Doc Savage Books In Order

Publication Order of Doc Savage Books

Publication Order of Wild Adventures Of Doc Savage Books

Doc Savage is a fictional character created by Kenneth Robeson, a house name by Street and Smith Publications as the author of their popular character Doc Savage. Doc Savage was originally published during the 1930’s and 1940’s in the American Pulp Magazines. This heroic and adventurous character would later be featured in other media like radio, coming books, and later the adventures were reprinted for modern day audiences in a series of paperback novels. The paperback copies sold over 20 million copies worldwide by early 1980’s and since then Doc Savage has remained one of the most adored characters in the United States and has been referenced in many popular culture and novels. Savage is considered as the forerunner of the modern superheroes.

All of the original stories of Doc Savage were reprinted in paperback by Bantam Books between the 1960’s to 1990’s, and the series features over hundred books with The Whisker of Hercules marking the last book in the series. The reprints by Bantam Book garnered success, and an adaptation of the books into movies began almost immediately. Doc Savage main enemy in the series is John Sunlight, a Russian born who was introduced in the series in October 1938 in the novel, Fortress of Solitude. One of the key characteristics in Savage books is the threats, regardless of how fantastic they are, they all have a rational explanation. For instance, what is first assumed to be a giant spider is later revealed as a blimp.
In 1975, George Pal produced a film titled Doc Savage: the Man of Bronze that featured Ron Ely playing the role of Doc Savage. Unfortunately, the movie failed and performed poorly at the box office. Another film based on Savage stories includes Doc Savage: The Arch Enemy of Evil.

Shane Black has stated that he will direct a film adaptation of Sony Picture and Original Film based on the Doc Savage series. According to an interview, Black stated that he would like to feature Dwayne Johnson popularly known as “The Rock” as Doc Savage. On 30th May 2016, the renowned Hollywood actor, Johnson confirmed that he would be starring in the film.

The Man of Bronze

The Man of Bronze is the first novel in Doc Savage series featuring a superhero that many have come to refer him as the forerunner of the modern superheroes. He engages in deadly combat with the survivors of an ancient lost civilization. Then he is later joined by his crew as he embarks on a journey to find a lost treasure and destroy what is known as the Red Death.

Savage is a great inspiration for the 21st-century superheroes, more so Superman, even though he does not have any superpowers. However, he is highly trained, and this renders him into a superhuman. The first novel in the series features some elements of superheroes that would later inspire the likes of Jack Bannon and Dr. Quest

This first book is full of Anachronisms, and the inclusion of what many in the current world would consider as racist attitude. It is crucial to note that the book was written in different times and through years many things have evolved meaning that some of the details in the novel mean no offense.
In his missions, we regularly find Doc Savage backed up by his talented friends known as the Fabulous Five who are all experts in their fields, but they are never as good as Doc himself. The plot is well crafted, and there is more than Savage coming home from his fortress of solitude to find his friends gathers after the mysterious death of his father. This sends Doc Savage and the “Fabulous Five” on a deadly revenge mission against villains who want him and his friends dead.

Through this first installment, we also get a chance to know about an ancient kingdom that has been lost to the modern world. We also catch a glance of aerial gunfights, jumping out of skyscrapers, shark punching and get to know more about Savage, a man who says no to romance because it would interfere with his work.

The Thousand-Headed Man

Aided by a mysterious Chinaman, Doc Savage and his crew embark on an epic journey to the jungles of Indo-China in a desperate move to bring an end to the famous, Thousand-headed man.
Doc Savage is a man of mysterious origins and a strange individual an intelligent and a man of fabulous physical strength. He is, in other words, the product of science, for since birth he had been trained for only one purpose- the only one career which he now follows.

Every trick known to science had been incorporated in his early training, and his life was far from the usual one that humans live. Right from childhood, he dedicated two hours of intense training each single day; exercises intended not only to develop his muscles but also to improve his mental sharpness and physical senses. All his early life, Doc Savage had been dedicated to studying under masters of sciences, trades, profession until he possessed knowledge that not a single human being could.
The result of this upbringing led to the “birth” of a man who was an excellent combination of physical capacity and scientific genius. Mysterious even than the man himself was the career which Doc Savage life was dedicated- the art of helping others who are in trouble, helping those oppressed, and dealing with the villains who thought they were above the law. Doc Savage did all these “services” to the society without even accepting a dime even under any circumstances.

He assembled a group of five men to serve as his assistants- five individuals who were professional experts in their respective line of duties. The desire for adventure, excitement, and admiration for their leader was what held this group together and kept it surviving even the periods of great tribulations. Some men crave for art, money, women and some society- but for these five men, trouble was their specialization and fortunately for them, there was plenty of trouble around Doc as his path was always filled with danger, peril, and thrilling adventure.

2 Responses to “Doc Savage”

1. Name (required): 1 year ago

   why are the bantam books of doc savage so outrageously high i would love to buy them but they are financially out of reach. shame

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   • Jon: 3 months ago

     I started collecting these back in junior high. I have the complete collection all in like new condition, and all in plastic sleeves. This includes the double issues, and the four-story omnibus ones that they printed toward the end of the run. I even have the 21 newer ones by Will Murray written as Kenneth Robeson, Lester Dent unfinished works. Bantam started doing this in the late 60s, and they were actually only about $.45 each at that time. Guess times have changed.

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