One of the greatest epics of Hal Foster's Prince Valiant was when Val and his loyal men of Thule sailed to the New World. They didn't do this willingly but in a desperate chase to rescue his new bride Aleta.
The saga begins in the cold dead of winter in Val's father's kingdom of Thule. A rival viking named Ulfrin is smitten with Aleta and kidnaps and heads west. Valiant and a brave crew give chase and that chase leads them to many islands and eventually to Iceland. Still Ulfrin having been psychologically beaten by Aleta continues to flee and they end up in the area of New Foundland. Aleta is rescued and Ulfrin meets his grim fate. The surprise is that Aleta is now pregnant and with winter coming on it's necessary for Valiant and his men to make a settlement in this New World and wait until spring to attempt to return home.
During that winter there are many adventures and the men of Thule survive because of the help of the Native Americans who have come to regard Aleta as a goddess of sorts given her golden hair. Thanks to their help she gives birth safely and Prince Valiant becomes a father and the second most important man in Aleta's life after her new son. Eventually winter ends and in a spring which proves even deadlier Valiant prepares to return home. It's a dangerous crossing but they survive to land in Ireland where an Irish king attempts to waylay them. Valiant's cunning is too much and eventually he and Aleta and an Indian handmaiden named Tillicum return to Camelot. There Valiant begins again to served King Arthur settling a dispute with a mad king and his three oafish sons. The scene is set for the christening of Prince Arn when the year and volume close out.
One of the greatest scenes ever in the history of the strip is when Prince Valiant and Aleta are present when the massive Niagra Falls splits into to two, a remarkable bit of staging on Foster's part. Foster does a grand job of treating the Native Americans with respect, a respect garnered in part by his own experiences in the northern regions he writes about in these amazing strips. Foster's ability to create a landscape filled with color and beauty and profound awe is what sets these strips apart from any I've ever seen.
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