Polite Dissent

The same time that Dell Comics was seeing success with licensed medical properties such as Ben Casey and Dr. Kildare, Charlton Comics started publishing its own medical titles. The Young Doctors was one of these series. It starred Drs. Landon and Burke, residents in surgery and psychiatry (respectively), at Metro Hospital. There is no love lost between the two residents and they often come to blows, but when a crisis occurs they always pull together and help each other. Apparently they are the only two residents in the entire hospital because they are the only two we ever see (there was an intern, Tom Brent, but he graduated to his own series and was rarely seen in The Young Doctors after that).

Because these weren’t licensed properties, the writers faced fewer restrictions and could be more imaginative with the characters and stories. The art was generally better as well (but then the art on Ben Casey was pretty bad). The medicine wasn’t as accurate as Dell’s comics, but the stories were more engaging.

The first story finds Dr. Landon helping a tropical disease specialist doing research at Metro Hospital. When the specialist becomes feverish and collapses, Dr. Carlson is quick to recognize the symptoms of smallpox and the hospital is locked down under quarantine. A mini-epidemic breaks out in the community, but the hospital (and by the hospital, I mean Drs. Landon and Burke) are able to rein it in and restore order. This hospital quarantine is a common medical drama theme — just off the top my head, I remember seeing it in first season episodes of St. Elsewhere and Chicago Hope and a second season episode of House — but it is pulled off well here (and considering when this story was published, the idea had yet to become the cliché it is now).

The second story features Tom Brent. It’s another common medical storyline: When the famous surgeon Tom is assisting suddenly falls ill, it is up to Tom to finish the complex operation. This story is just mediocre because it lacks any real drama — there’s no way Tom’s patient is going to die.

The final story concerns a patient with a case of complete amnesia. Dr. Landon and Dr. Burke have to work together to solve the mystery of the patient’s identity. The story is well done and the clues are there for the reader to solve the mystery along with the doctors. Of course, the cover gives much of the answer away, though there is a red herring or two thrown in as well.

If you’re looking for authentic medical stories, The Young Doctors is not for you. But if you enjoy surprisingly engaging medical dramas, albeit medically inaccurate ones, then take a look at this series.

Previous episodes of Flashback Week.