BEACH BUM COMICS : THE GREATEST ADVENTURE HERO -- DOC SAVAGE, THE MAN OF BRONZE !!!

My favorite pulp hero is Doc Savage, not a stretch there! The Shadow comes in a close second with The Spider third. Lost of terrific action within that trio of action heroes. I loved growing up when Bantam Books came out with the Doc Savage novels with those fabulous James Bama covers!

Doc Savage's real name was Clark Savage, Jr. He was a physician, surgeon, scientist, adventurer, inventor, explorer, researcher, and, as revealed in The Polar Treasure, a musician. 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 Savage Magazine #1 - the one that started it all!

The Golden Press hardcover of Doc Savage!

Doc is also a master of disguise and an excellent imitator of voices. "He rights wrongs and punishes evildoers." Our hero is a mix of Sherlock Holmes' deductive abilities, Tarzan's outstanding physical abilities, Craig Kennedy's scientific education, and Abraham Lincoln's goodness.

Steranko cover to Brotherhood of Bronze!

Marvel Comics came out with a great Doc Savage comic book, unfortunately it only ran eight issues. They were written by Steve Englehart & Tony Isabella with art by Ross Andru. John Buscema, Gil Kane, Rich Buckler. John Buscema, Jim Steranko, Gil Kane & Rich Buckler provided dynamic covers.

Doc Savage #1 - the Bantam Book paperback that started it all for a new generation!

Who is Doc Savage?
To the world at large, Doc Savage is a strange, mysterious figure of glistening bronze skin and golden eyes. To his amazing co-adventurers - the five greatest brains ever assembled in one group - he is a man of superhuman strength and protean genius, whose life is dedicated to the destruction of evil-doers. To his fans he is one of the greatest adventure heroes of all time, whose fantastic exploits are unequaled for hair-raising thrills, breathtaking escapes and bloodcurdling excitement.
From the back cover to the Bantam paperback editions.

Doc Savage #1 Death -- Eighty Stories High! *"Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze"* High above the skyscrapers of New York, Doc Savage engages in deadly combat with the red-fingered survivors of an ancient, lost civilization. Then, with his amazing crew, he journeys to the mysterious "lost valley" to search for a fabulous treasure and to destroy the mysterious Red Death.

Doc Savage & his Fabulous Five: Andrew Blodgett Mayfair (Monk) John Renwick (Renny) William Harper Littlejohn (Johnny) Thomas J. Roberts (Long Tom) Theodore Marley Brooks (Ham)
Adapted from 'The Man of Bronze" by Lester Dent.

Doc Savage #2 The Feathered Serpent Strikes!

"Master of the Red Death"
Adapted from 'The Man of Bronze" by Lester Dent.

Doc Savage #3 And Now They Strike! The Cult of the Silver Death's Head!
"Death in Silver"
An awesome legion of master criminals launch a devastating series of raids that set the entire east coast of America aflame. Skyscrapers explode, ocean liners disappear, key witnesses are kidnapped and brutally murdered as the holocaust rages. In a desperate race against time Doc Savage attempts to discover the true identity of the twisted brain who rules the silver-costumed marauders-while the mysterious Ull and his army of hooded assassins move closer to their grim objective of world domination!
Adapted from 'Death in Silver" by Lester Dent.

Doc Savage #4 The Hell-Diver!
"The Hell-Diver"
Adapted from 'Death in Silver" by Lester Dent.

Doc Savage #5 The Night of the Monsters!
"The Monsters"
The breeding ground was a monstrous walled castle completely covered over with a huge electrified net. Inside were the scum of the earth, gathered from the prisons of the world--filled with killer lust--transformed into invincible monster giants by the evil genius of Pere Teston. Now they were ready to ravage the world with their hideous menace--unless Doc Savage and his mighty crew could stop them
Adapted from "The Monsters" by Lester Dent.

Doc Savage #6 Where Giants Walk!
"Where Giants Walk"
Adapted from "The Monsters" by Lester Dent.

Doc Savage #7 The Brand of the Werewolf!
"Brand of the Werewolf"
Seeking to avenge his brother's murder, Doc Savage and his daring crew become involved in a desperate hunt for the lost treasure of the pirate, Henry Morgan. Stalking them every inch of the way is the archfiend, El Rabanos, and his strange ally, the werewolf's paw!
Introduced Par Savage, Doc's sister.
Adapted from "Brand of the Werewolf" by Lester Dent.

Doc Savage #8 In the Lair of the Werewolf!
"Werewolf's Lair"
Adapted from "Brand of the Werewolf" by Lester Dent.

Giant-Size Doc Savage #1 reprinted issues #1 & #2, with a pin-up, cover gallery. The John Buscema cover from #1 was used on this issue. The Marvel one-shot reprint was created to tie in with the release of the 1975 George Pal movie.

Giant-Size Spider-Man #3 had Spider-Man cross paths with Doc Savage and his crew. Written by Gerry Conway with Ross Andru art.

Marvel Two-In-One #21 had the Thing work with Doc Savage. Unfortunately, this has never been reprinted due to rights to Doc Savage. Too bad, it is an important issue in the Marvel Universe. Written by Bill Mantlo with art by Ron Wilson & Pablo Marcus.

The series was reprinted in a nice trade paperback by DC Comics. Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze sported a recolored Jim Steranko cover from issue #2.

Highly recommended series of trade paperbacks from Marvel Comics!

More recently, Marvel Comics published Marvel Firsts: The 1970s Vol. 1, reprinting Doc Savage #1.
Marvel Firsts: The 1970s has run 3 volumes. If you haven't read these trade paperbacks, I highly recommend them. Marvel Firsts started with the 1960s (1 volume) and most lately, the 1980s (3 volumes.) They are terrific!

Marvel Comics also published a terrific Doc Savage magazine, but that will come in a future post.