Superhero Review Doc Savage Man Of Bronze

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Before Superman or Batman, an early superhero actually often called Superman, was Doc Savage, The Man Of Bronze. He first appeared in pulp novels in 1933, but it was his radio and comic exploits that made him famous, and though now largely forgotten, he was a huge influence on the mighty heroes who followed. Clark Savage Junior was raised from birth by a team of geniuses, taught all martial arts, trained to extreme athletic ability, and given a deductive education that made him a veritable Sherlock Holmes. Savage was assisted in his adventures by a team of great minded eccentric companions known as the The Fabulous Five. Savage lived in a New York Skyscraper, a sort of cross between the Empire State Building and the later Baxter building used by the Fantastic Four. He also had a North Pole Fortress Of Solitude, an idea shamelessly stolen later for Superman. Savage's adventures were filmed in 1975, by War Of The Worlds / The Time Machine director George Pal, starring TV's Tarzan Ron Ely as the Doc. The film was silly, done in the style of the 60's Batman TV series. Doc escapes assassins by having his windows distort images to make it look as if everything is five feet to the left or right of its actual location. He is chased by giant green flying worms, and has a ludicrous bombastic military marching theme song. The film credits open with him opening his Fortress of Solitude, an igloo complete with roaring Edwardian drawing room brazier fireplace. I enjoyed the film, though I would like to see Doc Savage brought back properly by a more seriously minded director. Youtube - The opening scene / credits of the 1975 movie. Arthur Chappell