List of Doc Savage characters
Encyclopedia
Starting with the first Doc Savage
story in 1933 and running throughout the pulp adventures
a group of recurring characters
appeared either as Doc's supporting cast or antagonists.
The character is presented as a Harvard educated lawyer, holding the military rank of brigadier general
, and known as a dandy
. He is also shown as always carrying sword cane with a blade coated with a knock-out chemical.
He is also shown to love fighting with his friend "Monk" Mayfair. This began during World War I
, when a practical joke landed Monk in a military jail. Ham had taught Monk some insulting French words, presenting them as compliments. Monk used them while speaking to a French general and got locked in the guard house. Shortly after that, Ham was framed for stealing a truckload of hams, resulting in his insulting nickname. Ham was able to defend himself, but the fact that he was never able to prove that Monk was behind this has always been a source of irritation for him.
During the story "Dust of Death" an odd ape took a liking to Ham. He kept it due to its similarity Monk. He named it Chemistry, to infuriate Monk. Monk often calls it "the what-is-it", since it looks to be either an ape, chimpanzee, gorilla or
baboon, or a mixture.
The character is presented as geologist
and archaeologist and referred to as "Professor
". Physically he is described as tall, extremely thin, with black hair and a large nose, and wearing spectacles. In the earlier books he wore a monocle
, being blind in one eye from a war injury. Later, Doc restored his full vision with an operation. Johnny still carried the monocle, now converted into a magnifying glass for use in field work.
Within the novels, it is stated that he first met Doc Savage in a prisoner of war camp during World War I
. He is the only one of Doc's aides whose military rank is never mentioned. In the book Escape from Loki by Philip José Farmer, it is stated that Johnny was in Germany in a civilian capacity when the war broke out. He was arrested on not entirely falsified espionage charges.
The character is presented as an industrial chemist
, holding the military rank of lieutenant colonel, and physically distinct, described as resembling or in terms of a great ape.
He is shown to love a good brawl, beautiful women, and needling his friend "Ham" Brooks. The latter stretching back to World War I
when Monk framed Brooks for stealing hams during World War I
in retaliation to Ham playing a practical joke on him.
In the story "The Phantom City", Monk purchases an odd looking pig, described as having long legs, large floppy ears and sharp teeth, in Bustan
for one qirsh
. He names it Habeas Corpus
in order to further infuriate Ham. The pig accompanies Monk as a pet in later novels.
The character is presented as a civil engineer
, holding the rank of colonel
, and presenting a gloomy demeanor even at his happiest. Physically he is described as massive giant of a man, with enormous fists that he likes to punch through doors.
The character is presented as an electrical engineer, holding the military rank of major, and a pilot. Physically he is described as sickly-looking and awkward with a pale complexion, buck teeth, big ears, and a large forehead. This contrasts with notes in the stories that he rarely became ill and a proficient fighter.
Within the pulps, it is stated that he and Doc Savage met during World War I
. The explanation of his nickname is also given as a result of an even during the war where he help to defend a small European village using an ancient cannon known as a "Long Tom".
The character is presented as Doc Savage's cousin and sole living relative, sharing the bronze hair color and skin tone with him as well as strikingly beautiful. The stories also note her as being an accomplished marksman, pilot, and hand-to-hand combatant.
She is also shown to love Doc's adventures to the point of joining them on occasion.
She uses a Colt Frontier Single Action .44 as her signature weapon, a family heirloom handed down from her grandfather and modified with a filed trigger and fanning spur. The gun was used as an important plot element in "Violent Night". In that story, a disguised Hitler thinks he's left his fingerprints on it, so Nazis keep trying to get the gun in order to protect his subterfuge.
In "I died Yesterday", she is the main character as the story is told as a first person narrative.
She has also appeared or been mentioned in stories and novels that have been based on the pulps. These include:
The character is presented in some respects as Savage's opposite number, mirroring a number of his qualities. He is stronger, more intelligent, and possesses greater emotional control than ordinary people do. And in times of concentration
or stress
he emits a low growl subconsciously, very similar to Savage's trilling. He is also an idealist who seeks to end problems such as war, famine, and bigotry by bringing the world under his control.
Researcher Thomas Fortenberry has proposed that John Sunlight, combined with the actions in the Doc Savage
adventure "The King Maker", form the origin of the Marvel Universe
supervillain Doctor Doom
. Calbia
is the basis of Dr. Doom's nation, Latveria
, while the character of John Sunlight as an anti-Doc Savage, a twisted genius using his skills to bring world peace through personal domination, is the basis for Doom (an anti-genius opposite of Reed Richards). Dr. Doom is the answer to the dilemma posed to Doc Savage
in The King Maker, what if he were to use his power to rule a nation?
Sunlight has also appeared in a few of the comic book adaptations of Doc Savage:
Doc Savage
Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L...
story in 1933 and running throughout the pulp adventures
Pulp magazine
Pulp magazines , also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long...
a group of recurring characters
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
appeared either as Doc's supporting cast or antagonists.
Ham Brooks
Ham Brooks is one of the characters referred to as the "The Fabulous Five", the primary assistants of Doc Savage, and first appears with the full name Theodore Marley Brooks.The character is presented as a Harvard educated lawyer, holding the military rank of brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
, and known as a dandy
Dandy
A dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of Self...
. He is also shown as always carrying sword cane with a blade coated with a knock-out chemical.
He is also shown to love fighting with his friend "Monk" Mayfair. This began during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when a practical joke landed Monk in a military jail. Ham had taught Monk some insulting French words, presenting them as compliments. Monk used them while speaking to a French general and got locked in the guard house. Shortly after that, Ham was framed for stealing a truckload of hams, resulting in his insulting nickname. Ham was able to defend himself, but the fact that he was never able to prove that Monk was behind this has always been a source of irritation for him.
During the story "Dust of Death" an odd ape took a liking to Ham. He kept it due to its similarity Monk. He named it Chemistry, to infuriate Monk. Monk often calls it "the what-is-it", since it looks to be either an ape, chimpanzee, gorilla or
baboon, or a mixture.
In other media
- In the film Doc Savage: The Man of BronzeDoc Savage: The Man of BronzeDoc Savage: The Man of Bronze is a 1975 camp action film starring Ron Ely as pulp hero Doc Savage. This was the last film completed by pioneering science-fiction producer George Pal.- Plot :...
, he was played by Darrell ZwerlingDarrell Zwerling-Filmography:-External links:...
.
Johnny Littlejohn
William Littlejohn is one of the characters referred to as the "The Faboulous Five", the primary assistants of Doc Savage, and first appears with the full name William Harper Littlejohn.The character is presented as geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
and archaeologist and referred to as "Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
". Physically he is described as tall, extremely thin, with black hair and a large nose, and wearing spectacles. In the earlier books he wore a monocle
Monocle
A monocle is a type of corrective lens used to correct or enhance the vision in only one eye. It consists of a circular lens, generally with a wire ring around the circumference that can be attached to a string. The other end of the string is then connected to the wearer's clothing to avoid losing...
, being blind in one eye from a war injury. Later, Doc restored his full vision with an operation. Johnny still carried the monocle, now converted into a magnifying glass for use in field work.
Within the novels, it is stated that he first met Doc Savage in a prisoner of war camp during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He is the only one of Doc's aides whose military rank is never mentioned. In the book Escape from Loki by Philip José Farmer, it is stated that Johnny was in Germany in a civilian capacity when the war broke out. He was arrested on not entirely falsified espionage charges.
In other media
- In the film Doc Savage: The Man of BronzeDoc Savage: The Man of BronzeDoc Savage: The Man of Bronze is a 1975 camp action film starring Ron Ely as pulp hero Doc Savage. This was the last film completed by pioneering science-fiction producer George Pal.- Plot :...
, he was played by Eldon QuickEldon QuickEldon Quick is an American character actor. He is an alumnus of the American Shakespeare Festival and has numerous stage, screen, and television roles to his credit....
.
Monk Mayfair
Monk Marfair is one of the characters referred to as the "The Faboulous Five", the primary assistants of Doc Savage, and first appears with the full name Andrew Blodgett Mayfair.The character is presented as an industrial chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, holding the military rank of lieutenant colonel, and physically distinct, described as resembling or in terms of a great ape.
He is shown to love a good brawl, beautiful women, and needling his friend "Ham" Brooks. The latter stretching back to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when Monk framed Brooks for stealing hams during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in retaliation to Ham playing a practical joke on him.
In the story "The Phantom City", Monk purchases an odd looking pig, described as having long legs, large floppy ears and sharp teeth, in Bustan
Bo‘ston
Bo‘ston or Bustan is a town and seat of Ellikqala District in Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan....
for one qirsh
Qirsh
Qirsh, Gersh, Grush, Kuruş and Grosi are all names for currency denominations in and around the territories formerly part of the Ottoman Empire. The variation in the name stems from the different languages it is used in and the different transcriptions into the Latin alphabet...
. He names it Habeas Corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
in order to further infuriate Ham. The pig accompanies Monk as a pet in later novels.
In other media
- In the film Doc Savage: The Man of BronzeDoc Savage: The Man of BronzeDoc Savage: The Man of Bronze is a 1975 camp action film starring Ron Ely as pulp hero Doc Savage. This was the last film completed by pioneering science-fiction producer George Pal.- Plot :...
, he was played by Michael Miller.
Renny Renwick
Renny Renwick is one of the characters referred to as the "The Faboulous Five", the primary assistants of Doc Savage, and first appears with the full name John Renwick.The character is presented as a civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
, holding the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, and presenting a gloomy demeanor even at his happiest. Physically he is described as massive giant of a man, with enormous fists that he likes to punch through doors.
In other media
- In the film Doc Savage: The Man of BronzeDoc Savage: The Man of BronzeDoc Savage: The Man of Bronze is a 1975 camp action film starring Ron Ely as pulp hero Doc Savage. This was the last film completed by pioneering science-fiction producer George Pal.- Plot :...
, he was played by William LuckingWilliam LuckingWilliam Lucking is an American film, television, and stage actor perhaps best known for his role as Piney Winston in the drama series Sons of Anarchy.-Film and television:...
.
Long Tom Roberts
Long Tom Roberts is one of the characters referred to as the "The Faboulous Five", the primary assistants of Doc Savage, and first appears with the full name Thomas J. Roberts.The character is presented as an electrical engineer, holding the military rank of major, and a pilot. Physically he is described as sickly-looking and awkward with a pale complexion, buck teeth, big ears, and a large forehead. This contrasts with notes in the stories that he rarely became ill and a proficient fighter.
Within the pulps, it is stated that he and Doc Savage met during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The explanation of his nickname is also given as a result of an even during the war where he help to defend a small European village using an ancient cannon known as a "Long Tom".
In other media
- In the film Doc Savage: The Man of BronzeDoc Savage: The Man of BronzeDoc Savage: The Man of Bronze is a 1975 camp action film starring Ron Ely as pulp hero Doc Savage. This was the last film completed by pioneering science-fiction producer George Pal.- Plot :...
, he was played by Paul GleasonPaul GleasonPaul Xavier Gleason was an American film and television actor, known for his roles on TV series such as All My Children and films such as The Breakfast Club, Trading Places and Die Hard.-Early life:...
.
Patricia Savage
Patricia savage is a recurring supporting character in the Doc Savage pulps outside of "The Fabulous Five".The character is presented as Doc Savage's cousin and sole living relative, sharing the bronze hair color and skin tone with him as well as strikingly beautiful. The stories also note her as being an accomplished marksman, pilot, and hand-to-hand combatant.
She is also shown to love Doc's adventures to the point of joining them on occasion.
She uses a Colt Frontier Single Action .44 as her signature weapon, a family heirloom handed down from her grandfather and modified with a filed trigger and fanning spur. The gun was used as an important plot element in "Violent Night". In that story, a disguised Hitler thinks he's left his fingerprints on it, so Nazis keep trying to get the gun in order to protect his subterfuge.
In "I died Yesterday", she is the main character as the story is told as a first person narrative.
She has also appeared or been mentioned in stories and novels that have been based on the pulps. These include:
- Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic LifeDoc Savage: His Apocalyptic LifeDoc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life is a fictional biography by Philip José Farmer about pulp fiction hero Doc Savage.The book is written with the assumption that Doc Savage was a real person. Kenneth Robeson, the author of the Doc Savage novels, is portrayed as writing fictionalized memoirs of the...
by Philip José FarmerPhilip José FarmerPhilip José Farmer was an American author, principally known for his award-winning science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories....
. - Lin CarterLin CarterLinwood Vrooman Carter was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft and Grail Undwin.-Life:Carter was born in St. Petersburg, Florida...
's Prince Zarkon novels. - Doc Savage comics published by DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, Millennium PublicationsMillennium PublicationsMillennium Productions was an American independent comic book publishing company founded by Mark Ellis, Melissa Martin and Paul Davis. Initially known as a publisher of licensed properties, Millennium adapted works by Arthur Conan Doyle, Lester Dent, Frank Frazetta, Robert E. Howard, Harlan...
, Marvel ComicsMarvel ComicsMarvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, and Moonstone BooksMoonstone BooksMoonstone Books is an American comic book, graphic novel, and prose fiction publisher based in Chicago focused on pulp fiction comic books and prose anthologies as well as horror and western tales....
.
John Sunlight
John Sunlight is the only villain to appear in more than one issue of the Doc Savage pulps, first appearing in "Fortress of Solitude" from October 1938 and returning in "The Devil Genghis" from December of the same year.The character is presented in some respects as Savage's opposite number, mirroring a number of his qualities. He is stronger, more intelligent, and possesses greater emotional control than ordinary people do. And in times of concentration
Concentration
In chemistry, concentration is defined as the abundance of a constituent divided by the total volume of a mixture. Four types can be distinguished: mass concentration, molar concentration, number concentration, and volume concentration...
or stress
Stress (medicine)
Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance...
he emits a low growl subconsciously, very similar to Savage's trilling. He is also an idealist who seeks to end problems such as war, famine, and bigotry by bringing the world under his control.
Researcher Thomas Fortenberry has proposed that John Sunlight, combined with the actions in the Doc Savage
Doc Savage
Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L...
adventure "The King Maker", form the origin of the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
supervillain Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom
Victor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
. Calbia
Calbia
Calbia is a fictional country found in the Doc Savage novel The King Maker .Calbia is a small Balkan nation in southeastern Europe. It lies on the Adriatic Sea and is bordered by Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro. There are farmlands in the valleys and some flatlands. Otherwise...
is the basis of Dr. Doom's nation, Latveria
Latveria
Latveria is a nation in the . It is an isolated European country ruled by the supervillain Doctor Doom, supposedly located in the Banat region. It is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, and also borders the Symkaria to the south. Its capital is Doomstadt.-Publication history:Latveria first...
, while the character of John Sunlight as an anti-Doc Savage, a twisted genius using his skills to bring world peace through personal domination, is the basis for Doom (an anti-genius opposite of Reed Richards). Dr. Doom is the answer to the dilemma posed to Doc Savage
Doc Savage
Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L...
in The King Maker, what if he were to use his power to rule a nation?
Sunlight has also appeared in a few of the comic book adaptations of Doc Savage:
- "The Monarch of Armageddon" by Mark EllisMark Ellis (writer)Mark Ellis is an American novelist and comic-book writer who under the pen name James Axler has written scores of books for the Outlanders paperback novel series and other books, as well as numerous independent comics series....
and Darryl BanksDarryl BanksDarryl Banks is a comic book artist. He worked on one of the first painted comic books, Cyberpunk, and teamed with the writer Mark Ellis to revamp the long-running The Justice Machine series for two publishers, Innovation and Millennium....
, published by Millennium PublicationsMillennium PublicationsMillennium Productions was an American independent comic book publishing company founded by Mark Ellis, Melissa Martin and Paul Davis. Initially known as a publisher of licensed properties, Millennium adapted works by Arthur Conan Doyle, Lester Dent, Frank Frazetta, Robert E. Howard, Harlan...
in 1991. Set shortly after The Devil Genghis the story depicts Sunlight's systematic destruction of everything Doc holds dear. In the concluding chapter, Sunlight apparently commits suicide rather than have his life saved by Doc Savage. - First WaveFirst Wave (comics)First Wave is a 2010 six-issue comic book limited series written by Brian Azzarello drawn by Rags Morales and published by DC Comics.It is also the name of a separate DC Comics fictional universe, crossing pulp fiction characters over with versions of established DC heroes.-Publication history:The...
published by DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
.