Doc Savage
Clark Savage Jr., or "Doc" as he was widely known, made his first of 181 pulp appearances in the March 1933 issue of Doc Savage magazine. Doc was joined by his five brilliant-minded aides — Renny, Johnny, Long Tom, Ham and Monk — and sometimes his younger cousin, Pat Savage. The team, financed by ancient Mayan riches, traveled the world for the excitement of righting wrongs, in accordance to Doc's creed (see below).
Doc SavageBackground
In its search for a follow up to its immensely popular magazine ShadowThe The Shadow, StreetandSmith Street and Smith came up with the concept of Doc Savage and turned to writer Lester Dent to bring him to life. Instead of a crimefighter who used guns and cunning, as The Shadow did, Doc Savage use science as his weapon against evil. (In fact, later in the series, the magazine's title briefly was changed to Doc Savage, Science Detective.)Though the novels were formulaic, Dent made up for that with nonstop adventure and cliffhanging suspense. The formula proved a success, giving Street and Smith another best-selling hit.
The characters
Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze, was Clark Savage Jr. — a young man whose widower father had turned him over as an infant to be reared by experts in every field, from medicine to reason and from gymnastics to science. Indeed by doing so, his father had turned him into a Superman, who dedicated his superhuman skills to justice.Doc was joined by the Fabulous Five, all experts in their fields — including law, civil engineering, electrical engineering, archaeology and chemistry. Working out of the tallest skyscraper in New York City, Doc, the Five and, at times, Doc's cousin Patricia Savage traveled the world solving mysteries and battling evildoers through 181 adventures from March 1933 until 1949.
Doc Savage creed
Doc Savage and his team were guided a simple creed, created by writer DentLester Lester Dent:
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.
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.
Comments/trivia
- There is an annual DocCon Doc Con, begun in 1998, held in Arizona celebrating the legacy of the Man of Bronze.
- Artist BaumhoferWalter Walter Baumhofer used model HewittCarl Carl Hewitt as the reference for his cover paintings of Doc Savage.
Categories
PulpCharactersPulpMagazines
