Editing Doc Savage

{{Short description|Fictional character in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s}}
{{About|the fictional character|the pulp magazine|Doc Savage (magazine)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox comics character
| character_name = Doc Savage
| image = Doc Savage Magazine - March 1933.jpg
| imagesize = 200
| converted = y
| caption = ''[[Doc Savage Magazine]]'', March 1933, "The Man of Bronze", illustrated by [[Walter M. Baumhofer]].
| publisher = [[Street & Smith]]
| debut = ''[[Doc Savage Magazine]]'' #1 (March 1933)
| creators = [[Henry W. Ralston]]<br />[[John L. Nanovic]]<br />[[Lester Dent]]
| full_name = Clark Savage Jr.
| aliases = The Man of Bronze
| powers = [[Genius]]-level intellect<br />Peak physical and mental conditioning<br />Skilled [[scientist]], [[surgeon]], [[inventor]], [[detective]], [[athletics (sport)|athlete]], and [[martial arts|martial artist]]<br />[[Photographic memory]]<br />Master of disguise
}}
'''Doc Savage''' is a fictional character of the [[competent man]] hero type, who first appeared in American [[pulp magazine]]s during the 1930s and 1940s. Real name '''Clark Savage Jr.''', he is a [[polymath]]ic [[scientist]], [[explorer]], [[detective]], and [[warrior]] who "rights wrongs and punishes evildoers." He was created by publisher [[Henry W. Ralston]] and editor [[John L. Nanovic]] at [[Street & Smith|Street & Smith Publications]], with additional material contributed by the series' main writer, [[Lester Dent]]. Doc Savage stories were published under the [[Kenneth Robeson]] name. The illustrations were by [[Walter M. Baumhofer|Walter Baumhofer]], [[Paul Orban]], [[Emery Clarke]], [[Modest Stein]], and [[Robert G. Harris]].

The heroic-adventure character would go on to appear in other media, including radio, film, and comic books, with his adventures reprinted for modern-day audiences in a series of [[mass market paperback|paperback books]], which had sold over 20 million copies by 1979.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=K9P1T0doSpkC&dq=%22doc+savage%22+%22million+copies%22&pg=PA2 Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review] Feb. 1979 issue</ref> Into the 21st century, Doc Savage has remained a nostalgic icon in the U.S., referenced in novels and [[popular culture]]. Longtime [[Marvel Comics]] editor [[Stan Lee]] credited Doc Savage as being the forerunner to modern [[superheroes]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ap2hyc.com/2016/05/who-is-doc-savage/|title=Who Is Doc Savage?|website=A Place to Hang Your Cape|access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref>

==Publication history==
''[[Doc Savage (magazine)|Doc Savage Magazine]]'' was printed by [[Street & Smith]] from March 1933 to the summer of 1949 to capitalize on the success of ''[[The Shadow]]'' magazine and followed by the original ''[[Avenger (pulp-magazine character)|Avenger]]'' in September 1939. In all, 181 issues were published in various entries and alternative titles.<ref>See [[List of Doc Savage novels]] for a complete list of the 181</ref>

Doc Savage became known to a new generation of readers when [[Bantam Books]] began reprinting the individual magazine novels in 1964, this time with covers by artist [[James Bama]] that featured a bronze-haired, bronze-skinned Doc Savage with an exaggerated [[Widow's peak|widows' peak]], usually wearing a torn khaki shirt and under the by-line "Kenneth Robeson". The stories were not reprinted in chronological order as originally published, though they did begin with the first adventure, ''The Man of Bronze''. By 1967, Bantam was publishing once a month until 1990, when all 181 original stories (plus an unpublished novel, ''The Red Spider'') had run their course. Author [[Will Murray]] produced seven more Doc Savage novels for Bantam Books from Lester Dent's original outlines.  Bantam also published a novel by [[Philip José Farmer]], ''Escape From Loki'' (1991), which told the story of how in [[World War I]] Doc met the men who would become his five comrades.<ref>{{cite web |title=Doc Savage #183 - Escape from Loki |url=http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2020/04/doc-savage-183-escape-from-loki.html |website=Paperback Warrior |access-date=11 February 2023}}</ref>

Clark Savage Jr. first appeared in March 1933 in the first issue of ''Doc Savage Magazine''. Because of the success of the Shadow, who had his own pulp magazine, the publishers Street & Smith quickly launched this pulp title. Unlike the Shadow, Clark Savage, "Doc" to his friends, had no special powers but was raised from birth by his father and other scientists to become one of the most perfect human beings in terms of strength, intelligence, and physical abilities.<ref>Hutchison, Don. ''The Great Pulp Heroes''. Oakville, ON/Buffalo, NY: Mosaic Press, 1998, p. 24-35</ref>

Doc Savage set up base on the 86th floor of a world-famous New York skyscraper (implied, but never outright stated, as the [[Empire State Building]]; Phillip José Farmer, in his ''[[Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life]]'', gives good evidence that this is likely the case). Doc Savage fights against evil with the assistance of the "Fabulous Five".{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

==Comics, films, pulp magazines==
Doc Savage has appeared in comics and a movie, on radio, and as a character in numerous other works, and continues to inspire authors and artists in the realm of fantastic adventure.

''Doc Savage Magazine'' was created by Street & Smith Publications executive Henry Ralston and editor John Nanovic to capitalize on the success of Street and Smith's pulp character, [[The Shadow]]. Ralston and Nanovic wrote a short premise establishing the broad outlines of the character they envisioned, but Doc Savage was only fully realized by the author chosen to write the series, [[Lester Dent]]. Dent wrote most of the 181 original novels, hidden behind the "[[Pen name#Collective names|house name]]" of [[Kenneth Robeson]].{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} (See [[List of Doc Savage novels]] for a complete list of the titles in the original pulp magazine series.) 
 
One Lester Dent biographer hypothesizes that one inspiration for Doc Savage may have been the American military officer and author [[Richard Henry Savage]], who wrote more than 40 books of adventure and mystery stories and lived a dashing and daring life.<ref name=Cannaday>{{Cite book | last=Cannaday | first=Marilyn | url=https://archive.org/details/biggerthanlifecr00cann | url-access=registration | title=Bigger Than Life: The Creator of Doc Savage | publisher=Popular Press | year=1990 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/biggerthanlifecr00cann/page/15 15]–16 | isbn=978-0-87972-471-9}}</ref>

The character first appeared on screen in a 1975 film, ''[[Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze]]''.

It was announced on May 30, 2016, that [[Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]] would be playing Clark "Doc" Savage, billed as the "World's First Superhero", and the film would be directed by [[Shane Black]] with a script by Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry.<ref>Hayden, Erik (May 30, 2016). [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/doc-savage-film-dwayne-johnson-898220 "Dwayne Johnson to Star in Shane Black's 'Doc Savage' Film"]. ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''.</ref> In 2020, the concept was changed from a film to a television show.<ref name="tv series in works">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/doc-savage-tv-series-in-works-sony-pictures-tv-original-film-conde-nast-1202863245/ |title='Doc Savage' TV Series In Works At Sony Pictures Television With Original Film & Condé Nast |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=February 19, 2020 |access-date=May 6, 2021}}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
A team of scientists assembled by his father deliberately trained his mind and body to near-[[superhuman]] abilities almost from birth, giving him great strength and endurance, a [[photographic memory]], a mastery of the [[martial arts]], and vast knowledge of the sciences. Doc is also a master of disguise and an excellent imitator of voices. He is a [[physician]], scientist, adventurer, detective, inventor, explorer, researcher, and, as revealed in ''The Polar Treasure'', a musician. Dent described the hero as a mix of [[Sherlock Holmes]]' deductive abilities, [[Tarzan]]'s outstanding physical abilities, [[Craig Kennedy]]'s scientific education, and [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s goodness. He also described Doc Savage as manifesting "[[Christ]]liness." Doc's character and world-view is displayed in his oath, which goes as follows:<ref>{{Cite web | title=How I Met Doc Savage | url=http://www.micahwright.com/savage.htm | access-date=May 22, 2007 | work=MicahWright.com | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506135859/http://www.micahwright.com/savage.htm | archive-date=May 6, 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Pull quote|Let me strive every moment of my life to make myself better and better, to the best of my ability, that all may profit by it. Let me think of the right and lend all my assistance to those who need it, with no regard for anything but justice. Let me take what comes with a smile, without loss of courage. Let me be considerate of my country, of my fellow citizens and my associates in everything I say and do. Let me do right to all, and wrong no man.}}

By the third story, Doc already has a reputation as a "superman".<ref>"Ham knows a person who is just what we need&nbsp;— a superman!"  ''Quest of the Spider'', Bantam edition, May 1972, reprinting ''Doc Savage Magazine'' of May 1933, page 3.</ref>

===Doc Savage's aides===
Savage is accompanied on his adventures by up to five other regular characters (referred to in the 1975 movie and in marketing materials from the Bantam Books republication as "The Fabulous Five"), all highly accomplished individuals in their own right.

* [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Andrew Blodgett Mayfair|Andrew Blodgett "Monk" Mayfair]], an [[chemist|industrial chemist]]. Monk got his nickname from his [[simian]] build, notably his long arms, and his covering of red hair. He is in a constant state of "friendly feuding" with "Ham" Brooks. This began when his friend taught him some [[French language|French]] words to say to an officer and Monk repeated them, not knowing they were a string of insults. The result was a lengthy stay in the guardhouse.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}
* [[Brigadier General]] [[Theodore Marley Brooks|Theodore Marley "Ham" Brooks]], an accomplished [[Lawyer|attorney]]. Ham is considered one of the best-dressed men in the world, and as part of his attire, carries a [[sword cane]] whose blade is dipped in a fast-acting [[anesthetic]]. His nickname was acquired when Monk, in retaliation for his guardhouse incarceration, framed Brooks on a charge of stealing hams from the commissary. In the only case which Ham ever lost, he was convicted of stealing the hams.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}
* [[Colonel]] [[John Renwick (Doc Savage)|John "Renny" Renwick]], a [[civil engineer|construction engineer]]. Renny is a giant of a man, with "fists like buckets of gristle and bone." His favorite pastime is knocking the panels out of heavy wooden doors. He always wears a look of depression, which deepens the happier he grows. His favorite—and frequently used—expression, is "Holy Cow!"{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}
* [[Major (rank)|Major]] [[Thomas J. Roberts|Thomas J. "Long Tom" Roberts]], an [[electrical engineer]]. "Long Tom" got his nickname from using an antiquated cannon of that nickname in the successful defense of a French village in World War I. Long Tom was a sickly-looking character but fought like a wildcat.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}
* [[William Harper Littlejohn|William Harper "Johnny" Littlejohn]], an [[archaeologist]] and [[geologist]]. Johnny has an impressive vocabulary, never using a small word when a big one could suffice. ("I'll be superamalgamated!" is a favorite expression.) Johnny wore eyeglasses with a magnifying lens over his left eye in early adventures—that eye having been damaged in World War I.<ref name=LostOasis>{{Cite book | first=Kenneth | last=Robeson | url=http://isbndb.com/d/book/the_lost_oasis_a03.html | title=The Lost Oasis: A Doc Savage Adventure | publisher=Bantam Books | year=1965 | isbn=978-0-553-06357-8 | access-date=August 8, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918092323/http://isbndb.com/d/book/the_lost_oasis_a03.html | archive-date=September 18, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Doc later performed corrective surgery that restored Johnny's sight in that eye,<ref name=Manwhoshook>{{Cite book | last=Robeson | first=Kenneth | url=http://isbndb.com/d/book/man_who_shook_the_earth_doc_savage_43.html | title=The Man Who Shook the Earth: A Doc Savage Adventure | publisher=Bantam Books | year=1969 | isbn=978-0-553-04761-5 | access-date=August 8, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016140900/http://isbndb.com/d/book/man_who_shook_the_earth_doc_savage_43.html | archive-date=October 16, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> but Johnny retained the magnifier as a monocle for use both as a [[magnifying glass]] and as a memento.

In later stories, Doc's companions become less important to the plot as the stories focus more on Doc. The "missing" characters are explained as working elsewhere, too busy with their own accomplishments to help. Toward the end of the series, usually only Monk and Ham appear with Doc.

Doc's cousin [[Patricia Savage|Patricia "Pat" Savage]], who has Doc's bronze skin, golden eyes, and bronze hair, also is along for many of the adventures, despite Doc's best efforts to keep her away from danger. Pat chafes under these restrictions, or indeed any effort to protect her simply because she is female. She is also able to fluster Doc, even as she completely charms Monk and Ham.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

===The 86th Floor===
Doc's office is on the 86th floor of a New York City skyscraper, implicitly the [[Empire State Building]], reached by Doc's private high-speed elevator. Doc owns a fleet of cars, trucks, aircraft, and boats which he stores at a secret hangar on the [[Hudson River]], under the name ''The Hidalgo Trading Company'', which is linked to his office by a pneumatic-tube system nicknamed the "flea run". He sometimes retreats to his Fortress of Solitude in the [[Arctic]], which pre-dates [[Superman]]'s similar [[Fortress of Solitude|hideout of the same name]].  The entire operation is funded with gold from a [[Central America]]n mine given to him by the local descendants of the [[Maya people]] in the first ''Doc Savage'' story. (Doc and his assistants learned the little-known [[Mayan languages|Mayan language]] of this people at the same time, allowing them to communicate privately when others might be listening.){{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

===Technology===
Lester Dent kept current with the scientific developments of his era. While some of Doc's gadgets were simply science fiction many of his 'futuristic' devices were actual inventions, or ideas engineers were attempting to produce. Futuristic devices described in the series include the [[flying wing]], the [[answering machine]], [[television]], [[automatic transmission]], [[night vision goggles]], electromagnetic [[Railgun|rail guns]], and a hand-held [[automatic weapon]],  known variously as the [[machine pistol]], the supermachine pistol, or the rapid-firer.  A wide range of ammunition types were used for the machine pistols, including incendiary bullets that smash on contact, coating the target with a high-temperature paste-fed fire, high explosive bullets able to uproot trees, ordinary lead bullets, and the sleep-inducing "mercy bullets".{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} Doc also developed an automated typewriter.

===Villains===
Doc's greatest foe, and the only enemy to appear in two of the original pulp stories, was the Russian-born [[John Sunlight]], introduced in October 1938 in the ''Fortress of Solitude''. Early villains in the "super-sagas" were fantastic schemers bent on ruling the world. Later, the magazine was retitled ''Doc Savage, Science Detective'', and Doc dealt with more conventional criminal organizations.  The super-saga was revived in 1948 by new editor [[Daisy Bacon]] shortly before the final cancellation of the magazine. In a September 20, 1948, letter to [[Lester Dent]], Bacon wrote "As long as we are dropping the science detective and returning to just Doc Savage, I think we should return to a real adventure story..."<ref>https://collections.shsmo.org/manuscripts/columbia/c3071 – Listing of Lester Dent Papers, 1924–1984 @ The State Historical Society of Missouri, Folder 23, Correspondence Aug-Dec 1948</ref>

A key characteristic of the Doc Savage stories is that the threats, no matter how fantastic, usually have a rational explanation. For example, a giant mountain-walking spider is revealed as a blimp, a scorching death comes from super-charged electric batteries, a "sea angel" is a mechanical construct towed by a submarine, Navy ships sunk by a mysterious force are actually sabotaged, and so on.  But Doc Savage also battles invisible killers, a murderous teleporter, and superscientific foes from the center of the Earth.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

In earlier stories, some of the criminals captured by Doc receive "a delicate brain operation" to cure their criminal tendencies. These criminals return to society, unaware of their past, to lead productive lives. The operation is mentioned in [[Truman Capote]]'s novel ''[[In Cold Blood]]'', as an older Kansan recalls Doc's "fixing" of the criminals he had caught.<ref>(1966 ed. p307)</ref>

==Lester Dent==
[[Lester Dent]], the series' principal author, had a mixed regard for his own creations. Though usually protective of his own work, he could be derisive of his pulp output. In interviews, he stated that he harbored no illusions of being a high-quality author of literature; for him, the Doc Savage series was simply a job, a way to earn a living by "churning out reams and reams of sellable crap", never dreaming how his series would catch on.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} Comics historian [[Jim Steranko]] revealed that Dent used a formula<ref>{{cite web|url=https://steegerbooks.com/lester-dent-and-the-master-fiction-plot/|title=Lester Dent, Doc Savage, and the Master Fiction Plot|last=Moring|date=August 5, 2015|website=steegerbooks.com|access-date=September 13, 2020}}</ref> to write his Doc Savage stories, so that his heroes were continually, and methodically, getting in and out of trouble.<ref>{{Cite book | last=Steranko | first=Jim | title=The Steranko History of Comics, Vol. 1 | publisher=Supergraphics | year=1970 |page=20}}</ref> Dent was initially paid $500 per story and this was later increased to $750 during the [[Great Depression]], enabling him to buy a [[yacht]] and vacation in the Caribbean.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

==Bibliography==
===Novels===
{{See also|List of Doc Savage novels}}
{{unreferenced section|date = July 2011}}
[[File:Manofbronzebama.jpg|thumb|[[James Bama]]'s covers featuring [[Steve Holland (actor)|Steve Holland]] as the Man of Bronze on many of the Bantam reprints defined the character to a generation of readers.]]
All of the original stories were reprinted in paperback form by [[Bantam Books]] in the 1960s through 1990s. Of the first 67 paperback covers, 62 were painted in extraordinary monochromatic tones and super-realistic detail by [[James Bama]], whose updated vision of Doc Savage with the exaggerated widow's peak captured, at least symbolically, the essence of the Doc Savage novels.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kelton|first=Elmer|title=The art of James Bama|year=1993|publisher=Bantam|location=New York|isbn=978-0-553-09305-6|pages=158|oclc=27264593}}</ref> The first 96 paperbacks reprinted one of the original novels per book. Actor and model [[Steve Holland (actor)|Steve Holland]], who had played ''[[Flash Gordon]]'' in a 1953 television series, was the model for Doc on all the covers. The next 15 paperbacks (consisting of stories 97 through 126 in the Bantam reissue series) were "doubles", reprinting two novels each (these were actually shorter novellas written during paper shortages of World War II). The last of the original novels were reprinted in a numbered series of 13 "omnibus" volumes of four to five stories each. It was one of the few pulp series to be completely reprinted in paperback form.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

''The Red Spider'' was a Doc Savage novel written by Dent in April 1948, about the [[Cold War]] with the Soviet Union. The story was killed in 1948 by new editor [[Daisy Bacon]], though previous editor William de Grouchy had commissioned it. It was forgotten until 1975, when Doc Savage scholar [[Will Murray (writer)|Will Murray]] found hints of its existence in the Street & Smith archives. After a two-year search, the carbon manuscript was located among Dent's papers. It finally saw print in July 1979 as Number 95 in Bantam's Doc Savage series.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

When the original pulp stories were exhausted, Bantam Books hired [[Philip José Farmer]] to pen the tale of how Doc and his men met in World War I. ''Escape from Loki'' was published in 1991. It was followed by seven traditional Doc Savage stories written by novelist Will Murray, working from unpublished Lester Dent outlines, beginning with ''Python Isle.'' Philip José Farmer had earlier written the book ''[[Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life]]'' in 1973, which described the characters and the stories on the entertaining premise that Doc actually existed and the novels chronicled his exploits in "fictionized" form.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

In 2011, [[Altus Press]] revived the series with another Murray-Dent posthumous collaboration, ''The Desert Demons.'' Nine new novels are planned for the new series ''The Wild Adventures of Doc Savage''. In 2011, ''Doc Savage: Horror in Gold'' was published. In 2012, [[Altus Press]] published ''Doc Savage: Death's Dark Domain'', ''Doc Savage: The Forgotten Realm'', ''Doc Savage: The Infernal Buddha'' and ''Doc Savage: The Desert Demons''. ''Doc Savage: Skull Island'', a crossover with [[King Kong]], was released in 2013.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=doc%20savage&sprefix=doc+s%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Adoc%20savage Amazon.com]</ref> Murray teamed Doc up with another Street & Smith pulp-era hero, [[The Shadow]], in Doc Savage: ''The Sinister Shadow'' (2015) and Doc Savage: ''Empire of Doom'' (2016).<ref>[[Altus Press]]</ref>

Sanctum Books, in association with Nostalgia Ventures, began a new series of Doc reprints (starting November 2006), featuring two novels per book, in magazine-sized paperbacks. Several editions came with a choice of the original pulp cover or the covers from the Bantam paperbacks, and most include the original interior artwork, as well as new essays and reprints of other old material. In late 2008, Nostalgia Ventures ended their relationship, and Sanctum Books continues with the reprints on their own.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

===Radio===
{{See also|List of Doc Savage radio episodes}}
Two ''Doc Savage'' radio series were broadcast during the pulp era. The first, in 1934, was a 15-minute serial which ran for 26 episodes. The 1943 series was based not on the pulps, but on the comic book version of the character. No audio exists from either series, although some scripts survived. In 1985, [[National Public Radio]] aired ''The Adventures of Doc Savage'', as 13 half-hour episodes,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Series: The Adventures Of Doc Savage |url=http://www.radioechoes.com/?page=series&genre=Adventure&series=The%20Adventures%20Of%20Doc%20Savage |website=Radio Echoes}}</ref> based on the pulps and adapted by [[Will Murray (writer)|Will Murray]] and Roger Rittner. [[Daniel Chodos]] starred as Doc.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-06-23 |title=At look at Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze |url=https://thepulp.net/pulpsuperfan/2014/06/23/at-look-at-doc-savage-the-man-of-bronze/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=The Pulp Super-Fan |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Comic books ===<!-- [[Doc Savage (comics)]] links here -->

====Golden Age====
[[File:Millennium's Doc Savage - The Man of Bronze cover.jpg|thumb|[[Doug Wildey]]'s cover for Millennium's ''Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze''.]]
[[Street & Smith Comics]] published comic book stories of Doc both in ''[[The Shadow]]'' comic and his own title. These started with ''Shadow Comics'' #1–3 (1940).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |location=Dallas |isbn=0-87833-808-X |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/180 |access-date=April 8, 2020 |pages=180–181}}</ref> In May 1940, the character moved to his own book, ''Doc Savage Comics''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |location=Dallas |isbn=0-87833-808-X |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/160 |access-date=April 8, 2020 |page=160}}</ref>  Originally, these stories were based on the pulp version, but with ''Doc Savage Comics'' #5 (1941), he was turned into a genuine superhero when he crashed in Tibet and was given a blue hood with a sacred [[ruby]] in the forehead that deflected bullets and [[hypnotism|hypnotized]] anyone who gazed into its mystical red light. These stories had a Doc (now known as "The Invincible") who bore little resemblance to the character in the pulps. This lasted through the end of ''Doc Savage Comics'' in 1943 after 20 issues, and briefly with his return to ''Shadow Comics'' in vol. 3, #10 (Jan. 1944). He would last until the final issue, vol. 9, #5 (1948), though did not appear in every one. He also appeared in ''[[Supersnipe]] Comics'' #9 (June 1943).

====Modern Age====
Post-[[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]], there have been several Doc Savage comic books:
* [[Gold Key Comics]]—A 1966, one-issue adaptation of ''The Thousand-Headed Man'' to tie into the planned movie starring Chuck Connors. Doc resembles Connors on the cover.
* [[Marvel Comics]]—In 1972, eight standard color comics with four adaptations of books—''The Man of Bronze'', ''Brand of the Werewolf'', ''Death in Silver'', and ''The Monsters''—and one giant-size issue of reprints that was promoted as a movie issue. In May 2010, DC Comics reprinted the eight-issue series as a trade paperback.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://dccomics.com/dcu/graphic_novels/?gn=14536 |title=''Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze'' trade paperback details |work=DC Comics.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810225234/http://www.dccomics.com/dcu/graphic_novels/?gn=14536 |archive-date=August 10, 2010 }}</ref> In 1975, the Marvel imprint [[Curtis Magazines]] released eight black-and-white magazines as a movie tie-in. These were also collected by DC Comics and reprinted in July 2011 as a trade paperback.<ref>{{cite book|last=Moench|first=Doug|title=Showcase Presents: Doc Savage|year=2011|publisher=DC Comics|isbn=978-1-4012-3125-5|url=http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/showcase-presents-doc-savage|author2=Tony DeZuniga|access-date=March 19, 2012}}</ref> All are original stories by [[Doug Moench]], [[John Buscema]], and [[Tony DeZuniga]]. The character also teamed up with the [[Thing (comics)|Thing]] in ''[[Marvel Two-in-One]]'' #21, an important issue that would form the basis of later significant stories like "The Project Pegasus Saga" and "Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe", and [[Spider-Man]] in ''Giant-Size Spider-Man'' #3.
* [[DC Comics]]—A 1987–1990 four-issue [[Limited series (comics)|miniseries]] tryout, then 24 issues and one ''Annual'', mostly written by [[Mike W. Barr]]. Original adventures, including a reunion with Doc's Mayan sweetheart/wife Monya and John Sunlight, adventures with Doc's grandson "Chip" Savage, and backstory on Doc's parents and youth. Included a four-issue crossover with DC's then-current run of ''[[The Shadow]]'' called ''The Shadow Strikes!''. In 2009, DC would publish a special one-shot Doc Savage crossover with [[Batman]] written by [[Brian Azzarello]] with art by [[Phil Noto]] and a cover by [[J. G. Jones]].<ref name=azzarello>{{Cite web | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22498 | title=Azzarello Reimagines Doc Savage | access-date=October 6, 2009 | work=[[Comic Book Resources]] | date=August 11, 2009}}</ref> Other characters involved included the [[Black Canary]],<ref name=morales>{{Cite web |url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/11/09/how-about-some-more-rags-morales%E2%80%99-sketches-from-first-wave/ |title=How About Some More Rags Morales' Sketches From First Wave? |access-date=October 6, 2009 |work=DC Comics.com |date=November 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110721151342/http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/11/09/how-about-some-more-rags-morales%E2%80%99-sketches-from-first-wave/ |archive-date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref> the [[Avenger (pulp-magazine character)|Avenger]],<ref name=morales /> [[Rima|Rima the Jungle Girl]],<ref name=morales /> the [[Spirit (comics)|Spirit]],<ref name=morales /> and Doc Savage's group the Fabulous Five.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/11/06/have-another-helping-of-rags-morales-on-first-wave/ | title=Have Another Helping of Rags Morales on First Wave | access-date=November 10, 2009 | work=DC Comics.com| date=November 6, 2009 }}</ref> It is a prologue to ''[[First Wave (comics)|First Wave]]'', a six-issue miniseries with art by [[Rags Morales]].<ref name=azzarello /> The First Wave line was then expanded to include a ''Doc Savage'' [[ongoing series]] written by [[Paul Malmont]], with art by [[Howard Porter (artist)|Howard Porter]].<ref>{{Cite web | first=Alex | last=Segura | url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/01/19/the-first-wave-expands-in-april/ | title=The ''First Wave'' expands in April | work=DC Comics.com | date=January 19, 2010 | access-date=January 19, 2010}}</ref> Malmont only wrote the first four issues, with other authors writing the rest of the series. It ran for 18 issues, with the final issue released only in digital format.
* [[Millennium Publications]] published several miniseries and [[one-shot (comics)|one-shots]], including ''[[Doc Savage: The Monarch of Armageddon]]'', a four-part miniseries, from 1991 to 1992. Written by [[Mark Ellis (American author)|Mark Ellis]] and penciled by [[Darryl Banks]], the treatment "come[s] closest to the original, capturing all the action, humanity, and humor of the original novels".<ref>''[[Comics Buyer's Guide]] Catalog of Comic Books'' {{Volume needed|c=y|date=July 2011}} {{Page needed|date=September 2010}}</ref> Other miniseries were ''Doom Dynasty'' and ''Devil's Thoughts'', the one-shots ''Pat Savage: Woman of Bronze'' and ''Manual of Bronze'', and an unfinished two-part adaptation of ''Repel''.
* [[Dark Horse Comics]]—In 1995, Dark Horse Comics published two miniseries: a two-issue miniseries ''[[The Shadow]] and Doc Savage: The Case of the Shrieking Skeletons'' and four-issue miniseries ''Doc Savage: Curse of the Fire God''.
*In December 2013, [[Dynamite Entertainment]] began publishing the title ''Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze'', written by [[Chris Roberson (author)|Chris Roberson]], with art by Bilquis Evely and covers by [[Alex Ross]].

===Film===
With the Bantam Books reprints a success, media tie-ins for Doc Savage began immediately.  A 1965 house ad for a poster, "The Arch-Enemy of Evil", announces, "Tougher than Tarzan, braver than Bond, Doc is America's newest rage - with teenagers, college students, and the 'in' groups all over the country.  And there's a television series and feature motion picture in the future."<ref>''The Land of Terror'', Bantam Edition, August 1965, 3rd printing.  Last page.</ref>

====''The Thousand-Headed Man''====
In 1967, a ''[[TV Guide]]'' article reported talks were underway to have [[Chuck Connors]] play Doc Savage in a movie adaptation of ''The Thousand-Headed Man''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heroheroinehistory.blogspot.com/2011/04/doc-savage-1960s-movie-that-almost-was.html|title=DOC SAVAGE: The 1960s Movie That ALMOST Was|first=Britt|last=Reid|date=April 17, 2011|website=heroheroinehistory.blogspot.com|access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref> Complications with rights killed the project.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

====''Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze''====
{{Main|Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze}}
In 1975, producer and director [[George Pal]] produced the [[action film]] ''[[Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze]]'', starring [[Ron Ely]] as Doc Savage. The movie was a critical failure and did poorly at the box office.<ref>{{Cite web | first=Mark | last=Hodgson | url=http://blackholereviews.blogspot.com/2007/06/doc-savage-man-of-bronze-1975-action.html | title=Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze DVD review | work=BlackholeReviews | date=June 8, 2007 | access-date=April 5, 2011}}</ref> Several articles and a later interview with Pal suggest the movie's failure had much to do with its loss of funding during filming when the studio changed heads and Pal was forced to cut costs. Nevertheless, Pal, as producer, is generally blamed for using the "high camp" approach in the style of the ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' television series. An original soundtrack for the film was also commissioned, but when Pal lost his funding, he resorted to a patriotic march from [[John Philip Sousa]], which was in the [[public domain]]. Science-fiction writer [[Philip José Farmer]] tried to get another movie made (there is a notation at the end of the original film that a sequel adapted from the novel ''[[Death in Silver (Doc Savage)|Death in Silver]]'' featuring the infamous [[Silver Death's-Heads]] was in the works, but nothing came of it, despite the drafting of a script for it).{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

====''Doc Savage: The Arch Enemy of Evil''====
According to the screenplay by [[Joe Morhaim]] that was posted on the Internet, as well as other archival and news accounts, ''Doc Savage: The Arch Enemy of Evil'' was based very loosely on the October 1934 pulp novel ''Death in Silver''. ''Doc Savage: The Arch Enemy of Evil'' would feature a deformed, German-speaking [[supervillain]], whose pet man-eating [[octopus]] was a nod to a similar plot element in the September 1937 pulp novel [[Feathered Octopus, The (Doc Savage)|''The Feathered Octopus'']].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vintagelibrary.com/pulp/dent/bib.pdf |title=A Lester Dent Bibliography by Will Murray, page 23 |access-date=April 5, 2011 |archive-date=October 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001192125/https://www.vintagelibrary.com/pulp/dent/bib.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In fact, this screenplay was originally intended to be filmed as the first Doc Savage movie.  However, producer [[George Pal]] commissioned a second script based on the first Doc Savage pulp novel, [[Man of Bronze, The (Doc Savage)|''The Man of Bronze'']], because he felt the movie-going audience needed more background information about Doc and his origin.<ref name="Doc Savage Bibliography - Movies">[http://www.geocities.com/pulp.master/doc-savage.txt Doc Savage Bibliography – Movies] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colemanzone.com/Time_Machine_Project/pal_Doc+Savage.htm|title=File Not Found|website=www.colemanzone.com|access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

Contemporary news accounts indicated that ''Doc Savage: The Arch Enemy of Evil'' had been filmed in the [[Lake Tahoe]] area simultaneously with the [[principal photography]] for the first Doc Savage film.<ref name="Doc Savage Bibliography - Movies"/>  However, due to the [[Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze#Reaction|poor reception]] of the first film, ''Doc Savage: The Arch Enemy of Evil'' was never completed or released. In an interview conducted in 2014, while he was filming the television movie ''[[Expecting Amish]]'', actor Ron Ely stated unequivocally that "no portion of ''The Arch Enemy of Evil'' was ''ever'' filmed, concurrently with ''The Man of Bronze'' or otherwise. That's a total myth."

Finally, in anticipation of a proposed ''Doc Savage'' TV series, George Pal commissioned a two-part teleplay by [[Alvin Sapinsley]] based on the May 1935 pulp novel [[Secret in the Sky, The (Doc Savage)|''The Secret in the Sky'']].  The teleplay was completed in January 1975, but due to the [[Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze#Reaction|poor reception]] of the first Doc Savage film, a [[Television pilot|pilot]] was never filmed.<ref>[http://content-backend-a.cdlib.org/view?docId=tf2s2004v6&chunk.id=c02-1.8.7.3.4 Doc Savage (1975):Box 1, Folder 5] {{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} – Listing of George Pal Papers, 1937–1986 @ Arts Library Special Collections, [[UCLA]]</ref>

====Other film adaptations====
Another screenplay was written by [[Philip José Farmer]] based on the January 1936 pulp novel ''Murder Mirage''.<ref>"Intermission" by [[Will Murray (writer)|Will Murray]] in ''Doc Savage # 11''  (Encinitas. CA: Nostalgia Ventures, 2007)</ref>  It included a potential [[Wold Newton Universe]] cross-over involving a meeting between Doc Savage and a retired [[Sherlock Holmes]] in 1936.  In any case, this screenplay was never filmed.<ref>[http://www.pjfarmer.com/onekind.htm Philip Jose Farmer's Basement: Original Manuscripts] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303075117/http://www.pjfarmer.com/onekind.htm |date=March 3, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pjfarmer.com/woldnewton/Chron7.htm |title=Wold Newton Universe |publisher=Pjfarmer.com |access-date=April 5, 2011}}</ref> In 1966, the basic premise of Doc Savage's origin was an obvious influence on the Mexican lucha libre film character ''Mil Mascaras'' (1966), which was released at the height of the popularity of the Doc Savage paperback book series in the U.S.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

In 1999, there was an announcement<ref name="AHNOLD">{{Cite web | url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MWSB&p_theme=mwsb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB82CE61A827892&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title=Ah-nold in line to play Doc Savage | access-date=November 18, 2009 | date=July 11, 1999 | work=Journal Sentinel Online}}</ref> that a [[Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze#Possible remakes|possible remake]] featuring [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] was in the works, with the involvement of [[Frank Darabont]] and [[Chuck Russell]], but it and several other Schwarzenegger projects (''[[Sgt. Rock]]'' and an epic about [[the Crusades]]) were shelved when Schwarzenegger ran for and was elected [[Governor of California]].<ref>{{Cite web | title=Doc Savage | url=http://www.mania.com/30936.html | access-date=May 22, 2007 | work=Mania.com Development Hell | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927021758/http://www.mania.com/30936.html | archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>

In late 2006, [[Sam Raimi]] was rumoured to be making a film involving several [[Street and Smith Publications|Street and Smith]] [[pulp magazine|pulp]] heroes, including [[The Shadow]], [[The Avenger (character)|The Avenger]], and Doc Savage. A screenplay was supposedly written by Siavash Farahani but since then, no other news surfaced with regards to this script.<ref>[https://uk.ign.com/articles/2006/12/06/exclusive-sam-raimis-pulp-fiction IGN]</ref>

====''Original Film'' projects====
Writer/director [[Shane Black]] was set to direct a film adaptation for [[Original Film]] and [[Sony Pictures]]. Black would also co-write the screenplay with Anthony Bagarozzi and [[Chuck Mondry]]. The film version will be set in the 1930s and will include the [[#Doc Savage's aides|Fabulous Five.]] [[Neal H. Moritz]] will produce.<ref>{{Cite web | first=Tatiana | last=Siegel | date=February 22, 2010 | title=Columbia revives Doc Savage | work=Variety | url=https://variety.com/2010/film/markets-festivals/columbia-revives-doc-savage-1118015613/ | access-date=February 27, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/04/24/shane-black-on-his-death-note-and-doc-savage-movies/|title=Shane Black On His Death Note And Doc Savage Movies - Bleeding Cool News And Rumors|date=April 24, 2013|website=bleedingcool.com|access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>[http://mobile.thewrap.com/thewrap/pm_105952/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=aYnq4jwT 'Iron Man 3' Director Shane Black to Direct 'Doc Savage' for Sony] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407085914/http://mobile.thewrap.com/thewrap/pm_105952/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=aYnq4jwT |date=April 7, 2014 }}</ref> In September 2013, talking about the difficulty in casting the character, Black commented, "He's the perfect physical specimen, people look at him and they are over-awed by the symmetry and perfection he exudes."<ref>{{cite web|title=Shane Black Interview|url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2013/09/17/doc-savage-update-from-shane-black|website=IGN|access-date=June 3, 2016|date=September 17, 2013}}</ref> In June 2014, it was revealed that he wanted [[Chris Hemsworth]] for the lead role but Hemsworth was never officially announced or attached to the project.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fox Rebooting 'Predator' With Shane Black|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/fox-rebooting-predator-shane-black-714598|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=June 3, 2016|date=June 24, 2014}}</ref>

On May 22, 2016, Black told [[Thrillist]] that he would like to make the movie with [[Dwayne Johnson]], stating, "I made a decision that Dwayne is the guy. I would like to do Doc with Dwayne Johnson if we can make that work. It's on the back burner while he's busy."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/the-nice-guys-trailer-shane-black-on-ryan-gosling-and-russell-crowe/entertainment|title=More 'Nice Guys' Scoops from Director Shane Black|last=Patches|first=Matt|work=Thrillist|date=March 22, 2016|access-date=March 23, 2016}}</ref> On May 30, 2016, Johnson confirmed on his [[Instagram]] account that he will be starring as Savage in the film, also hinting that the character is being dubbed the "World's First Superhero", mentioning that Savage's published appearance pre-dated that of [[Superman]]'s (who debuted in 1938). Johnson also included the [[hashtag]] "#World'sFirstSuperhero".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/dwayne-johnson-doc-savage-1201785289/|title=Dwayne Johnson Confirmed for 'Doc Savage'|publisher=Variety|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=May 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BGCDhYSoh0x/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BGCDhYSoh0x |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |url-access=subscription|title=@therock on Instagram: "It's OFFICIAL: For all comic book fans you already know the world's first superhero (pre-dating Superman) is the "Man of Bronze" himself…"|website=Instagram|access-date=April 2, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On April 11, 2018, Johnson said he and Black were still eager to do the project, but, "That project had a few issues, not creative issues but more so business affairs issues—where the project once was, who had rights to it, where we were trying to move it to. There was a lot of that, which we're still kind of working through."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://collider.com/doc-savage-movie-dwayne-johnson-shane-black/ | title=Dwayne Johnson Offers an Update on Shane Black's Doc Savage | website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] | date=April 11, 2018 }}</ref>

On February 19, 2020, it was announced Original Film would, instead, shift development to a television series. The project is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and Condé Nast Entertainment.<ref name="tv series in works" />

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* Goodstone, Tony (1970). ''The Pulps: 50 Years of American Pop Culture''. Bonanza Books (Crown Publishers, Inc.). {{ISBN|978-0-87754-016-8}}.
* Goulart, Ron (1972). ''Cheap Thrills: An Informal History of the Pulp Magazine''. Arlington House. {{ISBN|0-87000-172-8}}.
* Gunnison, Locke and Ellis, Doug (2000). ''Adventure House Guide to the Pulps''. Adventure House. {{ISBN|978-1-886937-45-1}}.
* Hamilton, Frank and Hullar, Link (1988). ''Amazing Pulp Heroes''. Gryphon Books. {{ISBN|978-0-936071-09-1}}.
* Hutchison, Don (1995). ''The Great Pulp Heroes''. Mosaic Press. {{ISBN|0-88962-585-9}}.
* {{cite book|last=Lai|first=Rick|title=The Revised Complete Chronology of Bronze|year=2010|publisher=CreateSpace|isbn=978-1-4505-9370-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Murray|first=Will|title=Writings in Bronze|year=2011|publisher=CreateSpace|isbn=978-1-4528-2254-9}}
* Robinson, Frank M. and Davidson, Lawrence (1998). ''Pulp Culture''. Collector's Press. {{ISBN|978-1-888054-12-5}}.

==External links==
* [https://www.fadedpage.com/csearch.php?sort=auto&tags=Doc%20Savage%20(Fictional%20character) Doc Savage books] at [[Distributed Proofreaders Canada|Faded Page (Canada)]]
* [http://library.truman.edu/scpublications/Chariton%20Collector/Spring%201987/Doc%20Savage.pdf 1987 article on Lester Dent] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615155844/http://library.truman.edu/scpublications/Chariton%20Collector/Spring%201987/Doc%20Savage.pdf |date=2016-06-15 }}
* [http://www.docsavage.org/ Doc Savage Organized]
* [http://www.thepulp.net/the-links/docsavage/ Doc Savage] at ThePulp.Net
* [https://docsavage.seriesbooks.net/ Doc Savage - The Man Of Bronze]
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