Just under two years after The Shadow appeared on magazine racks, Doc Savage became the third pulp character to get his own magazine.

The world met the Man of Bronze in a novel titled “The Man of Bronze,” March 1933.

Doc Savage was created by Street and Smith’s Henry W. Ralston, with help from editor John L. Nanovic, in order to capitalize on the surprise success of The Shadow magazine.

It was Lester Dent, though, who crafted the character into the superman that he became.

Dent, who wrote most of the adventures, described his hero – Clark “Doc” Savage Jr. – as a cross between “Sherlock Holmes with his deducting ability, Tarzan of the Apes with his towering physique and muscular ability, Craig Kennedy with his scientific knowledge, and Abraham Lincoln with his Christliness.”

Through 181 novels, the fight against evil was on. From a headquarters on the 86th floor of a towering Manhattan skyscraper, Doc, his five pals – Renny, Johnny, Long Tom, Ham and Monk – and occasionally his cousin Pat battled criminals the world over (and under) 12 times a year, from 1933 until early 1947; then the team’s exploits dropped to every two months until the final three quarterly issues in 1949.

Doc Savage is one of the few characters whose complete original pulp run has been reprinted in book form. Doc also appeared in a short-lived radio drama in the 1940s, a couple of serialized adventures on public radio and a 1975 movie.

Links

Doc Savage newsgroup

This is a great hangout for fans of the Man of Bronze. (If your internet service provider doesn’t offer access to this newsgroup, access it through Google Groups.)

Yahoo Groups for Doc Savage fans

Several Yahoo Groups offer discussions on Doc Savage. To participate (and in some instances to read posts), you will need to register with Yahoo. Doc Savage groups include:

• Doc Con: The focus is the annual Doc Savage convention held in Arizona each year, but other Doc discussions are also invited.
• Doc Savage: A general Doc Savage discussion group.
• Flearun: Part of Chuck Welch’s Hidalgo Trading Co. Web sites, including Doc Savage Organized, Doc Savage Info and the Flearun, the Flearun group is active with lively discussions.
• GoldenPerils: Howard Hopkin’s group, named for his Golden Perils fanzine, also is active and features lively discussions.
• SavageConStL: This group focuses on the Doc Savage convention in Missouri.

The alt.pulp FAQ

Besides being a hypertext version of the newsgroup’s FAQ, it also summarizes Philip José Farmer’s Wold Newton Family, which Farmer proposed in his “biographical” book Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life. And it includes a link to a short section on Doc Savage.

The ultimate Doc Savage site

This is the site for Doc Savage fans. Chris Kalb has blended style with substance to create a thoroughly delightful exploration of the legacy of the Man of Bronze – and you get your choice of classic pulp or Bantam versions of the site. Plus there are some wonderful premiums to download.

Doc Savage convention

Learn all about the annual Doc Savage Conventions, sponsored by the Arizona Fans of Bronze. Rob Smalley’s page includes events, locations and maps to help you get there. There’s also information about previous gatherings.

Arizona Doc Con Videos

Check out the AZDocCon channel on YouTube for highlight videos of the Arizona Doc Con from 2006 on, as well as a “Doc Savage Begins” video celebrating the 75th anniversary of the pulp character.

Hidalgo Trading Co. sites

As briefly mentioned above, Chuck Welch has put together a trio of Web sites devoted to Doc Savage:

• Doc Savage Organized: This one is the most active and updated site of the three, with articles and information on the pulps, the reprints, authors, editors, illustrators, fans and more.
• Flearun: Not updated in several years, the Flearun has entries on Doc Savage novels, radio shows and more, plus comments from visitors.
• Doc Savage Info: This one appears to be a mirror of the Flearun, but with a separate comments roll.

Lester Dent: Doc Savage Novelist

Originally set up as the Web site for a proposed museum dedicated to pulp author Lester Dent, the site now offers a brief biography of Dent written by Thomas Fortenberry.

Doc in French

Here’s Alain Berguerand’s look at the various Doc Savage publications – paperbacks, magazines, comics – that have appeared in French. The site also is available in English.

Doc Savage: The Belgian Site

In addition to posting Doc Savage novels translated into French, Christian Vanderhaegen’s site also includes a bulletin board for fans and a bibliography of Doc’s adventures, with information on French and Italian language publications.

The dark side of Doc

In the Italian Web zine Delos Science Fiction, Massimo Pietroselli takes an in-depth look at the dark side of Doc: the Crime College and his upbringing. Those are two areas that often are not studied, but otherwise tarnish the Man of Bronze’s shine.

Doc Savage: Arch Enemy of Evil

Larry Widen has a rundown on his book Doc Savage: Arch Enemy of Evil, which was republished in 2006.

Supreme Adventurer

Rob Smalley’s site includes information on Doc’s skyscraper headquarters, the Hidalgo Trading Co., the Fortress of Solitude, the novels, the press kit from the 1975 movie and Doc Savage artists. The jewel here is Smalley’s correspondence with Bantam cover artist James Bama. He has scanned in the letters and also provides text of the letters.

Doc Savage FAQ

Scott Cranford’s site includes his Doc FAQ, as well as a profile of Doc, his modus operandi and his co-horts, Cranford and Will Murray’s Doc Savage bibliography, and paperback publication data.

Another Doc Savage FAQ

At Eclipse’s Web Warren, you’ll find a version of Cranford’s Doc Savage FAQ. You also will find Cranford and Murray’s Doc Savage bibliography here.

Another Doc Savage bibliography

Robert Finnan takes a different approach to the Doc Savage bibliography by basing his on the Bantam paperback order, with crossdating to the pulps and a brief back-cover description of each story. He also offers info on the Doc Savage radio programs.

Weird Science-Fantasy: Doc Savage

William Thompson’s Weird Science-Fantasy pages include a section on Doc Savage with information about the pulp, Doc’s aides, a brief FAQ and details about the movie.

Lester Dent’s Pulp Master Fiction Plot

Here’s an absolute treasure. It’s the “Lester Dent Pulp Master Fiction Plot.” It’s a mouthful, but it’s also a fascinating instruction sheet on how to write a pulp novel. It’s available on several Web sites:

• Dirty ’30s
• Joanne Reid: Things to Know About Writing
• National Novel Writing Month Tips & Strategies
• Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles Forum

Lester Dent: Pulp Master from Missouri

Matt Heibert has posted on YouTube a two-minute biographical documentary about Doc Savage author Lester Dent. At one time, he had hoped to produce a longer version.

Q&A with Will Murray

The Denver Business Journal offers a questions-and-answers story with pulp historian and Doc Savage author Will Murray. Murray discusses Lester Dent, writing the Doc Savage paperbacks and the future of Doc Savage.

Doc Savage at The Shadow’s Sanctum

Anthony Tollin’s Sanctum Publications has been reprinting Doc Savage doubles since 2006 (though the first 23 books were published in connection with Nostaligia Ventures). Each reprint usually features two novels, plus essays related to the featured stories.

Doc Savage at Wattpad

A Web site called Wattpad has posted several early adventures from Doc Savage pulp. The stories include:

• “The Man of Bronze”: the first novel in the series
• “The Land of Terror”: the second
• “Quest of the Spider”: the third
• “Brand of the Werewolf”: the 11th novel and the first appearance of Doc’s cousin, Pat Savage

Doc at 70

Tim Lasiuta writes about Doc Savage’s 70th anniversary (1933-2003) for the Nostalgia League’s Web site. He discusses his discovery of Doc in his father’s bookshelf, the history of the pulp, its reprints and the artist who illustrated Doc.

Dr. Hermes’ reviews

Edward Felipe, aka Dr. Hermes, has reviewed numerous Doc Savage adventures. A warning: Reading a review before reading the book can spoil it for you. But after reading the book, check out the reviewers’ opinions.

Savage: The Bronze Journal

M.D. Jackson and G.W. Thomas offer opinion and commentary on the Man of Bronze in their online zine, Savage: The Bronze Journal. Topics have include “Doc across the Genres” and “Copies in Bronze,” a look at Zarkon, Lord of the Unknown.

Bronze Icon: Doc Savage

Tom Barnett’s Bronze Icon site looks at Doc Savage influences, “secret sequels” (he discusses links between Doc novels) and interesting factoids about the individual Doc Savage stories.

Doc Savage: A Rogue’s Hero

Here’s a biography of Doc, along with .WAV files from the 1975 movie. (Make sure your speakers are turn down — especially if you are at work.)

Homepage for Popular Culture: Doc Savage

Tomi Vaisala’s site features links to Doc Savage sites around the Web, as well as Doc-related items at his site.

Paul Malmont: Doc Savage

Novelist Paul Malmont (The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril) is scripting the DC comics revival of Doc Savage and provides short synopsis of the books on his Web site.

DC Universe: Doc Savage

DC began a new Doc Savage comic book series in 2010. You can find out more about it here on the DC Web site.

Paul Malmont Gets “Savage”

Comic Book Resources interviews Paul Malmont, author of The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril and the 2010 Doc Savage comic book series for DC, about Doc Savage, the pulps and comic books.

Dark Horse Comics: Doc Savage

Dark Horse Comics may have back issues of its two-part tale of The Shadow and Doc Savage and a four-part Doc Savage: Curse of the Fire God series from the mid–1990s still available. Get the details here.

Jerry Sutton’s Doc Savage Page

Jerry Sutton offers the Doc Savage code, book covers, video captures from the 1975 Doc Savage movie and a 40-second .WAV file of the movie theme.

How I Met Doc Savage

Micah Wright recounts his discovery of Doc Savage and explains his goal of creating an animated version of Doc.

Pulp Heroes: Doc Savage

Clark Holloway’s Web page on Doc Savage republishes the introductions to the three Ideal Library editions from the 1930s, a pulp promotional piece about “Comrades in Arms” – Doc and the five companions – and the Doc Savage code. Plus there are interior illustrations of the team and a dashing Doc from the pulp cover “Quest of Qui.”

A Doc Savage history

Read about Doc Savage and his five aides at Wes Tumulka’s site. Tumulka also sketches the history of the magazine, reprints and comics.

Doc Savage quest

The “latest news” on the Doc Savage movie project is rather dated (circa 2001) at the Doc Savage/Shadow Quest Web site.

Bronzdom

Here’s a fond look back at the 1970s and the thrill of Doc Savage. You’ll also see photos of the Web site’s author meeting Philip Jose Farmer and Boris Vallejo, as well as photos of numerous Doc collectibles.

Doc Savage: International Hero

This British Web site gives a bio of the Man of Bronze and links to information about his aides, including the non-pulp aides Shoshanna, Bo and Ivanovitch — oh, and his son, Chip.

NagleWorks: Doc Savage Statue

Sculptor Shawn Nagle displays and sells a variety of statues, including one of Doc Savage, at his Web site.

ReelArt Studios: Doc Savage Sculpture

ReelArt Studios is selling 1,000 copies of a $249, 20–inch–tall statue of artist Bob Larkin’s version of Doc Savage, sculpted by Tony Cipriano. The ReelArt Web site includes photos of the finished statue, details of it and shots of the original sculpture.

Doc Savage Web-Quarters

Marcus Tee uses excerpts from the novels to provide information about Doc’s headquarters, weapons, gadgets, autos, aircraft and aides. He also has several downloadable BMP images.

Lester Dent’s papers

Lester Dent’s personal papers now reside in the Univerity of Missouri’s Western Historical Manuscript Collection in Columbia, Mo. This provides a brief bio of Dent, details on when the papers were donated and an inventory of the collection.

Red Kelso: A Doc Comic Strip

Speaking of Doc-inspired projects, Red Kelso is a 1930s adventurer created by Gary Chaloner. Chaloner provides profiles of the characters and a timeline.

Trading Docs

Liz Degn offers a list of Doc Savage titles she needs or is willing to trade.

Doc Savage Complete Set Club’s Dreambook

Here’s a site for fans who have collected all the Doc Savage paperbacks or pulps. The fans have added comments about their collections.

Man of Bronze photo-novel

Chris Wike has put together a “photo-novel” of the 1975 movie Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze by making screen captures from the widescreen laserdisc and grouping them in chapters. Re-live the movie scene by scene. It’s graphic intensive so expect it to load slowly if you have a slow-speed Internet connection.

Doc Savage pulp cover

Chris Ragaisis’ collection of pulp and paperback covers includes a Doc Savage pulp cover in addition to those from The Shadow and The Spider.

The Clark Savage Institute

Mark Eidemiller’s site blends his Doc Savage interests with his Christian faith and includes nine Doc Savage adventures written by him, his wife Karen Eidemiller and Barry Ottey. Stories include: “Bronze Refined as Silver,” “More Precious Than Gold,” “Bronze Avengers” and “The Abduction of Amy Roberts.”