Amalgam contest results, part 2

Originally published May 16, 1997, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1226

Just to be utterly different, I’ve decided that–even though I’ll be running the concluding installment of our little Who fights Who/Amalgam contest next week–I’m going to run the winning entry this week. Why? Because it showed a staggering amount of initiative. Because the entrant created not only a statue, but the beginnings of an entire story to accompany it, and because–most important of all–the entrant didn’t put his name and address on the story. And the problem is that, when the entry gets separated from the cover letter… like now, for instance… it means we can’t give proper freakin’ credit. So we eagerly look forward to hearing from the creator of…

DOC SAVAGE DRAGON

…and who also was gung-ho enough to write the attached the opening chapters of his own vision of a megacrossover (and fella, when you write in to identify yourself, be sure to tell us what was written in marker on the binder , so we know it’s you.)

Herewith the opening chapters of a crossover by… some guy.

Man of Steel

 A visit from a couple of strangers leads The Man of Bronze into one of his most perplexing adventures. Is this stranger only a curious reporter, or is he a strange visitor who represents the shape of things to come?

 

Chapter 1

“The Tourists”

 New York. The easiest way to spot tourists visiting the world’s busiest city is to watch for the people standing on the street corners looking straight up and gawking. When the tallest thing you’ve seen in your life is a grain elevator, a skyscraper is a modern miracle. Even now, more than 20 years following the Great War, something as simple as a tower of granite and steel was a source of amazement. The two out-of-towners that hurried down the busy street were not of the usual variety. Reporters don’t think of themselves as anything other than reporters.

“Clark, slow down. Where’s the fire, besides in your eyes?”

This remark either didn’t register or was overlooked by her male companion. The companion was a tall, brick house of a man, dressed in a dark blue suite that looked to have walked out of a suit advertisement. His companion was a modern model of female pulchritude.

“Lois,” the man eventually replied, “if we don’t track this Savage character down today, Mr. White will have our necks. And make us pay back the cost of the train tickets, to boot.”

“Oh Clark, don’t tell me you believe those stories and all that ‘Man of Bronze’ malarkey. Honestly, your hayseeds are showing.” Lois Lane was struck by Clark’s serious tone since they had taken this assignment. She had met him only recently since he began working on the Daily Planet. But since this assignment had called for an interview with Doc Savage, the living legend of pulp headlines and tabloid fodder, Clark had insisted on talking with the adventurer. His determination at this puzzled her. Lois hated puzzles.

The meeting was set for noon. The fact that they were getting an actual interview was a miracle in itself. The bronze knight was an enigma. Most news stories carried the same information that had been repeated time and again. New information on the famous Doc Savage was as scarce as honest politicians.

The tallest of the skyscrapers was the bronze man’s headquarters. High above the teeming streets below, in the offices on the 86^th floor, Lois Lane and Clark Kent arrived in a reception room. There they were greeted by one of the bronze man’s assistants. Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Blodgett Mayfair was a man of many talents. Industrial chemist, adventurer, and missing-link possibility were among his claims of fame. Charm was one of his foremost.

His eyes were immediately caught by Lois Lane’s charms, of which there were many. If she was with someone else, Monk hadn’t noticed. “Monk Mayfair at your service, and any service I can provide I will provide with a smile.”

“Why, thank you, Mr. Mayfair,” said Lois, playing along with Monk’s approach. No matter where they are, men are men. No matter what they look like, they all think they have the appeal of Clark Gable and John D. Rockefeller.

“Say, ain’t you in pictures? I’m sure someone as beautiful as you would knock them dead on Broadway.”

“Why no, Mr. Mayfair, I’m Lois Lane, and this is Clark Kent,” Lois replied. “We’re reporters from Metropolis. We’re here for an interview with Mr. Savage. But I’m sure I’ve seen  you in the movies.”

“When was this?” Monk asked, his chest puffing up in pride. “In a newsreel of important chemical breakthroughs or my great adventures?”

“I’m not sure,” Lois replied, “but I think that airplanes were trying to shoot you down.”

Getting the air was nothing new for Monk. “I’ll check with Doc and make sure everything’s jake. Have a seat.” Monk slunk out of the room.

 

Chapter 2

“Take My Life, Please–”

Clark Savage entered the room. The room grew remarkably smaller. Such was the presence of the bronze Goliath. It is commonly believed that women mature much sooner than men. It is a fact that Lois Lane matured much sooner than most women. So the fact that Lois suddenly felt like a teenager in the bronze man’s presence was to later embarrass her. However, this was now. Kent, on the other hand, was altogether different. He was like an unruly juvenile being met by the school principal.

“Mr. Savage, I’m Kent from the Daily Planet.” Kent had risen and held out his hand to the bronze man.

“Clark, please,” replied Doc Savage.

“Clark, please what?” replied the nervous Kent. Before he realized what he had said, it was too late.

They looked at each other and smiled. Lois was still oblivious.

At the large, inlaid table in the library, Kent began his questions. The questions began simply enough, but the bronze man began to sense a drive in the questions as Kent went on. “So why are you driven to act as the world’s guardian, Mr. Savage?”

“Well,” the bronze man replied, “I really didn’t have much choice. It’s as if I was born into a world where the normal man is either unaccustomed or unprepared to deal with such major threats that are out there. Most times, there are things that I cannot believe but can nonetheless handle. What the world needs is a true Superman.”

Pondering this, Kent followed up with his next question. “But you’re Doc Savage. You can handle anything. You don’t assume any other personality, right?”

“No, I am who I am. A secret identity would be more of a hindrance that a help.” Clark Kent thought this over as he took his notes. He wondered, how hard could it really be, after all?

Doc Savage watched Kent as the reporter asked his questions and wrote his notes. Savage sensed another motive but couldn’t pinpoint it.

“So, we know who Doc Savage is. We know where he lives and that the entire world is his battlefield. But where do you go when you need some time to unwind?”

“I have a place,” the bronze man replied, “a place of solitude, actually more of a fortress, you might say.”

Kent thought this over. A fortress of solitude. Wow, what a concept.

One thing that Clark Savage wasn’t taught by the army of professors and the tribes of bushmen and medicine men was the science of instinct. This was self-taught and never wrong in such matters. The room was suddenly filled with a low trilling sound. It rang in Kent’s ears. It was the first time he had heard such a sound, and although he could easily trace the source, he said nothing.

For Savage, the veils had been lifted and he suddenly knew the reasons behind young Mr. Kent’s questions. He felt that he owed Kent the following speech. The man of bronze, his voice firm, filling the massive room, began to speak to Kent.

“Each of us has a destiny to fulfill. We like to thank that we ourselves have little choice in the path that we travel. That there are conditions that are out of our control that make us what we are. Unfortunately, we have all the choice and all the responsibility of our actions and lives. In my case, I was born into a life that was to be dedicated to battling crime in all its manifestations. It is truly a neverending battle. I was given the training, the skills, and have shown the aptitude. Above all this, however, was my willingness to accept this life. In taking on such a life, every gain is a loss. To put yourself in the line of fire means no entanglements. No family, no friends, no close ties of any consequence. They all become targets. They are merely steps to get you.”

Kent thought of his attraction to Lois. Would that be denied him once his own quest began? Savage continued, “My five associates are trained for this life. Other friends have been murdered. My father was murdered. I cannot seek revenge. This is not part of my code. My code is set and I cannot change it. I have not taken another life.

“I know of a fellow crimefighter here in the city. He is not as open as I am. He works in the shadows and feels no compunction for the taking of human life. I don’t condone but I’m in no position to stop him. That is his code. Revenge is not the basis of my operations. I work for the common good. It is not a life to be rushed into. You must consider all the options, good as well as bad. Once you begin to travel down this road, there is no turning back. Don’t you believe all that stuff in those dime novels. If they had their way, they’d have me leaping off tall buildings.”

Kent smiled.