Hal Foster brought an illustrator's precision to the comics page back in the 1930s. His work, first on
Tarzan, but more importantly on
Prince Valiant, provided the first obvious evidence that comics could be art (though those who needed to be convinced of that fact sure missed out on a lot of great stuff that preceded him).
He also was in the forefront of the move towards serialized adventure stories in the comics, a trend that would introduce such classics as
Flash Gordon,
Terry & the Pirates, and so many others.
Foster's genius extended beyond the visual, as he constructed a true epic narrative, one that drew on the traditions of the past (shaped obviously by the story of King Arthur), but expanded on that, especially in tracing the family aspects of the Prince's life and exploits.
The true beauty of Foster's work is best appreciated in teh full page Sunday strips he did for most of his run, where he often took advantage (as above) of the space to create truly stunning detailed work.
Although the strip continued ably under John Cullen Murphy after Foster's death, and continues today under yet another artist, it's never quite lived up to its glory years under its creator. I think it's safe to see we won't see it's like again (certainly not given the current state of newspapers, and comics' place in them). All the more reason to remember just how incredible Foster's work was at its peak.
Hal Foster brought an illustrator's precision to the comics page back in the 1930s. His work, first on Tarzan, but more importantly on Prince Valiant, provided the first obvious evidence that comics could be art (though those who needed to be convinced of that fact sure missed out on a lot of great stuff that preceded him). 
He also was in the forefront of the move towards serialized adventure stories in the comics, a trend that would introduce such classics as Flash Gordon, Terry & the Pirates, and so many others.
Foster's genius extended beyond the visual, as he constructed a true epic narrative, one that drew on the traditions of the past (shaped obviously by the story of King Arthur), but expanded on that, especially in tracing the family aspects of the Prince's life and exploits.
The true beauty of Foster's work is best appreciated in teh full page Sunday strips he did for most of his run, where he often took advantage (as above) of the space to create truly stunning detailed work.
Although the strip continued ably under John Cullen Murphy after Foster's death, and continues today under yet another artist, it's never quite lived up to its glory years under its creator. I think it's safe to see we won't see it's like again (certainly not given the current state of newspapers, and comics' place in them). All the more reason to remember just how incredible Foster's work was at its peak.
1 comment:
We followed Prince Valient's adventures avidly in the Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph every Sunday when we were children. I remember when he came to America, traveled up the Niagara River in his long boat and saw the Falls as they were imagined at that time. It was a spectacular drawing of Niagara Falls - took up the entire page. Wish you could find it, John, and let us see it again. Mom
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