Doc Savage The Man of Bronze: The History and Origin

[@archangel5627]

The original Doc Savage Pulp Stories were so entertaining and well written. Every time I break out a Doc Savage Book, I’m always surprised that no one has made a movie franchise out of the character in recent years. If Director Johnson does finally make a Doc Savage film I hope it’s a period piece and takes place in the 1930’s and 40’s. His entire story, gadgets, and overall archetype just wouldn’t work being set in modern present day. He’s the grand daddy of the Superhero genre and so I believe they need to stick close to the source material.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@michaelstorm2165]

Completely agree, and Dwayne Johnson would be perfect (but you gotta give him the hair!).

[@ralfxephon1]

That IS correct

[@RH-sb5co]

I read the books in Jr high. The movie sucked.

[@moviesmoviesmovies1243]

They made one with Ron Ely as Doc Savage but it didn't catch on. In the 70's.

[@larrycanter8542]

I've been a Doc Savage fan since I was in high school in 1975. This video has brought back some good memories. Thank you Larry Canter

[@ComicgeddonTV]

You're very welcome Larry. Thanks for watching!

[@brianstelter7067]

Boris Vallejo did some fantastic drawings of Doc Savage. Incredible detail.

[@MrGolyat1]

The Walt Bama covers were even more realistic

[@petersmafield8722]

I have been reading Doc Savage since the mid-nineteen fifties, I started getting his adventures stories from the Public Library when I was 9 or 10 years old and I still enjoy them at the young age of 75.

[@edmonddantes3640]

I found Doc Savage in my Jr High years in the late 60s. It was the incredible Bantam paperback covers by James Bama that drew my attention.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@tomh6183]

Same here

[@Libradad]

As did I at in those years. The Bantam books started out at what? 25 cents. I have all of the ones I collected starting with Number 1 "The Man of Bronze" and adding to them over the years. about 90+ I think. And the George Pal directed Movie (his last I think) Campy fun... I hope we can have at least one new Big Screen adaption before I pass.

[@michaellangan4450]

All I remember from his paperback books is a certain paragraph that was repeated in all of his books. It went something like this'' The sound seemed to have no particular origin. The notes grew stronger and seem to go up and down the scales. His group knew what it meant. Doc was going into action.'' And so on and so on. I loved it.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@robertlehnert4148]

I got to visit Lester Dent's La Plata Missouri home in 1992 because my wife to be was the granddaughter of Lester and Margaret Dent's cleaning lady. Widow Dent was still living in the house then, and I got to see Lester's office and even handle his sword cane. My wife, as a very little girl, got to meet Lester before his 1960 death.

[@thorlo1278]

I remember reading Doc Savage comics back in the late 50's early 60's. I always loved those action comics. I was a big reader of science fiction and super hero comics and books growing up. I'm 69 soon to be 70 and still love them. My biggest pet peeve is idiots who call science fiction "sci-fi"! To me them's fighting words!😒

[@charleswayne69]

I heard about Doc because of a movie in the seventies with actor Ron Eli.

[@olddboodaa4395]

I remember Doc Savage classic. Brings back memories. Thanks a mill man.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@markformston6606]

as a teenager, i collected and read many of the Lester Dent paperbacks. Also, read two related books by Phippe Jose' Farmer - Doc Savage, his apocalyptic life, and A Feast Unknown, where the "real-life" Doc Savage is pitted against the "real-life" Tarzan :)

[@55Quirll]

I remember the Philip Jose Farmer books you are referring to. The first gives a short history of the two and you learn that they are related due to the work of early humans who wanted to know who would be superior - a natural born and raised man or one who was raised and trained by science hence Tarzan and Doc. They are also long lived due to a serum they are given every year. There was a second book where Doc and Tarzan team up to defeat the early humans who trying to control them.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@ComicgeddonTV]

@@55Quirll glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@55Quirll]

@@ComicgeddonTV Very welcome.

[@bruthamann5697]

I discovered Doc when I was in highschool (1989)! Been a fan ever since! Hopefully the new movie will capture the true character and nature of Savage.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@gregorblack5557]

I always really enjoyed Tom Strong, a clear homage. All the ABC characters were fun

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@tomcloud54]

I never saw many of the comics but my pre- and teen years were consumed with the old pulp novels of Doc and the Shadow and the Avenger. It's good to hear the Avenger mentioned as I have never met anyone who has heard of him.

[@gomikmay]

I'm one of a few that read the Avenger books. Admittedly,the newer ones back in the 70's. Shame that Benson and his team aren't better known.

[@Floyd-o7l]

I had seen Doc Savage back in the 80s but had no idea that he predated these other characters. I look forward to exploring these stories in the future.

[@therealcapitanchile]

i´ve made illustrations for Doc Savage magazines, such an honour!!!

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@SKOTxFREE]

Most people don’t know that Doc Savage Man of Bronze predates both Batman and Superman and both of those comics borrowed from Doc Savage. For example the Fortress of Solitude was in Doc Savage first and Batman borrowed the whole Billionaire who fights crime thing including building his own Gadgets, having a bat mobile type vehicle etc. He was such a fan of Doc Savage, that he actually penned a few issues in the 60’s.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

Yes I know... most of what you said, is in the video...

[@THEBANDIT7979]

Doc savage and the phantom are quite possibly the two most imitated comic characters. With the shadow a close second.

[@glennbishopbishthemagish]

The Shadow was a radio show and the pulp magazine was set to run one issue so they could copyright it. It sold out, so The Shadow was made into a pulp magazine. Walter B Gibson wrote many of the Shadow Magazines and Orson Wells voiced the Shadow on radio for a long time. Both were into magic and were magicians.

[@richardorlovsky9221]

I had multiple books of Doc Savage, the Avenger and the Shadow. Great Pulp Fiction.

[@MegaMagicdog]

I remember Doc Savage! My Dad and uncle were sci-fi/pulp/adventure fans and my cousin and I used to read some of the books when we were young. There was also a movie made in 1975 with Ron Ely in the role as Savage. Maybe we could get a review/retrospective on it.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

I would love to do a review on the 1975 film... I've actually never seen it but discovered it existed during research for this video... I will definitely have to try and find it!

[@bruthamann5697]

MegaMagicdog The Doc movie was campy but fun. I watched it on tv one Saturday afternoon and I've been a fan ever since!!!! 😎

[@jeffreycoogan09]

The 1975 film was decent. But it would have been a lot better if it had John Sunlight as the main villain.

[@bjbell52]

@@ComicgeddonTV I one of many who didn't like the Doc Savage movie. The man of Bronze movie varied too much from the pulp magazine. About the only character the movie got right was Renny. I love him in that fight scene on the boat but Monk and Ham were nothing like their pulp counterparts. Ham didn't have a sword cane but instead had a small blade that would pop out of the end of his can. Monk, instead of being ape like and strong was a fat guy who bounced crooks off his fat belly. From what I heard director George Pal wanted to make it straight and hope to turn Doc into a movie franchise. But someone bought the studio and didn't want Doc Savage to be filmed but since Pal had already spent a great deal of money on what he already filmed, they went ahead but told Pal to make it campy like the Batman TV show. The movie is on youtube, so at least you don't have to waste your money renting it. Also, if memory serves me, at least in the Milwaukee area, the movie was pulled after only one weekend.

[@lsiegris]

I grew up reading my Dad's old Doc Savage novels! They were amazing.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@carltoncrutchfield6055]

Discovered Doc as a young teen! Tried to absorb every one of the books in paperback! Heck, even my mom enjoyed reading them!😄

[@edmonddantes3640]

I was in junior high in the late 60s and l started reading Doc Savage due to the incredible paperback cover art of James Bama published by Bantam

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@ronfisher5259]

Oh yeah, I ate those up back then too class of 1967

[@fewheeler]

Great history, my mom got me started reading Doc Savage in my early years of the mid 60’s

[@darrenbennett1053]

I watched the movie with Ron Ely when I was a kid . Then I found all the books I could and read them . Loved every second of it lol

[@danko80jd]

I've been a fan since I was 9 years old. I loved those paperback Doc Savage novels!

[@TheAyeAye1]

Loving the Doc Savage stories. He's better than Marvel or D.C.

[@stefanschleps8758]

I picked up three or four Doc Savage pulps back in the very late sixties. I read them and reread them over and over. Despite several attempts at finding more issues, I sadly never found any. The Fortress of Solitude is one I will find in the near future. I agree one hundred percent. In the 20th century, the first superhero is, Doc ''the man of bronze'' Savage !!

[@orielosbourne1226]

Doc savage is a hero and a patriot!

[@michaelstorm2165]

I found some of these gems in paperback, as a teen in the 70s. Great escapist faire, wonderfully written! I would love to find a collection of them and reread!

[@rexnegron1778]

Loved it!

[@zanythos3716]

I just found about 20-30 of the old Doc Savage paper back books going through a bunch of my dads old stuff.

[@dennisanderson3895]

Very good retrospective! I think my favorite publishing of Doc Savage comics was the B&W magazine format Marvel did in the 70s by (I *think*) Doug Moench. (sp?) A superb character! (I also liked the pastiche of him introduced in Planetary.) I need to locate and read some of those original novels.

[@glennbishopbishthemagish]

Back about 1975 I had most of the Doc Savage books in paperback. I also agree, both DC and Marvel took (ripped off the pulp magazines) for story ideas. Some people also think that John Carter and Hugo Danner influenced Superman and Captain America. And also Influenced The Shield. Then there was The Bat... Who was a hooded hero that was published as a pulp story years before Batman.

[@ralfxephon1]

I LOVE origins stories, I just suscribed, Greetings from México

[@ORagnar]

I see Doc Savage as more a pulp fiction hero than a comic book hero. Those are the stories I read.

[@rickrangel9809]

Ron Ely as Savage was a joke, sorry. Have loved Doc since high school in the mid 70's along with my favorites Monk and Ham.

[@odinsson852]

One of the worst films of all time.

[@simonblack4203]

I don't agree. I think it's amazing how much true to the character content they packed in there. They can't even get the actor that plays Thor to wear his helmet now.

[@DWNicolo]

But the books cry out for a proper film adaptation.

[@tomripsin730]

I was first introduced to Doc Savage in the Steranko History of Comics in the early 70's. I know I read at least one issue of the Marvel comic version.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@alanyoung290]

Chris Hemsworth would make a perfect Doc Savage. He’s already got the looks.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

no he wouldn't... he and The Rock both are too comedic in their acting... neither have done very serious roles lately... Doc Savage is not a humorous character. He's quite similar to Batman and Superman in personality and the role needs to be taken seriously.

[@andrewprescher5235]

​@ComicgeddonTV I absolutely agree. Doc is a paragon born of stoic discipline and consistency. It won't be so easy as just grabbing some well built off the self. Casting will need to work hard too find the right Clark Savage Jr.

[@marklotinga]

I've long been a fan of Doc, to see a film adaptation would be great, although l am quite fond of the rather campy version starring Ron Ely from 1975. Nice video, ol Doc doesn't get nearly enough love these days. Thanks!

[@kevinintheusa8984]

My grandfather left me a bunch of the original pulp novels when he passed away in 1970. I got hooked and now I own all of the comics, most of the pulp novels, and all of the reprint novels from Bantam Books. I love the character so much and I can read them over and over again. Luckily, when the novels were being published, I was smart enough to buy 3 copies of each new one for my collection. My wife thinks I am insane but that is OK with me. I read the book that was done about Lester Dent and he was quite prolific in writing the books he used a formula that allowed him to put one out per month which is insane. In my office, I have three signed prints by James Bama and people ask me about them all the time.

[@Talltrees84]

Was Doc Savage captured in 1910 if they served in World War I (1914-18 with America entering it late in 1917)? Minor issue. Great video and great hero.

[@briandaleske5139]

I wonder what it might be like if this Bronze Age version of (DOC SAVAGE) & a new version of him appeared in a cartoon show series someday?

[@johnparadox9429]

I have the full run of the Bantam reprints, many of the comic books, some Bronze Gazettes and the Ron Ely film, plus P J Farmer's biography that ties Doc to Tarzan and other heroes.

[@wingnutrocks1697]

Man, this all brings back some sweet carefree memories, going back to 1975, when I saw Ron Ely's work in Doc Savage on the big screen. After being wowed by the movie, I set out to find and read ALL the Doc Savage pulp books. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the NEW Doc Savage: The Man Of Bronze movie!! Casting is critically important for this project; I can see Dwayne Johnson in the lead role. I'd also like to see another NEW film adaptation of The Rocketeer.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@claytonsavage7515]

Good overview

[@stevebojo4378]

I remember that there was a Doc Savage movie made sometime in the 1960's or early 1970's. It was really good as I recall.

[@dinomonzon8853]

Love Doc Savage! Had several of the Doc Savage novels reprinted by Bantam, and still have a TPB of the Marvel Comics series. I even like the 1975 Doc Savage movie starring Ron Ely.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@JeffreyWLaRue]

You Forgot "Doc Savage, Man of Bronze" Starring Ron Ely as Doc Savage!!!!!

[@ComicgeddonTV]

no one's perfect. thanks for watching!

[@bjbell52]

Horrible movie. Did NOT follow Doc (from the original pulps early on).

[@colinp2238]

@@ComicgeddonTV It was a 1975 film. Ely had been playing Tarzan in a TV Interpretation of that character with a young Manuel Padilla Jnr around 1968 ish.

[@ChrisLichowicz]

I liked that movie! My dad had the whole paperback series. Also, the movie wasn't supposed to be an origin movie. They never gave Ron, Doc's real hairdo! That kind of sucked...

[@thefurrybstard1964]

And you forgot to mention how good Ron Ely was in that movie.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Kind of Ozymandias like in a way... Doc is fantastic

[@tedstarnes2997]

John Sunlight wasn't in the King Maker I still have a copy of that paper back

[@PatriceBoivin]

I read many of Doc Savage's novels translated in French published by Marabout Junior. They published another hero, Bob Morane (adventurer), Nick Jordan (spy), Jo Gaillard (cargo vessel captain) and had a gripping novel called Des héros et des hommes depicting World War 2 events from an American soldier's individual point of view. Probably that one was translated from English as Doc Savage had been. Inspiring character for young people, at that point I started wondering why school wasn't trying to help students improve their abilities and skills.

[@willmfrank]

Whoever plays Doc Savage in any upcoming movie, it's got to end with Savage saying "I need a new shirt."

[@NCIStracephone]

There was a live action movie starring Ron Ely as Doc Savage, I remember the customized bronze Cord he drove in the movie. Also a big fan as well.

[@TruthTellert63]

Replying three years later, that was probably the only thing about the movie I liked (other than Pamela Hensley 😘).

[@madmoran1029]

Thank you for this!!!! I had heard references but I was clueless to Doc Savage and his story until now. I am subscribing as this was impressively done.

[@leftcoaster67]

There was a four issue limited series in the 1980's with Doc Savage as well.

[@Daniel_Delayne]

Two of them actually

[@geraldstephens6612]

It was said that the creator of Doc Savage was a good friend of DC comics editor Mort Weisinger who used some of Doc's ideas such the Fortress of Solitude & female cousin which became Supergirl.

[@cristiandiaz-el-tec]

HELLO EVERYONE, I have known Doc Savage since I was a child because of some stickers of Spanish origin that circulated in my country, Chile, and also because of the movie with Ely rum. Furthermore, he was mentioned in some newspaper notes that I also read as a child. Over time I found studies on this character and the editions of Editorial Molino. Today I am lucky enough to draw for magazines that are dedicated to this iconic character. Greetings from Chile!!

[@paulchristian1963]

I remember this from when I was 6 years old and I found it

[@baldeagle5297]

In 1985 there were at least two radio adaptations. The thousand Headed Man and Fear Cay. They are available from Radio Archives.

[@mentalist7772]

One thing i think is cool is that Doc Savage was stated to be a part of the prime Earth continuity in DC. Due to his abilities he ages slower than a normal human and it is stated that he is mostly retired and spends nearly all of his time in his Fortress working on inventions to help the world.

[@lylejohnson7591]

Doc Savage looked different in the original monthly pulp magazine then the paperback reprints.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

that's explained in Dynamite's series

[@patrickdavisjr9595]

As a child I had almost all his published first edition books , but sadly I have lost then all 😔😔

[@1monki]

This was mostly what Buckaroo Banzai and the Hong Kong Cavaliers were riffing on

[@glennbishopbishthemagish]

Bodybuilder Steve Reeves who was Hercules in the 50s was working out and planned to come out of retirement to do the Doc Savage film. The part went to Ron Ely. I wonder if Steve Reeves got a look at the script and then took a pass on the film and went back into retirement.

[@TruthTellert63]

If so, I agree with his decision. I'm sure he would have been good, but, in my opinion, the perfect actor for the part would have been Clint Walker. I agree with many others that Chris Hemsworth is the best current choice; Dwayne Johnson not at all.

[@obbzerver]

Dwayne Johnson would have been the wrong guy to play Doc. Forget trying to shoehorn a bankable star into the role - do what they did with Christopher Reeve and cast someone who fits the part.

[@TruthTellert63]

*trying to shoehorn a *black" star into the role

[@endtimeswriter]

Doc Savage and The Phantom need to be upgraded for today and they would be awesome if done right.

[@coolnegative]

Off topic, anyone else notice that Darkman in the movie adaptations looks an awful lot like representations of The Shadow?

[@mrhaze9450]

My understanding is it was suppose to be a shadow movie at first but they could never get the rights for The Shadow so they made Darkman instead

[@rexmundi3108]

I'm not aware of any comic book historian who has traced the genre back to Tarzan, though I suppose it must have been done. The description of Doc Savage immediately reminded me of Edgar Rice Burroughs' description of Tarzans "superhuman" conditioning. It seems to me he is the direct descendant of Tarzan, next being Superman and more to the point Batman who also was human.

[@eddieboggs8306]

I saw the 1975 movie starring Ron Ely. He used to play Tarzan on tv in the early 70's. Indiana Jones looks like a clone of Doc Savage. Both characters were in the 1930's.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

he was inspired by Doc. thanks for watching!

[@paranormalexterminationbyc313]

Yesssss

[@ORagnar]

In fact, the idea for the Fortress of Solitude was taken from the Doc Savage character for the Superman character.

[@epsensei]

I LOVED THIS VIDEO!

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@paulkelley9641]

I have read about 75% of the Doc Savage books and have seen the movie with Ron Ely, Loved them!!

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@utubeisCensorred]

This is what kids used to look up to...now they have Steven Universe.

[@Shagamaw-100]

Do people even watch cartoon network anymore?

[@TruthTellert63]

@@Shagamaw-100 I hope not - it's been garbage for years.

[@jaredlasseter7364]

Thank You!

[@ComicgeddonTV]

glad you enjoyed. thanks for watching!

[@gaminawulfsdottir3253]

I always found the Extreme Widow's Peak offputting.

[@jalenikezeue4114]

Thank you so much for the video man I've watched it before and it's wants gotten me into research Doc savage In fact I have too of his comics

[@ComicgeddonTV]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@daveburgan4083]

just watched doc savage (ely) again. think if you look at the book cover drawings they tried to get someone who at leased looked like him and yes the film is a bit campy but so was the batman film (west) like them both good to have a laugh for an 1hour or 2

[@Lamont24012]

Doc Savage is better then Batman , smarter, stronger , and more endurance.

[@kevinschmith9379]

I like the movie did you see it , it’s fun

[@JetBlakNinja]

Loved the film starring Ron Ely.

[@savagestan2543]

Funny, I also recommended Alan Ritchson for Doc Savage a couple of weeks ago

[@jymbates9662]

Ever read Gladiator by Philip Wylie? Published in 1930, I think he's the first published superhero. The Rock would be perfect for both roles.

[@jmen4ever257]

DS like Tarzan, is a very hard character to either just transplant into today's times, ignoring the original time settings, or other methods, such as longevity serums or time travel. Additionally, they both need most of their hardcore cast of characters.

[@Netseer2000]

I disagree that Doc Savage is the first superhero since Hercules and Gilgamesh predate DS by over two thousand years.

[@SKOTxFREE]

😂

[@stephenbates1466]

There is allready a film about him sometime in the 1970s called doc savage ,man of bronze , played by the second best Tarzan ,cannot remember his name but great film

[@TruthTellert63]

It was Doc Savage, Man of Bronze - completed in '73 but not released until '75.

[@johnblotnick644]

Dwane Johnson as Doc?!? I don't know. Except for Doom his works are mostly comical. Makes me think it would be a tongue-in-cheek version again like the re-make of Wild Wild West. However, John Cena as Renny I could agree with.

[@pauld318]

Doc wasn't captive in a POW camp in 1910. It was during WW1 making Doc 15 or 16 at the time.

[@ComicgeddonTV]

Considering World War 1 officially began in 1914, im going to stick with the original statement

[@GreenManJEP1]

@@ComicgeddonTV But it's been made clear that Doc met his friends in WWI (see Escape from Loki, by Philip Jose Farmer), so 1914 is the earliest you could go with this, although that would make Doc 14 at the time of his enlistment, which really is pushing things a bit. Anyway, we weren't at war in 1910, so that date can't possibly be right. If you're going to put together programs like this, it's important to get your facts right.

[@kenzieger1940]

He did get his facts right. In the novels, Doc faked his age to enlist. It was mentioned because of his mental and physical training he didn't look or act like a 14 year old.

[@GeneKing-lz8xg]

Docsavagedeservestruesuperstardomandrespect.atruelegend!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@maxnorton1209]

Considering how the Black Adam movie went, I’m glad that a Doc Savage movie starring Dwayne Johnson never happened. Aside from his physical appearance and presence, I don’t think he’s the right guy to play Doc anyway. After seeing him in the “Reacher” series, I think Alan Ritchson would actually be the perfect choice. He has the right look, the swagger, the imposing physical presence, the strength, the fighting and other combat skills, and a remarkable intellect. In many ways, Doc Savage and Jack Reacher have a lot in common.

[@TruthTellert63]

Totally agree - Ritchson would be a FAR better choice than Johnson (who isn't right physically, either).

[@JeffreyWLaRue]

Did you ever notice that Doc Savage went thru as Many Work Shirts as did Luke Cage Did!!!!!

[@ComicgeddonTV]

Yeah he probably owns his own shirt company lol

[@dolphquick2686]

I had "The Thing and Doc Savage" comic book years ago. I could just kick myself for not holding on to it.

[@jamesmustain2921]

Wasn’t there a doc savage movie in the late 70’s or in early 80’s

[@NCIStracephone]

Ron Ely was the television series Tarzan.

[@robotennis61]

really in depth info ihki

[@jevondismuke5252]

I had a bunch of these books

[@MrGolyat1]

He invented the neck pinch which was later used by Mr Spock of Star Trek

[@davidnewland2461]

I used to have a bunch of the old paperbacks.

[@jeffandreshak1120]

Ron Eiley played Doc Savage in the early 80s . After his run As Tarzan in the 60s

[@ComicgeddonTV]

thanks for watching!