‘The Man of Bronze’ - Doc Savage was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L. Nanovic at Street and Smith Publications, with additional works by Lester Dent. Doc’s popularity transcended the pulps moving into radio, comic books, and a feature film. Doc has been interpreted by some of the greatest artists. This beloved adventurer is considered to be the model for the ‘super hero’ with his strength, intelligence, speed, physique, and wealth – he even has a ‘Fortress of Solitude’. The name Doc Savage is synonymous with courage, danger, and adventure - remaining a heroic pop-culture icon to this day.
The Doc Savage 1/6th scale collectible figure comes from Go Hero and Executive Replicas. This is one of several collaborations that the two companies have worked on in the past or are working on into the future. The Doc Savage figure is available in two different versions: the Silver Age version and the Go Hero Exclusive Double Danger Deluxe version. For this review, I’ll be looking at the Double Danger Deluxe (DDD).
Not knowing much about Doc Savage, I had to do some research. I wasn’t surprised to find out that one of the professions of this fictional character was that of a doctor. But I was a little surprised that he wasn’t at all related to ‘The Macho Man’... Fans of the character will be delighted to know that this is the first time the good Doc has been made available as a 1/6th scale figure.
The DDD version of Doc Savage has a few extras. The most noticeable is that you get an alternate likeness – the wavy-haired Golden Age likeness head. In addition to that, there’s a shirt that’s not ripped (the ripped one is standard), and you get an additional weapon – the Golden Age Art Deco Style Raygun 2.
Speaking of those weapons, all four are die-cast metal. They’re very solid (heavy) and give the figure that high-class feel. One thing you’ll need to look out for. Since those guns do weigh more than a plastic, watch out for the wrist joints. More than once, I found that the weight of the gun was enough to give good old Doc Savage a wrist sprain…so I had to mess around with the wrist joint to ward off limp wrists. But you have a number of options on just how you want to equip the figure for display.
Price-wise, this falls in to where the high-end 1/6th scale market has gone recently. The days of the $99 high-end 1/6th scale figures are over. Most of that is because those old high-end figures look a little ugly compared to the current crop of high-end stuff. The sculpting’s better now. The paintwork is better now. Even the clothing is better now. For example, Doc Savage’s shirt actually has little buttons and buttonholes. It’s a pain in the ass to get him dressed (try using tweezers), but it makes for a more realistic end-product.
So I guess the big question is whether or not you go with the Silver Age Version or Go Hero’s DDD Exclusive. Personally, I’m a fan of the gruff, weathered looking Doc Savage. His Golden Age look reminds me of Super-Man or a half dozen other “good guys” from that age of comic books. Like he spent too much time in front of the mirror doing his hair. The Silver Age Doc looks like he probably got into a bar fight sometime within the past week. He likely ate beef jerky for lunch. And he’s probably yelled at the neighborhood kids for playing wiffle ball in his front yard, more than once.
The Facts
1/6th Scale Doc Savage
Manufacturer: Go Hero x Executive Replicas
Material: PVC and ABS plastic
Dimensions: 1/6th scale – 12” tall
Points of Articulation: Over 40 points
Designs: Double Danger Deluxe (DDD) Go Hero Exclusive and Silver Age Version
Outfit: Leather Belt w/ Buckle; Leather Holster w/ Buckle; Leather Boots w/ Zipper; Pair of Socks; Ripped Shirt (Weathered); Un-Ripped Shirt (Weathered) (DDD Exclusive); Jodhpurs
Accessories: Silver Age Likeness head; Golden Age Likeness head (DDD Exclusive); 4 interchangeable hands; Super Savage Machine Pistol by Jim Steranko (w/ Moveable Grip and 2 Detachable Clips); Silver Age Style Raygun; Golden Age Art Deco Style Raygun 2 (DDD Exclusive); German Lugar; Figure Stand w/ printed logo
Edition Size: DDD - 250; Silver Age – Max 250
Pricing: DDD- $249.99; Silver Age - $209.99
To pick one up for yourself, check out the following:
GoHero.com: Double Danger Deluxe - $249.99; Silver Age - $209.99
