THE DESERT DEMONS

[dochermes]

In November 1993, the last of Will Murray's new Doc Savage novels, THE FORGOTTEN REALM, was published. I wrote in a review a dozen years later, "It has been twelve years since THE FORGOTTEN REALM was published. Right now, it looks like we will not see a new Doc Savage novel on the stands ever again. But.... that's what we thought in 1949, too."

Comments

[zathras_ix]

I ownder if Kez will remake the covers of the Wild Adventures in the style of the Bama reprints? He as a good start with the remake of the Bob Larkin cover of Doc Savage 182 Up from Earth's Center:

[dochermes]

I'm actually pleased with the change from that familiar wavy logo and "the fantastic adventures" tag, as this is a new series. But I like Kez's reworkings of those Bantam split-covers very much, as Bob Larkin's artwork deserves to be seen in a better format.

I didn't mention Joe DeVito's fine cover for DESERT DEMONS. It's very much in the James Bama tradition with Doc posed dramatically in the torn shirt and riding boots, with the menace looming up behind him. The skullcap-look with its widow's peak has been kept as well. But DeVito has a glossier, more polished look than Bama's dry weathered approach. I read that DeVito was working from some photos of Steve Holland left from Bama's sessions, which is great.

[zathras_ix]

Here are some of previously unplished poses from which both Larson and DeVito worked. The cover for The Desert Demons was derived from Pose #4 (upper left corner).

[dochermes]

Oh, I think they definitely picked the right logo, don't you? As much as I love that wavy Bantam style, maybe it has gotten a bit stale and going back to something more like the pulp lettering was the right approach.

Good ol' Steve Holland. When I first saw an episode of the 1954 FLASH GORDON, it was a little surreal to see that familiar face as a flesh & blood man.

[docsavage181]

This just posted by Will on his Wild Aventures of Doc Savage Facebook page:

>Here's a shoutout to self-publishing. In the first two weeks of selling, THE DESERT DEMONS grossed more money than the largest advance any publisher offered us.

[dochermes]

Great to hear! I think we all hope for at least the promised seven new Doc Savage novels, and (fingers crossed) more. I personally have been reading Doc Savage nearly all my life and I would like to continue the habit.