Prince Valiant: Volume 19: 1973-1974

Prince Valiant: Volume 19: 1973-1974
Author- Jon Murphy and Hal Foster
Art: John Murphy
Fantagraphics Books, INC.
Publication reprinting Sunday strips in 2019
Cost: $34.99
ISBN: 978-1-68396-202-1
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets

Volume 19 of Prince Valiant contain Sunday colored page from 1874 to 1977. The pages correspond to each week published since first panel shown in volume one of Prince Valiant. Fantagraphics Books did another excellent job reprinting in order Prince Valiant Strips from 1973-1974.

The book is same size as other Prince Valiant books in publication from Fantagraphics Books.

The book has Introduction called “My Friendship with Jack” by Jerry Dumas. Jerry Dumas is Beetle Baily writer. The Forward talks about details of how Jerry Dumas and John Cullen Murphy became friends. Jack is another name for John Murphy. Jerry Dumas talked about how Jack and Jerry Dumas got quick start in comic book industry. It also talked about some of conversations both of them had through years. Quote:

Also, Thursday luncheon group meetings between 10 or 11 local writers and artists who all worked at home and gathered every other Thursday to wine and dine and gossip and trade memories. The luncheon began in the early 1970’s and continues to this day. New people are introduced from time to time, on a one-time basis, to sort of size them up: when a member moves away or dies, we are ready with a replacement. The group is limited in number to as many can comfortably fit around the average dining room table. End quote Jerry Dumas.

Jerry and John Cullen Murphy were members of Thursday group.

I felt John Cullen Murphy really found his voice creating Prince Valiant pages. I got to see more of Prince Valiant’s children. I like seeing how Valiant’s twin daughters always seem to play like kittens taunting a mouse. His daughter’s names are Valeta and Karen. They are teen-agers. Arn is about 16. He falls in love with Lydia, daughter of Haakon, the Sea-Rover. Valiant’s youngest son is named Galan. Prince valiant’s wife is as always Queen Aleta. I again really enjoyed week to week episode like strips. I was amazed by John Murphy art. He also had sense of humor with characters. I liked seeing giant –Karak, the Terrible on page 1962-1969. It was also interesting how Sir Gawain found his way back into story involving Arn. It was almost magic seeing the love between Arn and Lydia. How misunderstanding almost pulled them apart even though the young hearts were in love. This was again during time of King Arthur. It is extension of past books or Sunday morning newspaper strips. One of my favorites scenes were from strip 1919 and 1969. The details put into large panels were incredibly detailed. I also really liked page 1912 of Arn looking at ship.



I again got this volume through inter-library loan service. I know also for sale online. The Prince Valiant stories are best read in this form of episode like order. I do not think would make much sense if read as just random weekly segments.

There are no super heroes in Prince Valiant. It is remarkable though.

Volume 19 concludes with Afterward by Brian M. Kane called COMICS’ FOREMOST TROUBADOUR SINGS ANOTHER TUNE: Hal Foster’s Comic-strip Adaption of Fratz Werfel’s The Song of Bernadette.

Quote:

Harold Rudolf “Hal” Foster, FRSA (Canadian-born American, 1892-1982) took time away from creating Prince Valiant in the Days of King Arthur, his “Saga of the Singing Sword” to illustrate the comic-strip adaption of Fratz Werfel’s The Song of the Bernadette.

End quote: Bob M. Kane.

The next volume of Prince Valiant cover the years 1975-1976. Hal Foster will return for art for series 2000th strip!

This is what back cover says about Prince Valiant Vol. 19, 1973-1974.

Prince Valiant is sent to defend the borders against invading barbarians, but it is young Arn who takes center-stage as he travels to his homeland and loses his heart to Lydia, daughter of Haakon the Sea-Rover. Their romance is impacted by battlefield conflicts, court conspiracies, assassination, and suicide, before a misunderstanding leaves Arn at sea again. Arn and Sir Gawain become lost, lush land presided over by the mad Duke Cyril and the entombed object of his desire. In Thule, Prince Valiant defends the King of the Inner Lands from a war party led by a giant.

Also, Hal Foster’s complete 1943 comic-strip adaptation of Franz Werfel’s popular novel The Song of Bernadette.

There is also very inspiring quote:

“One of the finest artists that ever graced a newspaper’s pages.”

Beetle Baily writer Jerry Dumas on John Cullen Murphy.

Allen Klingelhoets