Doc Savage #2: "Resurrection Day" and "Repel"

Boy was I suprised to find out that the "Doc Savage" series of pulp novels are being re-released. Thru no fanfare just a simple google did I find out that NOSTALGIA VENTURES in Encinitas, California is re-publishing the pulps that I grew up with in the seventies (then published by Bantam Books). Every month they publish 2 books and put them out in one book in a nice over-sized format. The first 2 publications included a choice of either the origional cover from the pulps of the 30's and 40's like here or the bantam cover from the 60's thru the 80's. They started publishing these around the beginning of the year. Even though I own all 160+ adventures thru Bantam I find myself recollecting all over again. These new publications have extra stories and tid-bits about the origional writer Lester Dent, the villians from the stories, and quips from well known authors like Will Eisner( a true Doc Savage affianado). Even though I would like more covers from James Bama (the true reason I got hooked as a kid; his artwork) this new format works. They even added some illustrations thru out the stories. Doc Savage, you will learn, was created in the early 30's and led to the inspirations of others to create Superman and other superheroes, but with one big exception. Doc was born on earth and had no super powers, just brains, brawn, and 5 true friends who helped out in his adventures. New novels today, judging by their covers, owe something to Doc Savage. There is Doc Atlas, and another hero who's name I can't remember look just like Doc on the cover of their books. Amazon will usually put those books on the same page of the Doc Savage book under " people recently looked at". I hope this helps all you true Doc Savage fans. Nostalgia Ventures is also re-publishing the "Shadow" series of books from the 30's and 40's.

I am thrilled to see Doc again in printed form. Vintage covers, addtional tidbits of information by Will Murray just add to the fun. However, these two stories leave a lot to be desired. Ressurection Day is way out there allowing Doc to have the ability to reincarnate a dead body and Repel has some excellent action but borders on a scientific improbabability of anti-gravity. These points taken into account, I still enjoy reading these tales and seeing original illustrations and nostalgic covers. The Will Murray afterward gives us an historical perspective on the life and times of Lester Dent (Doc creator). Even though you've read Doc before, this format allows you to rediscover Doc in a new light. Highly recommended!

Every good

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.