Review of "Doc Savage: The Heritage of Doc Savage: Part One," comic by Dennis O’Neil

 Review of

Doc Savage: The Heritage of Doc Savage: Part One, comic by Dennis O’Neil

Five out of five stars

Doc is a bit more human in this adventure.

 It is August of 1945 and the Japanese have just surrendered, ending World War II. There is joyous mayhem in the streets of the city and the five close associates of Doc Savage are walking to a restaurant where they have been instructed to meet Doc. They take their seats,  but Doc is extremely late.

 Agents of an enemy have followed them there for the express purpose of killing them and Doc. When they make a move, they are defeated, but not before the building suffers irreparable damage. When Doc performs a chemical analysis of the clothing of the enemy agents, he learns that they were recently in “the valley,” the isolated location in Central America from which Doc gets the gold that funds his operations.

 While the analysis is being done, we are introduced to Doc’s wife F’teena and along with the associates, we learn that she is pregnant. Doc also learns that the person behind the attack is a German officer and scientist that refuses to surrender the cause. There is an immediate departure to the valley so that the group can investigate the situation. This episode ends with a cliffhanger where it appears that Doc has been killed by a sophisticated scientific apparatus.

 The fact that he is married and about to be a father makes Doc much more human. He is also planning for his retirement so that he can spend more time with his wife and child. Yet, along with his associates, there is the lure of the dangerous adventure, something that none of them can give up at this time. The context for this multi-issue story has been well set and the strong desire to read the subsequent segments established.