Fanzine focus: ‘Zine of Bronze’

A fanzine that seems to be overlooked is the interesting Zine of Bronze published by Jim Main’s Main Enterprises.

It was a 16- to 34-page magazine-size fanzine that focused, obviously, on Doc Savage. Eight issues came out from 2006 through 2012, and it was announced that the eighth issue would be the last.

Some of the issues are still available at Jim Main’s website.

Probably the highlight of the issues are the fiction pieces by Art Sippo. There were several features that ran through all the issues, such as “Super Amalgamations,” which reviewed the Bantam reprints in order of their publication, along with other Doc items that came out around the same time. All issues have full-color covers, and have a variety of artwork in each issue.

#1 (Fall 2006) Kicks things off with an article on the Doc Savage movie, Sam Gafford has an article on Marvel’s early Doc efforts- the color comic, black and white magazine, and the two team-up issues, and a short article looks at various Doc items, including the sculpted bust, movie pressbook, the original club pin and award, and Jim Steranko‘s Brother of Bronze kit. And we get the first “Super Amalgamations” article, looking at Bantams #1-3.

#2 (Summer 2007) The main item in this issue is a very nice article on Buckaroo Banzai, which not only looks at the movie, but also the novelization and the comics (up through 2007). There is a short look at some recent Doc items that have appeared on eBay. And “Super Amalgamations” looks at Bantams #4-6.

#3 (Fall 2007) The highlight of this issue is Art Sippo’s fiction piece, “His Last Hand.” Set in Paris just after WWI, it has very young Doc and his future aides playing an after dinner poker game. “Super Amalgamations” covers Bantams #7-9. We also get a short article on “what if there had been a Doc movie serial?” and another on James Bama.

#4 (Winter 2008) “The Search For The Real Phantom City,” by Julian Puga V takes a look at the real life inspirations for the Phantom City. Art Sippo’s fiction piece is “Long Tom Robber.” This focuses on Long Tom‘s WWI adventures, and tells of the origin of his nick name. He actually meets some other future pulp heroes as well. “Super Amalgamations” covers Bantams #10-12, D.C. Comics’ “Doc Savage” 1-4 and “The Incredible Radio Exploits of Doc Savage,” Vol. 1. Jay Ryan gives a report of Doc Con X. And a new feature, “Cover To Cover” (which compares the original pulp cover art to that of the Bantam paperbacks) begins. This one looks at the covers to “The Purple Dragon.”

#5 (Winter 2009) Inside, “Super Amalgamations” looks at Bantams #13-15. We examine the Golden Press hardcover Doc Savage novels and the highlight, for me, is Art Sippo’s new fiction piece: “Andy and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” which features Ham and Monk in their first meeting during WWI, before they were known as “Ham” and “Monk” and also includes a few real and fictional Frenchmen. “Cover To Cover” is missing this time.

#6 (Summer 2009) Two interesting articles in this issue. One looks at possible real-life individuals who may have served as inspiration for Ham Brooks. The other looks at U-boats in the Doc stories, starting with the Helldiver. This issue’s “Cover to Cover” feature looks at “The Brand of the Werewolf,” and “Super Amalgamations” looks at Doc Bantams #16-18.

#7 (Winter 2009) The highlight of this issue is the first of a two-part fiction piece by Art Sippo on Pat Savage. Keep an eye out for cameos of various characters. There are two great articles, one looking at Doc being a narcissist, and the other looks at who was really the Son of Kukulkan (from “Man of Bronze”). This issue’s “Super Algamations” looks at Bantams #19-21, as well as Philip Jose Farmer‘s “Escape from Loki” and “Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life.”

#8 (Sumer 2012) The highlight of this issue is the second of the two-part story of Pat Savage by Art Sippo. As with the first part, there are various cameo appearances by other fictional characters. “Super Amalgamations” continues with Bantams #22-24, along with a look at Lester Dent‘s “Honey in His Mouth” and DC’s “Batman/Doc Savage Special,” which kicked off their First Wave line. Finally, we get an interesting article by Mike Tuz on his journey from Connecticut to La Plata, Mo., home of the Lester Dent!

As noted, #8 is the last. Apparently, some features (such as “Super Amalgamations”) will appear in the newly revised Thrills and Chills magazine from Jim Main, but I don’t see it listed at the site, so don’t know when/if it will come out. I do hope Art Sippo will collect his fiction pieces in one collection so a wider audience can enjoy them.