In memory of Hal Foster

Fantasy stories have always been very popular. They are unlikely ever to go out of fashion. It would probably take a lifetime to map all the fantasy worlds created by authors.

The heroic sagas of antiquity were the precursors of these stories. After all, the deeds and adventures of their protagonists were more in the realm of fantasy than reality – yet this did nothing to diminish their popularity. Every age needs its heroes, whether they are called Hercules or Batman.

One such hero, who was as comfortable at the court of King Arthur as he was in the Scandinavian wilderness, has been enriching the fantasy worlds of boys and girls since 1937. We are talking about Prince Valiant, as he is known in the original English version. Created by American comic book artist Hal Foster (1892-1982), Valiant lived during the time of King Arthur's Round Table in Britain. What made Foster's work special was the realistic nature of his illustrations. People, animals and nature were drawn from observation and never appeared exaggerated or caricatured.

Initially in black and white, the scenes in Hal Foster's stories had an irresistibly beautiful aura and never seemed overly clichéd. There were no speech bubbles, but a relatively large amount of text accompanied the images. This didn't bother anyone at the time because the stories were just as profound as the images. Although Foster adhered closely to the romanticised view of the 5th century AD, he did not depict a fantasy world.

His meticulously drawn weapons and other equipment do not really belong to the fifth century, but to a later period. Foster was well aware of this; the actual circumstances would not necessarily have matched readers' expectations and would probably have seemed rather dull.

What seems almost modern is that Hal Foster did not only emphasise the warlike aspects of the stories. Just as he describes battles and the difficulties of knightly life, he also recounts everyday occurrences, such as marital disputes and the challenges of parenting.

Initially arriving at the court of the Great King as a landless prince, the hero, Prince Valiant, lost his father's throne in a conspiracy. He is a multifaceted character, and both his chivalry and his rough edges are highlighted. During his travels, Valiant meets and marries a beautiful, intelligent woman. We witness domestic scenes as well as the prince's heroic exploits.

Hal Foster's comics also fascinated girls, who saw the Queen as a role model. The intelligent and warm-hearted Queen Aleta wears the most beautiful gowns and hairstyles, and Foster pays great attention to detail in his depictions of them. The prince's wife is an emancipated woman who rules her own kingdom, the Misty Isles, and knows how to fight. However, she rarely uses her dagger, preferring to rely on her intelligence and compassion. Readers also encounter women who do not conform to the norms of the time; they wear armour and carry swords. By contrast, the main character could simply faint, showing no regard for heroism or strength.

We watch the couple's children grow up, we smile at the many little side stories woven into each adventure, and we learn a thing or two along the way. Although Foster took artistic licence with fashion and equipment, he also conveyed genuine historical knowledge. The main characters were very well developed and had depth. Certain characters appeared repeatedly, such as the Viking Boltar and the shipbuilder Gundar Harl, and readers were always happy to see them.

Hal Foster refrained from portraying human nature in black and white, striving for authenticity instead. The stories contained all the elements necessary for a good fantasy adventure, including suspense, humour, drama and surprises. In some episodes, Foster championed difference, which, upon closer inspection, was neither bad nor evil, just different.

The ethics to which the illustrator and author were committed were always present in the stories, albeit without moralising. Although Prince Valiant is a knight of the highest virtue, he is by no means invincible. He has to fight to live up to the ideal of chivalry, developing in real time, so to speak. Ultimately, he always remains true to himself – he is more than just a victor in chain mail. He is also a family man, a friend, a son, and a diplomat. Like a modern-day film epic, Hal Foster's comic books transport readers to a real world – with all its highs and lows – for as long as they are reading them. All of this is presented in beautiful, evocative images.

© 'In memory of Hal Foster. Prince Valiant: A hero for all seasons': An article by Pressenet (translated by Izabel Comati), 05/2025. The fantasy illustration shows a longship with a dragon's head, CC0 (Public Domain Licence).