Adam Graham's Blog: Christians and Superheroes - Posts Tagged "doc-savage"

Fantastic Four: Volume 1, Issue 87:

Issue 87 brings to an end the four part storyline featuring Doctor Doom capturing the Fantastic Four. While the story isn't without its charms and good moments, it highlighted the big problems with the story arch.

It was padded and it gave a truly anti-climatic end to the arch facilitated by an all too convenient Nazi. The book featured some nice art by Jack Kirby but a few full dubious full page spreads including one of Doctor Doom at a dinner table with detailed drawings of what's on the table.

Clearly the great Kirby/Lee run appears to be past its peak. Whether it recovers in the next 15 issues that Kirby drew for it, or the next 28 issue that Lee wrote remains to be seen for me anyway.

Rating: 1.50 out of 5.0

What-The? #3:

This issue of What The? skewers the world of comics in the late 1980s and early 1990s with great humor and without being cynical. It pokes fun at the classic Kraven's Last Hunt, the X-men, and more. The one part parodying DC and Batman was hilarious and I loved the one page story where a poor comic book reader goes into buy a copy of the Avengers and gets horribly confused because there are too many titles and then asks for a copy of the X-men. Poor guy.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.0

Doc Savage #1:

This book isn't horrible, but it just really isn't Doc Savage. Having experienced Savage through the 1970s Marvel comics, an '80s radio series, and a couple novels, I have to say that the comic book's portrayal of Doc is really weak. Doc Savage is the type of big hulking guy who stands out nearly anywhere with his bronze skin and golden eyes that make him look almost alien. In this book, Doc Savage is just a white guy in a suit.

All of Doc's assistants are there also decked like Ham Brooks (the team dandy) was in charge of dressing them, though maybe it was just the Brooks Brothers.

The Adventure isn't bad, but it doesn't seem to fit or even lay the groundwork for the type of epic adventures that Doc Savage was legendary for.. Apparently for 1933, they couldn't think of anything better.

The cover by Alex Ross was the best part of this book. Here's hoping future stories are better.

Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0

Mr. T and the T Force #3:

An okay issue of Mr. T and the T force with quite a bit less action. It also dealt with the issue of car jacking which was a little bit less emotional than the previous issue's topic. The last page of the book is the most interesting of the book and it gives a hint that we'll have a more action packed story in Issue 4.

Still Mr. T continues to be a very strong likable character with heart and that makes the book worth a read. Also fun fact from the letter's page: Mr. T actually read every line of dialogue in the book to make sure it sounded genuine to him.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

Peter Cannon Thunderbolt #1:

This is a strong premier issue for Dynamite take on Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt, an old Charlton comic character. The book could end up being a series I love but also could go the heavy handed route. The story establishes much of Cannon's backstory: how he saved the Earth from a dangerous monster and how he revealed his secret identity against all his better judgment to save others who were being harassed as potentially being Thunderbolt. This has brought unsought celebrity which has made him powerful enemies, plus he's keeping a secret. All great stuff to establish in your first issue.

What makes the book worth viewing is the artwork. This first issue features eight different covers, all of them pretty eyecatching and appeal plus the interior art is great. In addition, readers get to experience a lost Peter Cannon story. While working at DC, Mark Waid had gotten the right to do a Peter Cannon story for Secret Origins but the title was cancelled before it could run, and this book features the first publication. It's a very solid origin story that's published for the first time here.

This issue is dynamite. While there are some hints that the book might not keep up its high standards in future issues, the first issue is good and makes you want to read more.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0

Star Trek (1967 series) #34:

The Enterprise Crew on an away team meet a group of powerful crystal based aliens who have amazing powers and think they don't need science, only poetry and arts. They determine the Enterprise Crew must die. Overall, this not a whole lot outstanding about this story good or bad. It just is. Unlike early issues, they have the character drawings right but I can't say much more for this story.

Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0

Skull Island by Will Murray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I picked this up for the amazing idea of having Doc Savage and King Kong in the same novel. However, that wasn't the highlight of the book.

Doc Savage is an iconic figure whose father outsourced his upbringing to others to teach him all the skills he would need to continue the Elder Savage's quest to right wrongs and so he's bred to the peak of physical perfect, a virtual superman by virtue by all of his different teachers training. However, he hardly knew his own father.

After World War I, Doc is summoned by his father to serve on board the Orion, a scooner searching the Pacific Isles for Doc's grandfather Stormalong Savage. However, as the book begins, the sad fact is that Doc doesn't really know his father or understand him. The emotional distance in the relationship is illustrated by the fact that Doc's father makes him call him Captain Savage in the name of "ship's discipline" which is kind of absurd when there were four other members of the crew: all Mayans who couldn't speak English.

However, over the course of the first few chapters of the book, we begin to really get a picture of this father and son that is really quite compelling. Of course, we get to the action scenes, but there's still that development as we understand the complexities of this father-son relationship as well as the father-son relation between Captain Savage and his father Stormalong, it's a wonderful picture. Here, we see a different Doc Savage: Younger, more violent, and still not sure who exactly he is and wants to be, and we get to see some of that character form in the course of this story.

The ultimate goal is Skull Island and here we're treated to a lot of action adventure with attacks from deep sea Dayak Headhunters who are interested in getting the head of Kong but also willing to take the heads of one of the Savages and their crew. I should say that when I said Doc was more violent. This is what I mean. Fresh from the war, Doc has not developed his goal of avoiding taking life at all costs. He doesn't use Mercy bullets and there are some pretty gory chapters that I wouldn't normally associate with Doc Savage as in Chapter 14 he brutally repels a Dayak attack and does so again several times. I lost track of the body count in this one. This book is definitely not for kids.

Skull Island, in addition to boasting of King Kong, also has a prehistoric nightmarescape full of dinosaurs and all sorts of dangerous and frightening beast.

Other than the gore, the big downsides of the book is that given his billing, there really enough Kong in this story. In addition, sometimes the dialog between the Savages does drag particularly when they get into a battle of quotes as each Savage provides one quote after another from Shakespeare, Nick Carter, or Sherlock Holmes. They even did this when one character was dying.

I listened to the audio version and I do want to praise Michael McConnohie's wonderful narration. When he managed the duet between Doc and his father of Stormalong John, it was very powerful and moving.

While I wouldn't recommend this book for kids, it's a solid read for fans of Doc Savage who want to better understand the Man of Bronze and his origins.



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Fantastic Four, Volume 1, #88:

With the five members of the Fantastic Four back together (the original plus Crystal who was replacing the Invisible Woman at this point), the FF move from taking on Doctor Doom to a truly daunting task: house hunting. They've concluded that the Baxter Building isn't the safest place to raise a new baby and have decided they need something that'll not be such a target for their enemies and head out to look out at a mysterious property that meets their specifications. However, everyone begins to get a strong foreboding about the new property and Lee and Kirby build up a lot of suspense and tension before telling us why in a very solid first part of this story.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.0

World's Finest #6

With the five members of the Fantastic Four back together (the original plus Crystal who was replacing the Invisible Woman at this point), the FF move from taking on Doctor Doom to a truly daunting task: house hunting. They've concluded that the Baxter Building isn't the safest place to raise a new baby and have decided they need something that'll not be such a target for their enemies and head out to look out at a mysterious property that meets their specifications. However, everyone begins to get a strong foreboding about the new property and Lee and Kirby build up a lot of suspense and tension before telling us why in a very solid first part of this story.

Rating: 2.75 out of 5.0

Superman Adventures #45

This was the first of the four post-Mark Millar issues of Superman Adventures that I actually enjoyed. The plot centers around three precocious girls who have left the suburbs to go to Metropolis and find a husband for their mom and the focus centers on Clark Kent and then later Lex Luthor. What becomes clear from the girls' conversation is that they also want a dad in their lives. On the surface, some of their hopes are selfish, but Grubb clearly brings out some deeper needs. An emotional fun story that's more about the girls and the Superman cast, but Superman is able to do some pretty awesome things in the end.

This wasn't a perfect comic with a little stereotypical dialogue. And maybe we could have used a little more of Superman, But overall this is an enjoyable and heart warming read.

Rating: 3.75 ouf of 5.00

Batman Beyond #23 (2012-13);

After Issue 22, I thought I knew where the story was going, but kudos to Adam Beechen on adding some interesting twists as we learned that the technology used by the rebel was from old superhero/supervillain hideouts and we're left wondering where this came from as the issue ends.

The downside is that an entirely unnecessary scene is included in which Dick Grayson wakes up in a bed with a woman he's not married to and has a conversation. Not only was this unnecessary but this comic rated for nine year old kids. Also too much credence is given to the hopelessness of the Rebel.

Still some great action and a good mystery still make this a fun read

Rating: 3.75 ouf of 5.0

Heroes Against Hunger (1986 Live Aid One Shot);

Really could have been heroes and villain against Hunger as this book is a three way team up between Batman, Superman, and Lex Luthor. The book has a big problem: It's message (as delivered by a very annoying character) is that this isn't the type of problem that can be solved by comic book heroes but then most of the story is spent involving a fight against the typical comic book villain, the Master (not to be confused with the Doctor Who villain of the same name) who feeds on entropy.

The more interesting part is the reaction of Luthor, who in his pre-Crisis incarnation had a soft spot. Despite being an evil supervillain, he was moved to tears by the whole situation just as Doctor Doom would be in the Spider-man issue after 9/11. It's not a bad read and certainly was well-intentioned.

Rating: 3.25 out of 5.0

Doc Savage #3

he art on this book is amazing right from the beautiful cover to the Interior art work. The story was horrible and part of me wanted to give this issue 1 star but the art was too good for that.

The book begins in 1961 as Doc announces he's found the Panacea, medicine that would allow everyone to live forever. However, a madman is determined to stop him because he's evil and he runs a pharmaceutical company.

This issue is the point at which I really begin to wonder if the author gets Doc Savage. Doc is the swashbuckling man of bronze with stories that are full of action, adventure, and intrigue. What Roberson gives us is a story that has an almost impossible scientific discovery that's in jeopardy because (apparently) Doc failed to write it down and this story ends on a very down note for Doc Savage.

The art through flashbacks captures some scenes of Doc on an adventure and that's what belongs in a Doc Savage comic book. What Roberson seems to be doing is a Doc Savage version of John Byrne's Superman-Batman Generations, only with Doc Savage (with each issue jumping forward about fifteen years). While I didn't like Generations, it had more point than this joyless book does.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.0


Superman Beyond #20:

I'm left with real mixed feelings because this isn't a bad book, but it's kind of mediocre end to the series. There's a good ticking time bomb that's resolved but the key to giving us a feeling of a positive ending is having Superman deliver a cliche-ridden speech. I mean if you're going to give a speech, make it a good one.

This book signaled the end of Superman Beyond and that was a shame. Superman is a great character and this book highlighted his timeless character and the type of person he is, even if not all the concepts were explored fully.

Rating: 2.75 out of 5.0

The Jade Ogre by Kenneth Robeson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In this book, Doc Savage faces a deadly challenge when he battles the Jade Ogre, a strange being whose decapitated arms fly on their own and deal a horrible green death to the Ogre's enemies.

This book is unusual in that Will Murray adapted the idea from a story original Doc Savage writer Lester Dent had written about a private detective, so this story has a bit of a mystery element in it and some detective tropes that play a role such as Doc explaining the solution to his aides at the end. However, the mystery is much more a matter of how rather than who as Murray provides more than enough clues to figure out who is behind the Jade Ogre. Also this makes more sense understanding it was based on a serialized story as it does have a very strong serialized feel.

In addition to the mystery, the book delivered the usual things we expect from Doc Savage with plenty of action, adventure, gadgets, and some great interaction between Doc's assistants. Here, as in the other more recent books, the number of supporting players is kept down to a minimum with Ham, Monk, and Pat Savage appearing. Murray is even more careful about overusing assistants as for most of the book, only two are "on stage" at once with Pat and Ham together early and Monk and Ham late. This allows enough interaction between the Bornze Man's two most beloved assistants (Monk and Ham) without their carping on each other becoming monotonous.

As always, Murray achieves a great period feel and this book succeeds in transporting readers back to the 1930s.

The story has one major plot hole and that comes from the whodunit plot. We learn that when Doc gives the solution that several others had figured out who the guilty party was. This leads the question of why everyone followed a crazed murder blindly into a trap.

Beyond that, there are more things that could be nitpicked, but at the end of the day, this isn't great literature, it's Doc Savage. And this book lives up to the high standards set by other installments in this series. So if you have a love of 1930s Pulp fiction in your soul, this book is for you.



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Batman '66 #37:

This is the best concept in the entire run. A new TV series is airing featuring Batman but it bothers our hero as he is portrayed as a grim and gritty hero who gets information by beating up criminals. And people on the street and criminals alike begin to believe this as criminals fear him giving them "the Bat business."

This is a funny portrayal with a nice bit of irony. After all many fans of a grittier Batman insist that the 1960s TV series ruined the character, so how would the Batman portrayed in the TV series react? Nicely executed and with a good cliffhanger. I'll be tuning in same Bat-time to find out what happens.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

Fantastic Four Volume 1, #89:

This issue is mostly a battle book featuring the Fantastic Four fighting their classic foe, The Mole Man, and it's good for what it is. There's also some reference to the return of the Skurll. This book definitely does show its age as one of the later Lee/Kirby books as it features four full page flashes which means this has a lot less story than previous issues. Though, credit where credit is due, none of the Splashes are as silly as that one of food that Doctor Doom prepared in the previous story with Doctor Doom.

Rating: 3.25 out out of 5.0

Silver Surfer #3:

Issue 3 of the new Silver Surfer Relaunch was simply a blast as the Silver Surfer rushes to save Dawn, the Never Queen, and everyone aboard the Impericon.

It's a great and fun adventure with some great moments. This is a comic that manages to not take itself too seriously, while at the same time giving our heroes a real problem to solve. The issue ends with lots of hope and anticipation and if the rest of the series can live up to the standard set up by Issue 3, this run of the Silver Surfer could be something very special indeed.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

X-Men (2013-Present) #2:

Issue 2 of this serial continues to tell the story of the mysterious baby and the battle between John Sublime and his Sister Arkea. The story develops nicely, however there are far too many characters and none of them are that well developed by Wood. The Primer storyline feels like it would have been better later on as coming in the first three issues, it's really hard for us to get to know these characters.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

Kark Waid's Green Hornet #1:

Veteran comic book writer Mark Waid wrote the perfect first issue with this book. Waid knew that he couldn't assume readers knew who the Green Hornet was, so he introduces the character but does it in a way that's not tedious and that holds our interest. In the first issue Waid does three things very well: He establishes who the Green Hornet is, he establishes what the status quo is for the Green Hornet, and he foreshadows what's to come later on in the series. This is the ideal first issue as it manages to maintain perfect balance.

If being well-written wasn't enough, this book was exquisitely drawn and really has a great feel for the era. Overall, this is just a top notch first issue that I heartily recommend.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

Batman Adventures #28:

The Joker is bored at Arkham so Harley Quinn hatche a zany scheme. A German psychiatrist shows up at Arkham claiming to have a plan to cure the Joker as well as some city councilmen that have recently gone psycho. There's a fun concept in the story and Harley and the Joker make a good team. The problem I have with this piece is there's no rhyme or reason to the Joker's plan or activities and usually there is some logic even if it's quite twisted. What we have here is a relatively safe Joker story with some zaniness but alas not much of a punchline.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

Justice League Unlimited #30:

This is a story in which Mike Baron recycles ideas from previous writers. Want to highlight a lesser known character (or two)? Portray them alone in the Watchtower facing a threat as Adam Beechen did when writing Justice League Unlimited #5. Also, having an annoying teenager (Speedy in this case) learn to respect an elder is a weld-worn meme in this series. Overall, this doesn't work quite as well in this Issue. For one thing, Speedy (or is Red Arrow) is on screen for most the book whining and Booster Gold is very one dimensional and unlike how he was portrayed in the cartoon show or in comics in general. Plus, this younger Speedy contradicts a TV episode that aired a year before portraying Speedy as the older version of the character who went by the name of Red Arrow. The action isn't horrendous but the book itself is not well-executed at all.

Rating: 1.75 out of 5.0

Doc Savage #4:

This issue fast forwards another 18 years to 1979 with Doc Savage embittered by the loss of the cure for death, he finds himself with a brand new team of people we don't care about and haven't seen before trying to stop a former assistant who we've never seen before from completing a dangerous oil rig, and to do so so he has to team up with a cynical teenager who wonders, "Why not just let the world blow up?"

This book really doesn't work. Having read four issues, these are different from what we expect from Doc Savage adventure stories. Not only that, but the author's jumping in time to ensure that a third of each issue has flashbacks and introductions of the characters and the event we missed is really tedious. There's nothing in this bool that makes me want to pick up Issue 5 and find out what happens next. The character of Doc Savage is unrecognizable in terms of personality, and the story is just not that special.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.0

Daredevil: Road Warrior #3

Things unfold nicely as Daredevil begins to unfurl the truth about the mysterious stranger without a heartbeat he followed from the airport and discovered what classic Marvel villain is behind it all. Can't wait for Part four.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5.0

Peter Cannon Thunderbolt #4:

Issue 4 of Peter Cannon features a Christian extremist taking a pot shot at Peter Cannon because he's nuts and he's abusive and he listens to TV preacher who happens to be part of the General's Cabal. The use of this trope is annoying for several reasons as it's the writer inserting his political and religious agenda into the comic at best, if not just trying to demonize a certain stripe of Christians. to be fair, the writer does balance this somewhat by the fact that he's clear that people in this guy's own church won't have anything to do with him.

The big problem here is that this random walk on character taking a pot shot at Peter Cannon is the only actual action in the story. The rest of the book is actually pretty good as we get a sense of suspense and excitement building up, but the only action is random guy shoots at Peter Cannon. Plus, we have four different views were following. We really didn't waste two pages on this walk on character who served no purpose but to advance the writer's religious views.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

Doc Savage: Python Isle by Will Murray

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Python Isle is one of Will Murray’s earliest Doc Savage novels. In it, a wild red-haired man encounters pirates, escapes and goes seeking Doc Savage. The pirate Captain is determined stop a message getting to Doc so he contracts with a baseball-bat carrying cat-loving, bird-loving thug to stop Doc from joining the chase.

Python Isle has a lot of familiar Doc Savage elements: a mysterious lost island, a lost people, and a great treasure, and of course the python make for great natural menaces. The villains are appropriately evil with Bull Pizano being extra-menacing and memorable with his baseball bat, his malice which contrasted with his love of cats and birds. The story also includes a trip on a Zeppelin and the hijacking of the same.

On the negative side, there are the typical issues with Doc Savage books such as lengthy descriptions of everything plus the repetive use of nickname likes “dapper lawyer” and “apish chemist” which comes with the territory. However, this book isn’t as good as other Savage books. It takes a long time to get started and even for Monk and Ham to show up in the story (let alone Doc himself.) Plus, this is a story where the villains seem to run circles around Doc in his men. The Apish chemist even commented he was getting tired of being captured. Given the accolades of Doc Savage in this book as well as the many other adventures Doc has had, it's a bit disconcerting to see him and his men held at bay by a two bit pirate and an eccentric hood with a baseball bat.

Still, the book isn't bad. It has a solid dose of high adventure and mystery. The audiobook is beautifully performed and directed and it even includes two brief interviews with Will Murray as special features. Overall, this story is fair, and offers several hours of adventures with Doc Savage which makes it a worthwhile listen.



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Flight into Fear by Kenneth Robeson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Taking a hero and depriving of all their tropes is an idea that has a long history and works to the current day. Think of Iron Man III with Tony Stark's simple conclusion, "You can take away my house, all my tricks and toys. One thing you can't take away...I am Iron Man."

This book does something similar with Doc Savage. His secret gadgets and super amazing vehicles are gone as are his awesome team of partners, yet what's left isn't Doc Savage. Doc Savage, the Bronze Man of the 1930s who is almost other worldly in his bearing and has a very precise way of speaking has become a walking series of hard boiled clichés. Some of this can legitimately be blamed on him going undercover as a hard boiled criminal named Banner as part of his espionage mission, but Doc's entire personality and bearing has changed so has the character's practically unrecognizable.

He's on a mission behind enemy lines during the Cold War and his whole charade as Banner has been to set up this mission which he almost doesn't go on, which is understandable given who accompanies him. Instead of Ham and Monk, Doc is saddled with two annoying and unlikable security agents. The senior and more annoying agent is Dryden, a good man once (or so the narrator tells us) until one mission behind enemy lines, he's now a lush. Breckenridge is younger and unbelievably immature for the job he holds. Both are whiny, insufferable, and make the entire mission far more difficult than it needs to be.

So why is Doc on this mission anyway? A genius with almost unlimited financial resources and his own fortress of solitude could probably do far better for his country during the Cold War than playing cloak and dagger with a drunk and a wet behind his ears younger agent. In addition, due to Doc's striking appearance, he requires more make than a movie Batman villain to not stick out. So he's not the best top secret operative. The thing is that Doc has a contract out on him by the Soviet government and the person who is set to carry out the contract is the sinister Red Widow, a figure that strikes terror in both Doc's heart and Dryden's. Given all that Doc has faced, the idea that there's someone who absolutely strikes terror in Doc's heart is actually a brilliant idea. It's just not well-executed. It's emphasized too many times. They only meet twice and they never have that true full on confrontation. Plus, the way the Widow plot is resolved isn't really satisfying.

The pacing on this is slow. It seems to take forever to get out of New York City after interminable conversations and they spend far too much time on the boat. The action picks up but it's more than 80% through the book before it finds a good pace.

But it does find its pace and there are some good moments. While Doc's confrontation of Paul Poltov in the Bar was a bit of character, it was really fun. When they did finally leave the boat, it was exciting. Plus the book was written by Will Murray which means that even when the book was bad, it had moments when it felt like it was so bad, it's good.

So bottom line, if you're looking for a book that feels like Doc Savage, this isn't for you. If you want something that's ridiculously over the top with how bad it is with a few good action bits thrown in, you might enjoy it.




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Resurrection Day / Repel by Lester Dent

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book collects two short Doc Savage Novels published in 1936 and 1937, "Resurrection Day" and "Repel."

In Resurrection Day, Doc has discovered a chemical that can resurrect the dead, but he can only do it once. The evil criminal genius General Ino has in mind a historical figure in mind who he would like to see resurrect (and what evil criminal genius worth his salt doesn't.) and a battle of wits is on that will end up with Doc and Ino matching wits in the dessert.

In Repel, a volcano explodes and Doc goes running along with the criminal minature genius Cadwiller Olden, a figure who Doc was bound to tangle with sooner or later. He and his international cabal were after Repel, a dangerous new element.

Overall, having read several of Will Murray's newer Doc Savage novels, I have to say that I like these and in fact, prefer them. The shorter fiction form works for Doc and really makes the stories pacier and more exciting with less capture and release. Yes, they're pulp adventure stories with all the flaws of that genre, but if you like that sort of story, these really are top notch for what they are.

Of the two, I liked Resurrection Day better. Doc is determined to use his one shot at resurrection to bring back someone who will benefit humanity but Ino's greed gets in the way, and it's unspoken message shows how the evil in men's can lay waste the best intentions of science. It also happened over a much shorter time, so it had very little lag in it.

Repel had an added sense of mystery as well as an intriguing villain in Cadwiller Olden, yet Olden had some big inconsistencies with Doc Savage and his men. He ordered Doc's men executed in one case and so Doc had to rescue them in order for them to live. Doc failed to rescue them, and they still live with Olden keeping them alive to be killed at another time for no reason he states or actually makes any sense. At the start of the book, he has the gall to want Doc captured alive to work for him and then he wants him dead. This is just of a few points where I thought Repel could have used an extra edit. However, my enjoyment of the story wasn't ruined, but Resurrection Day was a better story overall.

One thing that's great about the novels is it also includes reprints of the original pulp illustrations which are really a treat to see. The book also includes an introduction by Comic Book great Peter David, and two enlightening commentaries by Will Murray.

These extras make the book a treasure for fans of Pulp Fiction despite a few rough spots in the stories. Overall, a very compelling volume.



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Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze by Steve Englehart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book collects all Eight issues of the 1970s Doc Savage Comic which adapted Doc Savage novels into two issue comic stories, "The Man of Bronze," "Death in Silver," "The Monsters," and "Brand of the Werewolf."

Probably the only one of these that's superb as a story is, "The Man of Bronze" which tells the origin of Doc Savage's amazing wealth and really sets the stage for the series. The other stories in here are good, though not spectacular. However, what stands out is the art, particularly those issues done by Ross Andru of Wonder Woman fame. The images really stand out and probably more than any other comic adaptation, you really have a sense of the epicness of Doc's Adventures.

So overall, fair to good adaptations, highlighted by breathtaking and memorable art.



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The Polar Treasure / Pirate of the Pacific by Kenneth Robeson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book brings us two Doc Savage novels from June and July 1933

First up is, "The Polar Treasure" where Doc sets out to find a blind violinist and offer him sight-restoring surgery, but before he can do that, the man is kidnapped by pirates, and Doc and his men find themselves caught between two gangs of pirates battling over a fantastic treasure. The Polar Treasure is a Doc Savage novel at its best: There's plenty of action and daring do. There's some great plot twists, and two sets of villains. It's a lot of fun and very fast paced.

Next is, "Pirate of the Pacific," where Doc Savage takes on an "oriental gang" bent on overthrowing a nation that's supposed to be the Philippines. This book loads up on racial stereotypes and "yellow peril," storytelling, which is not only offensive to modern readers, but also makes for weaker writing. The villain's not interesting, the plot is confusing. Doc Savage is fighting a pirate who has created an elaborate infrastructure to make himself ruler of the island nation. That's not to deny that there are some good action scenes and some superb cunning, but it's weighed by the weak spots of the story.

Overall, I think the "Polar Treasure" is a five-star story and Pirate of the Pacific is a two-star story with a lot of baggage for modern day readers.



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