Prince Valiant Vol. 18: 1971-1972

Prince Valiant (Hardcover) #18

by Hal Foster, John Cullen Murphy (Illustrator)

In Camelot, the troubled Zanedon reveals himself to be a runaway groom as the mischievous twins, Karen and Valeta, hide him in their stable. Prince Arn quenches a coup, Val ends a tyrant’s reign with tough love, and domestic chaos runs amok when a poet with a wandering eye makes the Misty Isles his playground; this volume also boasts bonus material!

Genres: Comics, Adventure, Comic Strips

112 pages, Hardcover

First published November 20, 2018

About the author

Harold Foster, also credited as Hal Foster, was a comic book artist best know for Prince Valiant.

Reviews

[Michael]

I'll grant you that John Cullen Murphy isn't quite on Hal Foster's level, but c'mon, Murphy's still at least eyes-and-nose above most other illustrators. This is a good-looking comic page. Foster's stories remain sharp - the premise of Val and Aleta's separation was thin, but it led to some fun adventures in strange new lands.

[Federico Kereki]

Now drawn by John Cullen Murphy, the stories have the same charm of the previous tales by Hal Foster on his own -- quite good!

[Erik]

John Cullen Murphy takes over on art and is a great fit for Prince Valiant, though he doesn't quite match Hal Foster. Foster's writing is as good as ever.

[Rockito]

This books features the final page drawn by Foster himself for the weekly strip and half-passes the torch to John Cullen Murphy (not sure when he assumes script duties so I will find out reading). I'm a bit surprised that Foster chose Murphy when, from all the try-outs, Gray Morrow's style was the closest to Hal's, but without knowing what was happening behind the curtains I can only guess (maybe Morrow's ideas weren't as in tune as Murphy). That said, Murphy is almost as legendary as the Man himself and the quality in art does not drop a bit, though in the first few pages the change in style might distract a bit.
On a personal note, I think Murphy draws Valeta and Karen a bit better than Foster (sometimes the girls looked like grown ladies or had weird cheeks), holds his own pretty well with Prince Valiant and Prince Arn but it's a bit hit or miss with Aleta, though this were his first two years so maybe he tightens things later with her.

As to the story: Val and Aleta had a break up after going to many strenous moments. After tempers calm they realize they need each other, though by that point both have gone their separate ways in anger. So, with no time to lose, Valiant and Arn go on a crazy trip without thinking of the consequences to reunite with the other half of the family.