Resuming the Quest

Art and text: Hal Foster (from page 26, August 7, 1937).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 1): 1937-1939 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2009).

Puzzling

Art and text: Hal Foster (from page 26, August 7, 1937).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 1): 1937-1938 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2009).

“’Twas Morgan Le Fey”

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Art and text: Hal Foster (from page 28, March 5, 1938).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 1): 1937-1938 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2009).

The Nimble Prince

Art and text: Hal Foster (from page 28, August 21, 1937).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 1): 19371-1938 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2009).

Until the End of Time

Art and text: Hal Foster (from page 451, September 30, 1945).
Source: The Prince Valiant Scrapbook (King Features Syndicate, published by Bill Crouch, Jr., 1981).

An Appeal to Merlin

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See also the previous posts:
• The Face He is Never More to Forget
• The Note
• So Val Goes Questing Across Wide Seas . . .
• Before His Very Eyes
• Heedless of Discovery
• "Once Again I Help You to Escape"

Art and text: Hal Foster (from page #317, March 7, 1943).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

"Once Again I Help You to Escape"

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NEXT: An Appeal to Merlin

See also the previous posts:
• The Face He is Never More to Forget
• The Note
• So Val Goes Questing Across Wide Seas . . .
• Before His Very Eyes
• Heedless of Discovery


Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #252, December 7, 1941).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 3): 1941-1942 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

A Fool's Luck

Art and text: Hal Foster (from page #359, December 26, 1943).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Heedless of Discovery

NEXT: "Once Again I Help You Escape"

See also the previous posts:
• The Face He is Never More to Forget
• The Note
• So Val Goes Questing Across Wide Seas . . .
• Before His Very Eyes


Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #251, November 30, 1941).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 3): 1941-1942 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Before His Very Eyes . . .

Returning to the Misty Isles to find the beautiful but mysterious Queen Aleta, Prince Valiant witnesses the horrible killing of his entire crew. Unaware that this same crew had recently raided a village on the Misty Isles and slaughtered many of its inhabitants, Prince Valiant concludes that Aleta is ruler of an evil and cruel place.

NEXT: Heedless of Discovery

See also the previous posts:
• The Face He is Never More to Forget
• The Note
• So Val Goes Questing Across Wide Seas . . .


Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #249, November 23, 1941).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 3): 1941-1942 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Andelkrag

Art: Hal Foster (from installment #120, May 28, 1939).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 2): 1939-1940 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2012).

No Wars of Aggression for Prince Valiant

News of Prince Valiant's successful campaign against the Huns has spread quickly, and from far and wide come envoys of kings offering their armies for the young prince to lead in a war of extermination. Yet Prince Valiant rejects all such offers. Speaking with the confidence and courtesy that befits a prince, and with his friends Tristram and Gawain at his side, he addresses the gathered envoys.

"Now, gentlemen, I know your mission. I also know that wars of aggression are but breeders of future wars. Here under my hand is the history of the world. Nowhere can I find a lasting conquest by force, Alexander and Caesar in turn conquered the world but where are their conquests now? The fruits of conquest are but sullen enmities, No, noble sirs, I have pledged my sword in the cause of justice and freedom only!"


Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #165, April 7, 1940).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 2): 1939-1940 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2010).

So Val Goes Questing Across Wide Seas . . .

. . . because of a lovely face he saw but once in a vision.

NEXT: Before His Very Eyes

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #246, October 26, 1941).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 3): 1941-1942 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Faithful Beric

Beric served as the young Prince Valiant's faithful squire during Val's early days as knight of King Arthur's Round Table.

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #318, March 14, 1943)
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Described as a "tender-hearted rouge" with a "scarred and bony face," the brave and resourceful Beric shared many adventures with Prince Valiant.

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #370, March 12, 1944).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Above and below: Beric is first introduced in installment # 291 (September 6, 1942), when he is shown riding out of Camelot with Prince Valiant, Sir Gawain, and Gawain's unnamed squire. Throughout the subsequent adventure that takes place in Scotland, Beric is simply identified as Prince Valiant's "faithful squire."

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #293, September 20, 1942).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 3): 1941-1942 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).


We first learn of Beric's name in installment #301 (November 15, 1942), when it is noted that he is the first to greet Prince Valiant upon his return to Camelot (below).

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #301, November 15, 1942).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 3): 1941-1942 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Above and below: On more than one occasion Beric saves Prince Valiant's life, including the time Val is trapped in an ice cave.

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #368, February 27, 1944).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #322, April 11, 1943).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Above and below: Not only do the two men share times of high adventure, but also times of loss and grief.

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #334, July 4, 1943).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Above: Being 10-15 years older than Val, Beric frequently serves as a voice of reason and calm for his often hot-headed young master.

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment 343, September 5, 1943).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Above: Together Val and Beric face many dangers.

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #386, July 2, 1944).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Above: Prince Valiant and Beric return once more to Camelot after sharing an adventure.

The text that accompanies this panels reads: "Camelot! Far across Winchester Heath its towers soar skyward and Val's heart swells with pride. For he is a part of its splendid tradition!"

Image and text: Hal Foster (from installment #380, May 21, 1944).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Image and text: Hal Foster (from installment #350, October 24, 1943).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Above: The beginning of the last adventure . . .

Accompanying Prince Valiant on his quest to once again see Aleta, Queen of the Misty Isles, Beric does not hesitant to leap into the sea to save Val after he is struck by their ship's falling mast and cast adrift on the storm-tossed waves.

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #392, August 13, 1944).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Wise Merlin

Sir Gawain is being held hostage by the sorceress Morgan Le Fey. To help rescue him, Prince Valiant turns to wise Merlin.

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #60, April 2, 1938).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 1): 1937-1938 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2009).

See also the previous posts:
• Seeking Merlin's Counsel
• Old Beyond Years
• “It Is Indeed I”