Finishing out 2020, we got The Bronze Gazette #87, the premier Doc Savage fanzine, which finishes out the issue for the year, as well as the subscriptions. And what an issue it is!
This happens to also be the 30th anniversary issue, as it all started back in 1990 by Howard Wright. Hopefully we’ll keep it going to #100.
If you missed subscribing, there may be back issues to get.
The Bronze Gazette #87 (December 2020) has a great set of articles, all under an interesting cover. The finish of both the front and back cover is very interesting. There is a matte finish to it, except for certain areas that have a raised, glossy finish.
The first two articles are related. One by Terry Allen is about a Doc fan back in the 1940s who sent in for a Doc portrait, which used the cover artwork from “The Sea Angel.” I knew about the portraits Street & Smith put out using the cover of “Ost,” but didn’t know of this one. Allen found the artwork still in its original envelope, as well as an companying letter. And Chuck Welch looked into who this fan was.
What does it take to put together a collection of Doc pulps? David W. Smith lets us know what that’s about. I loved the photos of all the Doc pulp spines lined up.
If you are familiar with the Doc Savage covers from Bantam, you are hopefully aware that it was Steve Holland who modeled for them. Holland also modeled for the covers of other pulp-hero reprints and many other paperbacks. Due to this, a book is coming out highlighting this work, and Michael Stradford gives a peek into what went into this.
One thing that may be a mystery of most of us is what the fandom of the original pulps was like. There were letter pages in the pulps, but we seldom see them unless you get the original pulps (or pulp fascimiles). So Juliette Welch and Chuck Welch provide a pair of articles. Juliette gives an interesting selection of letters, such as from female fans, some complaints, and more. Chuck provides some interesting stats and a couple of famous folks who were fans.
Finally, we get a tribute to the late Bobb Cotter, who is probably best known for the short Doc Savage: Inside and Out series and A History of the Doc Savage Adventures (2009). I wasn’t aware there was a fourth issue of Inside and Out, nor of his other books.
For 2021, subscriptions are for three issues #88-90. I’ve already subscribed and encourage others to do the same.
