Prince Valiant Volume 23

Volume title: Prince Valiant Volume 23; 1981-1982
Creator: Hal Foster
Volume 23 by Hal Foster, John Cullen Murphy, and Cullen Murphy
Reprint copy: @ 2020
Cost: $ 34.99 US
Publisher: Fantagraphics Books, Inc., Seattle
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets

This volume reprints in color Prince Valiant newspaper strip from 1981-1982. Again, this was another hard book for me to get through library. I am very appreciative of effort of library to get me one of most recent volumes. I only found two more volumes published so far. Volume 24 and 25.

The book started with introduction. “Under the Spreading Robin Hood Tree: George Pratt on the art of Prince Valiant. The hard cover book than quickly dove into in consecutive order all the newspaper strips wonderfully restored in consecutive order. One episode per page. I got to see many characters from past volumes like Sir Gawain, and many others from past stories. I was saddened by death of person called The Wild Boy. Prince Valiant wife Aleta was pregnant with a new child. Her child though is going to be kidnapped shortly after child birth. The artwork and stories were magnificent. I would spend many minutes just examining art images. I even did this sometimes with magnifier glass. I appreciated effort put into these King Author time period stories. Prince Valiant even got to see his father again in several week’s episodes.

Here is what back cover says about volume 23.

Prince Valiant journeys from the upper regions of the Alps to the bowels of the Earth on a quest involving the mysterious Wanderer, a curse on the kingdom, monstrous imps, and a mystical casket. York, Lincoln, Colchester, and Londinium are sacked as Modred leads an invasion across Britain, culminating in the siege of Camelot. Aleta’s pregnancy promises to bring a new child to the family, but the newly crowned Emperor Justinian has the infant stolen at birth. Arne begins a dangerous courtship of the huntress maiden. Maive and embarks on quests to obtain the Sacred Ring of India and to find his long-lost newborn brother.

Introduction by famed painter, Illustrator, and graphic novelist George Pratt. Plus, a gallery of original Print Valiant art by Hal Foster.



Allen Klingelhoets