, like Mexico's Santo. In fact, he's the World Champion, having one 123 matches in a row. Also like Santo, he never removes his mask. However, where Santo will wear suits and regular clothes with his mask, Superargo NEVER takes his costume off.

Superargo's girlfriend, Lydia, encouraging her sweetie to mow down some bad guys.

In the opening of the film Superargo is in the wrestling ring defending his title from the vicious El Tigre. Superargo defeats El Tigre by throwing him out of the ring. However, El Tigre lands on his head and dies. Wracked with guilt, Superargo quits and spends the next several days moping about his house - still in his mask and costume!

Diabolicus preparing to torture Superargo.

His girlfriend, Lydia, can't stand to see him in such a state. She puts Superargo in touch with an old friend, who is now in charge of the Secret Service. Seems there's a problem with some villain named Diabolicus that the Service needs help with, and Superargo is just the man they need.

It's then that we learn that Superargo is not just any masked wrestler. He has greater-than-normal strength; super stamina; his blood coagulates super fast, so wounds heal almost instantaneously; he can hold his breath for longer than 7 minutes; he is immune to extreme hot and cold; and he can regulate his blood pressure to stay normal even under great exertion. He is vulnerable to electricity (aren't we all?) but, while it can hurt him, it can't kill him.

He is also allergic to bullets. So the Secret Service outfits him with a new, bulletproof costume, as well as several gadgets typical of the spy movies of the day, including a Geiger counter disguised as a cocktail olive! To sweeten the deal, they also throw in a nifty new sports car. Then Superargo is sent on his way to track down and stop Diabolicus' mad plan for world domination.

"What is that plan?" you ask.

Well, in a nutshell, Diabolicus had discovered a way to turn base metals into gold. He then wants to flood the markets with the gold, destroying the world economy and bringing civilization to its knees.

There is just one problem: in order to make the fake gold Diabolicus needs plutonium. Lots and lots of plutonium. Hence the martini olive.

No, Superargo's not trippin' on LSD. This is part of the bizarre credit sequence at the beginning of the film.

After that, the film follows the typical Eurospy movie formula: car chases, fights, beautiful dames, fights, the hero confronting the villain on his secret island base, the hero fights the hordes of villainous minions, and the secret villain headquarters getting blowed up.

Let's be clear about one thing: this ain't no cinematic masterpiece. But it is an amusing, entertaining little flick. And it contains two things things that give it extra panache: a totally whacked-out opening credit sequence that is kinds disturbing to watch, and the absolute worst secret island headquarters miniature you'll probably ever see. I think the director's kid made it in an afternoon and filmed it in the family pool.

It's worth checking out if you're in the mood for some superhero silliness. Last time I checked it was streaming on Amazon, and there's a blurry version of Youtube.

Superargo and the Faceless Giants (1968)

The sequel to 1966's Superargo vs. Diabolicus, this film finds Superargo with new mask, new mask, a new girlfriend, and some new powers thanks to Kamir, an Eastern mystic who is his mentor/servant/sidekick.

However, his new villain is not so great. In fact, he's about as menacing as cardboard cut-out, with half the personality. The "faceless giants" are actually just taller-than-average lobotomized athletes with no expressions. The main villain has some plan for his robot-like goons, but I don't remember if it was ever actually revealed.

There isn't much of a plot. The movie consists mostly of Superargo and Kamir driving around to different locales fighting the "faceless giants."

An Italian made but English language superhero movie about a former pro wrestler with telepathic skills now working for the secret service. He faces an army of robotic giants who have been kidnapping the county’s top athletes.

Despite moving on from wrestling Superargo still wears his ring gear and mask at all times and is even shown wrestling at one point after he returns to the mat in order to lure out the giants.

Wrestle Rating:

2.5 out of 5 faceless giants with faces