Looking at the Arizona Doc Con page on Facebook has only made me more disappointed that I wasn’t able to attend this year’s con.
Fans of Bronze gathered in Glendale, Ariz., on the west side of Phoenix, over last weekend to celebrate Doc Savage and the 40th anniversary of George Pal‘s movie, “Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze.” And what better way to celebrate that than with the star of the movie, actor Ron Ely.
More than 60 fans attended this year. That’s a record for Doc Con attendance, which just four years ago was usually below 20 fans.
Comments being posted on the Facebook page echo just how successful everyone thought this year’s event was. Maybe Ron Ely will have enjoyed it so much that he will make it an annual trip.
There also was some terrific news coming out of the con.
Earlier this summer, Howard Wright announced that issue 75 would be the final number of his Doc Savage-oriented fanzine, The Bronze Gazette.
Howard began the zine in 1990 as The Doc Savage Gazette. (The name was quickly changed after four issues because of trademark problems.) It’s clearly been a labor of love for Howard, who has regularly put out three issues a year for 25 years now.
But Howard decided it was time to move on.
Well, the news from Doc Con is that The Bronze Gazette will continue. PULPlications — run by Terry Allen of Fantom Press and Keith Wilson of Doc Savage Fantasy Covers — will be the publisher, while Chuck Welch of Flearun will be the editor.
The Bronze Gazette’s 76th issue will debut in 2016. Terry says the zine will keep its digest size, and will run about 48 pages. There will be a slate of regular contributors, but article submissions will be welcomed.
Keep an eye on PULPlications‘ website for details regarding The Bronze Gazette subscriptions, as well as other projects.
