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I was in my late twenties before I
took a good look at Hal Foster’s Prince
Valiant, despite being a fan of comic books and strips since childhood. Maybe it came with the passage of time, and
further education in the art form of comics, but a deep appreciation for his
work eventually materialized. And then
solidified. Then, marked me for
life. That’s why I’m so thankful for
Brian M. Kane, and his book Hal Foster:
Prince of Illustrators, Father of the Adventure Strip.
A carefully assembled examination of
the professional and personal aspects of Foster’s life, Kane’s work doesn’t
simply present historical facts pertaining to the business end of Prince Valiant. It also gives a tender look into the
creator’s role as husband, father, and friend, and shares a bit about how who
Foster was affected the work he did.
Besides giving visual detail as to
how the artist changed the adventure strip landscape when he took over the
Tarzan strip, the book contains plenty of Hal Foster’s work related to Prince
Valiant, including promotional and personal illustrations, as well as some of
the best examples from his work as a commercial illustrator. Kane does a wonderful job of letting the
quality of Foster’s work vouch for the superiority of his skill.
Additionally, readers are treated to
many photographs from throughout Foster’s life, including those relating to
family, friends, work, and leisure.
One of the facets of this book I
found most interesting was the collection of testimonials of professionals from
the world of comic strips and comic books, pertaining to what Foster’s work
meant to them. There is always something
inspirational and even touching about hearing some of the best in the field
reminisce about one of the “greats” of the same profession. The respect, admiration and wonder expressed
by peers can help fans understand exactly what kind of talent they are privy
to. This fan is grateful.
Brian Kane’s Hal Foster is recommended to anyone who appreciates great comics
art, or simply great art. It’s also
recommended to everyone else, so they can LEARN to appreciate it.
Mark Allen
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