The Return of Doc Savage. To comics, anyway.

By now, this isn't fresh news, but as it approaches, a couple of thoughts.

When DC first announced this project, I was cautiously excited. I didn't like the idea of teaming up Doc, Blackhawk, The Spirit, Rima, and Batman, but was happy that some love was being thrown Doc's way. Now we're beginning to get a clearer picture of where Didio and co. are going with this.



Brian Azzarello, author of the Batman/Doc Savage one-shot shipping in November siad in an interview at Comic Book Resources that he's anticipating that longtime Doc fans are "...going to be the guys who get pissed off. 'He obviously doesn’t understand Doc Savage. That’s not my Doc Savage' That’s exactly what I want them to say."

To be fair, he also had some neat things to say about the type of universe this will be, with airships existing with modern technology (a la Batman: The Animated Series). Fine. But since Azzarelo admits to not having much previous exposure to Doc, it's more than a little disconcerting as a fan that he doesn't seem interested in what we know as Doc Savage. While I'm sure he's done some research, I don't want it to be Doc in name only. And, of course, I'm hoping that this might all lead to a new ongoing or series of mini-series.

For reference on Doc done right in the comics, Azzarelo should search out a copy of the best Doc comic ever published, Marvel's Doc Savage magazine number one. Script by Doug Moench and art by John Buscema and Tony DeZuniga.



Damn, that's a good comic. And although the movie was a letdown (as an adult that is, as a ten year-old kid I loved it)I still love that shot of former Tarzan Ron Ely as Doc. Issue four also had Buscema art and was solid, but issue one can't be topped. And just because it's so awesome, here's some cover art from the first three issues of Marvel's short-lived color series.






Man, did those covers ever capture my imagination. Good stuff.