1957
Hal Foster
(b.1892 - d.1982)
In 1957, most readers of comic sections in American
newspapers still were able to view Hal Foster's Prince Valiant as a full
page every Sunday. Foster himself worked his originals on enormous 23 by 34
inch sheets of paper, giving him the opportunity to achieve a degree of
detailed artwork that no one before or since has come close to matching.
Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Foster spent his teen
years as a fur trapper and a gold prospector, giving him first hand experience
with the outdoors that was reflected over the years in both Prince Valiant
and his earlier efforts illustrating the Tarzan comic strip. In 1921, he
travelled to Chicago by bicycle from Canada to study at the Art Institute. Over
the years, Foster would travel widely to achieve first-hand background material
for his comic.
Foster drew Prince Valiant until 1971, and
continued to write it until his death a little over a decade later. In addition
to the Reuben, Hal Foster was also awarded the NCS's
first Gold Key award in 1977.
Prince Valiant has been reprinted in many forms over the years. A year by year
collection of Prince Valiant episodes has recently been produced by Fantagraphics Books.
For a personal interpretation of Hal Foster by
artist Howard Simpson, click here.
-=-Ron Evry-=-
pictures © King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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