In fall 1998, five Doc Savage fans gathered together in a hotel in the Phoenix area to celebrate their shared love of a 1930s and ’40s pulp hero and his 181 adventures at the first Doc Con.
This year many more fans will again gather in Glendale, Ariz., for the 20th Doc Con on Oct. 20 – 22 to celebrate the exploits of Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze. (Fifty attended last year’s Doc Con XIX.)
“I am glad that what I started in 1998 has endured for so long,” said Rob Smalley, who organized the original con. “It’s a testimony to the dedication of the core group of people, which by the way gets larger every year. The Doc Con has changed in format and venues over the years, but each and every Doc Con over the last 19 years has been tons of fun no matter where it was held or how many fans attended.”
Jay Ryan, who with Rob has attended all Doc Cons, said, “Twenty years does seem like an accomplishment. The aspect that intrigues me the most is the fact that most of us were in our mid- to late 30s when we started Doc Con. Just a bunch of 30-something guys getting together to talk about a character that we appreciated. Hopefully, Doc Con is still just that except that now it is a bunch of 50-something guys.
“The most important part is still the getting together,” Jay continued, “and apparently we still enjoy that because Doc Con has grown from one day to three and in some cases four days. The die-hards still come in on Thursday and leave midway through Sunday. Of course, Doc Con has also expanded on events and the time is filled to the brim but all of it still revolves around hanging out together.”
Jay, Rob, and the other Arizona Fans of Bronze who organize and put on the convention have big plans for number 20. “Doc Con XX will be special in the obvious way… a milestone accomplishment reached,” Jay said. “Of course, as special guest, author David Avallone’s attendance will be appreciated by everyone. We had the current Doc Savage novel writer, Will Murray, in attendance last year, and this year it seemed fitting to have the current Doc Savage comic-book writer, Mr. Avallone, meet everyone and have him fill us in on that medium of Doc Savage. We also have some very special things planned for this year and the pre-registration gift is going to knock everyone’s socks off.”
Doc Con XX returns to the Comfort Inn University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. You can register for the con at docfantasycovers.com/Doc-Con/.
“My whole intent for starting Doc Con was to get Doc Savage fans together. Too many of us enjoyed our Doc Savage experience in solitude,” Rob said. He, like other Doc fans, is looking forward to this year’s con. “Every year I enjoy the company of all my Doc friends, and I really enjoy seeing new people attending and joining in the excitement and fun.”
