Book Review: Prince Valiant, Vol. 1: 1937-1938 (9781606991411): Harold Foster: Books
Book Review: Prince Valiant, Vol. 1: 1937-1938 (9781606991411): Harold Foster: Books
Foster-An Illustrator with the Sensibilities of a Fine Artist,
By Marco Antonio Abarca (Colorado) -
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
Hal Foster was forty four years old when he lauched his first Prince Valiant comic strip in February 1937. Little could Foster know that he would still working on the strip until February of 1980. Nearly three decades have passed since Hal Foster’s retirement and new Prince Valiant stories continue to be produced. How does one account for a seventy two year old weekly adventure strip that is still going strong?
I think the secret to the longevity of Prince Valiant can be found in the strong foundation Hal Foster built in the first two years of the strip. From the very beginning, the strip showcased Foster’s extraordinary skills as an illustrator. As a young man, Hal Foster was deeply influenced by the great artists of the Golden Age of American Illustration. By the late 1930’s, Golden Age had come to a close but Hal Foster was able to keep the heroic sensibilities of Howard Pyle and N.C. Wyeth alive. Looking back at these seventy year old illustrations, I am struck by their vitality and continued relevence.
From 1984 until 2004, Fantagraphics Books joined the Danish Publisher Interpresse in publishing a fifty volume run of all of Hal Foster’s Prince Valiant strips. I have collected most of the volumes but some are difficult to find and when they are located, the volumes are often times very expensive. So it was with great pleasure that I learned Fantagraphics Books was going to start republishing the series. This first volume is hard bound and includes a short biographical essay and an insightful 1969 Hal Foster interview. But what really makes this volume so enjoyable is the high quality production values that were used to produce this volume. The paper is of very high quality and the color digital reproductions are true to Foster’s own pristine color engraver proofs. The second volume of the series is promised for the Spring of 2010. It is going to be difficult to wait. My only fear is that at two volumes a year, it is going to take way too many years to cover Foster’s forty three year career. Highly recommended.
Stunning,
By AcidFree “bookie” (Earth) -
Foster’s brilliant Prince Valiant creation starts very strongly in this outstanding new reprint series from Fantagraphics … none of your “early days” struggles to get it right, although Foster certainly improved with time and experience. Color corrected and sized like the originals, these classic masterpieces of the illustrator’s and storyteller’s art are still fresh and vibrant today. What a wonder this must have appeared to those opening their newspapers during the Great Depression!
PV can be enjoyed on multiple levels: for the addictive narrative, for the magnificent art and inventive layouts, for graphic storytelling par excellence … it really doesn’t get any better than this. My only quibble is the dark, somewhat lifeless cover. But, only a quibble. This is supreme — enjoy.
FANTASTIC,
By T. A. Hansen “sturmandordrang.blogspot.com” (eagan, mn USA) -
This huge book is the perfect way to showcase the great art of Foster. There was one panel where Val crests a hill and views a castle. I stared at the panel for a couple minutes. The level of detail was amazing. The writing makes this a page turner and something to savor
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