Synopsis / Summary / Plot
In Australia, Antarctica, Africa, Eurasia, and South America, Doc Savage battles gangs of thugs guarding mysterious objects. In each case, Doc recovers said object and ships it to his New York headquarters where the aides assemble the pieces into an electronic device resembling a huge globe. Meanwhile, mild-mannered demolitions expert Hiram Meeker visits Patricia Savage with a tale of the Earth-Wreckers, asking if she can contact Doc about it. When Doc arrives at headquarters he explains the device is the detonator for a super-bomb, used to hold the world for ransom. When Hiram arrives with Pat, he fills in the details about the extortion cartel, the Earth-Wreckers and their leader, Iron Mask, based in Loch Ness, Scotland; Hiram had been employed by them but backed out when he realized they were criminals. As Pat and Hiram leave, they are set upon by killers sent by Iron Mask to silence the defector. Pat defeats the hit-men and blackmails Doc into taking Hiram and her to Scotland with them. In Loch Ness, the Amazing Five start asking questions, being taken for tourists curious about sightings of the Loch Ness Monster. When Monk sights Nessie in the flesh, the team goes diving at that point and follows the legendary monster to its lair—underneath a castle, where they discover it is a disguised submarine. Doc and his men invade the castle and find the villains have recreated their detonator-globe. After a battle, Doc pursues the fleeing Iron Mask in a speedboat and the mastermind’s boat crashes into the Loch Ness Monster—the real one. Doc leaves to the authorities the task of locating the rest of the gang and their hidden explosives.
The issue also includes two text articles:
1. "The Pulp Doc Savage!"
Writer: Bob Sampson; artist: Marshall Rogers.
Survey of Doc in the pulps begins with an overview of “Who is Doc Savage?” and moves on to cover illustrators and backup material before taking us through all the changes (non-Dent authors, size and page count, etc.) during the magazine’s 16-year run before ending with a brief mention of the Bantam reprints and James Bama. Marshall Rogers provides an illustration of Doc and his aides done up in a period style plus there are a number of photos from the 1975 movie.
2. "An Interview with Mrs. Lester Dent"
Writer: David Anthony Kraft.
A brief interview with Norma Dent, widow of Doc Savage’s primary writer, in which she discusses her marriage, Lester’s working habits, and the total lack of any royalties.