 |
| (The last regular Prince Valiant by Hal Foster) |
The stories in this volume begin with Prince Valiant searching for something to take his mind off his feud with his beloved Aleta. He finds distraction trying to protect a castle from some enemies fighting over a lovely damsel. Later he catches sight of Aleta's ship on the way to the Misty Isles but his pride stops him from calling out. He rambles around he at last meets a wise man in Merlin's cave who gives him the mission to win Aleta all over again. He finds Prince Arn soon after and the two of them sail to the Misty Isles. But it's a short voyage and they must travel overland where they meet Ben Ziara who can take them to North Africa. It is as they travel with Ziara when they find they must avoid invading Goths that Foster draws his final full Prince Valiant (with one exception... more later). Meanwhile Aleta and her family land in the Misty Isles where she enounters Ortho, a noble who appears at first helpful. Valiant and Arn are helping others protect themselves from the Goths but eventually get to the deserts where they encounter yet more strife. While Aleta is trying to navigate her relationship with the attentive Ortho, Valiant and Arn see the utter destruction of a desert city which is first invaded and plundered then suffers from an immense earthquake. On the coast at last they encounter a ship sent by Ortho but whose captain has been given orders to kill Valiant by Ortho. Valiant soon figures this out and takes precautions which not only save his life and Arn's but put him into position to defend against the treacherous Ortho, who alas meets his end in another way. Valiant and Aleta are at long last reunited and the story leaves them to enjoy their rekindled romance. The twins Valeta and Karen trifle with love and marriage of an ignorant noble lad and end up making a happy couple but not the one everyone expected. Prince Arn then goes with a friend who is the new king of Dondaris. He proves essential in this new king being able to keep his fractious kingdom together when rebels with good cause rise up in the hinterlands. Dondaris is a land gone soft and Arn sees that only fair play and justice can save it from destruction. Valiant appears and then suffers the loss of the Singing Sword. He soon finds it and the thief finds due justice. But then Valiant comes to the kingdom of Atheldag where visitors must have stories to entertain a king who cannot sleep. Soon Val meets King Dashad who is a wastrel and knows little of the suffering of his people. Val takes him in hand and soon has toughened him up and instilled in him a sense of empathy for the common people. Then the story turns to a troubadour named Jaques who is all too ready to woo women with his tender words and lovely songs. He too finds trouble and learns a lesson when he meets a young woman who becomes his wife after some trouble.
This book starts with an essay by Brian Walker about his memories of both Foster and Murphy. It ends with an outstanding collection of incidental and advertising art by Foster of Prince Valiant for various folks and institutions. Lovely and some very funny stuff with our stalwart hero. The endpapers in this particular volume also feature some art used in the Hasings House volumes which told the Valiant saga in prose. All in all another handsome installment. Foster will continue to write and layout the strip for some years to come, but his signature disappears from the strip and some thought the strip might end. It didn't of course and is still going strong.
More next time as the Prince Valiant saga continues.
Rip Off
No comments:
Post a Comment