The Death of Dunstan

Art: John Cullen Murphy (#2461, April 8, 1984).
Text: Cullen Murphy.

“It Is Indeed I”

Adventuring in the Underworld, Prince Valiant and Sir Gawain are rescued from a raging river by a strangely rejuvenated Merlin Ambrosius.

Upon a mysteriously phosphorescent shore, the long-vanished wizard responds to the dumbfounded look on Prince Valiant's face: "Close your mouth, young prince. It is indeed I, although you'll find me advanced to a somewhat ethereal state."

Merlin then explains how he was made immortal by the magicks of the sea spirit Nimue (right). He now roams the Underworld with the daughter that this enchantress bore him. This "more spirit than human" child is also named Nimue.

 

"Now my young Nimue tells me it is time to go."

Art: Gary Gianni.
Text: Mark Schultz.
Image 1: From installment #3810, February 14, 2010. Source: Sunday Telegraph (Sydney, Australia).
Images 2-3: From installment #3813, March 7, 2010. Source: Pioneer Press (St. Paul, USA).

Iron Grace

Art: John Cullen Murphy (from installment #2447, January 1, 1984).
Text: Cullen Murphy

Sir Gawain

NOTE: A recent visitor to this site requested I highlight his favorite character from Prince Valiant. I'm more than happy to oblige!


As a faithful friend and companion of Prince Valiant, the debonair Sir Gawain, Knight of the Round Table and nephew of King Arthur, has long been a popular supporting character in the long-running Prince Valiant adventure strip.

Above: The young Prince Valiant meets Sir Gawain for the first time. The lad is soon serving as Gawain's squire and journeying with him to the court of King Arthur.

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #16, May 29, 1937).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 1): 1937-1938 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2009).

Above: Sir Gawain does battle with a "great sea dragon"!

Art: Hal Foster (from installment #17, June 5, 1937).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 1): 1937-1938 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2009).

Above: The enchantress Morgan Le Fay desires Sir Gawain's agreement to be her husband – so much so that she captures and imprisons him in her castle. Prince Valiant's initial attempt to rescue him fails miserably. He is drugged, imprisoned, and his nights made sleepless by all manner of ghastly apparitions.

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #58, March 19, 1938).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 1): 1937-1938 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2009).

Above: Gawain looks on knowingly and in amusement at the love-struck Val and the fair maid Ilene. The young couple's relationship, however, would be a tragic one.

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #39, November 6, 1937).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 1): 1937-1938 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2009).

Above: Sir Gawain to the rescue!

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #388, June 16, 1944).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 4): 1943-1944 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Above: Sir Gawain – always the ladies' man!

Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #58, August 11, 1940).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 2): 1939-1940 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2010).

Sir Gawain as drawn by John Cullen Murhpy (installment #2164, July 30, 1978)

Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 48): Return to Camelot – Hal Foster and John Cullen Murphy (Fantagraphics Books, 2003).

Sir Gawain as drawn by Gary Gianni (from installment #3626, August 6, 2006).

Source: Prince Valiant: Far from Camelot – Gary Gianni and Mark Schultz (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2008).


Image 1: From installment #298, October 25, 1942. Art: Hal Foster. Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 3): 1941-1942 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).
Image 2: From installment #64, April 30, 1938. Art and text: Hal Foster. Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 1): 1937-1938 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2009).

Constantinople

En route from Camelot to the Misty Isles, Prince Valiant and his family arrive in Constantinople, "womb of cutthroats, tomb of saints, birthplace of emperors." The lovelorn Arn, however, has thoughts only for Maeve.

If you look in the top right-hand corner of this image you'll see part of the sticky tape I used to tape this particular Prince Valiant installment into one of the many scrapbooks that I compiled of the strip when I was a teenager! I still have them all! They're in my parents' keeping in Port Macquarie, Australia.



Art: John Cullen Murphy (from installment #2327, September 13, 1981).
Text: Cullen Murphy.
Source: The Sun Herald (Sydney, Australia); from the collection of Michael J. Bayly (1984).

Neshem's Proposal

Prince Neshem of Ab'saban makes a proposal to Prince Valiant and his companion Skyrmir: Help transport Solomon's gold back to Ab'saban and they will be richly rewarded.


Art: Gary Gianni (from installment #3672, June 24, 2007).
Text: Mark Schultz.
Source: Prince Valiant: Far from Camelot – Gary Gianni and Mark Schultz (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2008).

Haunted

Drugged and imprisoned by the sorceress Morgan Le Fey, Prince Valiant's nights are haunted by terrible visions.


Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #58, March 19, 1938).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 1): 1937-1938 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2009).

The Banishment of Mordred

After it is discovered that King Arthur's deathly illness is the result of being poisoned by his half-brother Mordred, who seeks the crown for himself, the king secretly recovers and then takes action.

Following is the text that accompanies the above illustration:

Before the assembled throng, Gawain strips Mordred of his sword and cuts the emblem from his tunic. Now Arthur draws Excalibur and plunges the blade into his own arm. The heavens tremble at his words: "Mordred, false knight and false brother, I spit you out. From this realm I banish you. Your estates and your wealth I give to the poor. May your children scorn you and your grandchildren call you Judas. Behold, from my arm spills the blood we once shared. I am cleansed. Begone, viper, I know you not."

Left: Watching from a nearby balcony are (from left) Sir Launcelot, Queen Guinevere, Aleta, and Galan.

And why, you may ask, is Prince Valiant absent from this momentous event? To find out, click here.

NEXT: The Return of Mordred

Art: John Cullen Murphy (July 1980).
Text: Cullen Murphy.
Source: The Sun Herald (Sydney, Australia); from the collection of Michael J. Bayly (1983).

In All Ways Different

Sold into slavery to a rich Syrian merchant, the young Prince Valiant vows to secure freedom. With guile and patience he works his way up from field slave to member of the household staff. In time he tricks the merchant's pampered daughter into helping him escape.


Art and text: Hal Foster (from installment #234, August 3, 1941).
Source: Prince Valiant (Vol. 3): 1941-1942 – Hal Foster (Fantagraphics Books, 2011).

Draco's Demise

With his plans thwarted and his wife's sorcery defeated, Draco, the would-be ruler of Camelot, is confronted by Prince Valiant.

Ironically, his wife Maldubh's "spell" on the scaffolding around the walls of Camelot (mischief that involved an infestation of wood burrowing beetles!) ensures Draco's demise.









Art: Gary Gianni (September 18, 2011).
Text: Mark Shultz.
Source: TimesUnion.com