THIS is why I love cartoonist kayfabe. As a creator it's such an education. Due to my age and when I came into comics, I never heard of Hal Foster. I may have seen a few Prince Valiant comics but not being a subject matter I'm interested in, I've never looked into it. But what a talented illustrator. Now I can go back and look these up.
Hal's birthday today. I used to correspond with him back in the early 1970s. As you know, he used his own face for Val & wife's for Aleta. (Saves a bit on models' fees.)
IMO, PV is the greatest comic strip of all time. Absolutely beautiful and brilliant. When I started reading PV (these past couple years), I spotted many panels that must have inspired John Buscema’s Conan work. I would see the PV panel an would run to my Conan comics to find the exact panel and do a comparison. Just wonderful work.
Great podcast on Kirby/Foster Demon swipe.If you look at at Conan the Barbarian 39 you'll see that Buscema swiped a Prince Valiant panel...exactly...where at giant crocodile climbs out of the water.
At what size was Mr. Hal Foster drawing at? Like, is each panel its own page of art? How small was he drawing those little guys? I should have just finished the video. Mr. Piskor says each drawing is an 8.5x11 piece of paper.
The panel reading: "Swinging up to the balcony across the hall Val watches the confusion below" and Prince Valiant has one leg exposed from out of the costume and holding onto the rope, looks like the David Mazzucchelli Year One promo artwork; the one advertised under the title He's Strong, Smart and Relentless... which also featured Batman with one leg exposed from out of his cape draped over one side of him.
the 1st edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Player's Handbook also had a giant devil statue with a burning bowl on the front. I wonder if these comics were inspiration?
Foster’s use of black to move the eye where he wants is masterful. In the big backgrounds you see how he frames the action with heavy black. I always take a look at his originals when they’re on display at the Billy.
Thank you for the Prince Valiant Hal Foster video, I have been aware of those comics for decades, never took the time to research them. I am pleased to hear they are enjoyable to read in addition to their visual excellence.
I've put some of my love and Rockets doubles from my collections out into those lending libraries because you know that stuff needs to get deseminated as possible.
Marvel took a decent stab at Prince Valiant with 4 issues back in 1994. No Hal Foster but it had Kaluta covers, Charles Vess, John Ridgeway, Elaine Lee from Starstruck.
Hal Foster! Truly one of THE top masters! Our buddy Professor Benjamin Saunders curated a history of the Superhero art exhibit at the U of O museum (he curated the current traveling Marvel exhibit among others) and you entered to a massive full-size Prince Valiant page. Jaw-dropping in its epic glory! I eat this stuff up!
I am the Witch Lady who sits by the entrance of the cave. I sit in this chair here beside this table. Why, I question not. This is my life. Sometimes I sneak off to pee, but then it's back to the chair by the table by the cave. Dearest Traveler, might you have a stick of gum for the Witch Lady?
hey Ed can you give me the name of one comic you showed off a while ago? it was done by one guy heavily aping off Mcfarlane's style and featured some kind of green spawn looking guy with long hair on the cover, does it ring any bells?
Hal Foster stole that demon design from a black and white movie called HÄXAN
Good catch, Haxan kicks ass. Surprisingly progressive history of witches and mental health with some kickass horror sequences. Love that one.
THIS is why I love cartoonist kayfabe. As a creator it's such an education. Due to my age and when I came into comics, I never heard of Hal Foster. I may have seen a few Prince Valiant comics but not being a subject matter I'm interested in, I've never looked into it. But what a talented illustrator. Now I can go back and look these up.
Hal's birthday today. I used to correspond with him back in the early 1970s. As you know, he used his own face for Val & wife's for Aleta. (Saves a bit on models' fees.)
Hal Foster is truly one of the greatest visual storytellers in all of the history of print.
How do you even come up with the idea of making a demon mask out of a goose carcass?
IMO, PV is the greatest comic strip of all time. Absolutely beautiful and brilliant. When I started reading PV (these past couple years), I spotted many panels that must have inspired John Buscema’s Conan work. I would see the PV panel an would run to my Conan comics to find the exact panel and do a comparison. Just wonderful work.
At 5:50 Kirby swipes the bottom right panel for the cover of Red Raven #1
I just looked at the cover. Wow, you are correct.
Great podcast on Kirby/Foster Demon swipe.If you look at at Conan the Barbarian 39 you'll see that Buscema swiped a Prince Valiant panel...exactly...where at giant crocodile climbs out of the water.
This was a great episode
At what size was Mr. Hal Foster drawing at? Like, is each panel its own page of art? How small was he drawing those little guys?
I should have just finished the video. Mr. Piskor says each drawing is an 8.5x11 piece of paper.
prince valiant is seemingly too good. Like I mean, the art. It's kinda...too good, I almost can't believe someone drew it.
Thank you so much for sharing. I'm adding Hal Foster/Prince Valiant (comics/TPB's) to my "To Buy" list!
The panel reading: "Swinging up to the balcony across the hall Val watches the confusion below" and Prince Valiant has one leg exposed from out of the costume and holding onto the rope, looks like the David Mazzucchelli Year One promo artwork; the one advertised under the title He's Strong, Smart and Relentless... which also featured Batman with one leg exposed from out of his cape draped over one side of him.
This is dope! I am instantly a fan of Foster's because of this. Now, gotta get my grubby little paws on some Prince Valiant!
the 1st edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Player's Handbook also had a giant devil statue with a burning bowl on the front. I wonder if these comics were inspiration?
Vol 2 of Prince Valiant has the watcher strip as well. That one is harder to tell if Kirby got the idea from it but it’s a heck of a coincidence
Foster’s use of black to move the eye where he wants is masterful. In the big backgrounds you see how he frames the action with heavy black. I always take a look at his originals when they’re on display at the Billy.
Thank you for the Prince Valiant Hal Foster video, I have been aware of those comics for decades, never took the time to research them. I am pleased to hear they are enjoyable to read in addition to their visual excellence.
I knew of Prince Valiant but never saw a page before your video. Beautiful art. I just ordered the first 3 Volume set.
This was one of my favorite episodes.
I've put some of my love and Rockets doubles from my collections out into those lending libraries because you know that stuff needs to get deseminated as possible.
love it, love it. Ironically, I think Foster's artwork also influenced Bernie Wrightson. And maybe Neal Adams on his Batman, too.
That Grand Design swipe is nice. You can see the influence on so many artists
You guys should have Brian Kane on for a read through of Prince Valiant. Lives in Columbus.
I didnt know about either of these ones. So awesome
Goddamn, I just picked a bunch of these up; amazing books
always loved the art in those news strips
Marvel took a decent stab at Prince Valiant with 4 issues back in 1994. No Hal Foster but it had Kaluta covers, Charles Vess, John Ridgeway, Elaine Lee from Starstruck.
Hal Foster! Truly one of THE top masters! Our buddy Professor Benjamin Saunders curated a history of the Superhero art exhibit at the U of O museum (he curated the current traveling Marvel exhibit among others) and you entered to a massive full-size Prince Valiant page. Jaw-dropping in its epic glory! I eat this stuff up!
Can you show off the Prince Valiant Studio Edition one day!
I have a BUNCH of prince valiant books and materials if you guys need some material to go over by the way.
I would love to get into prince Valient, but I would like to start from the beginning.
I am the Witch Lady who sits by the entrance of the cave. I sit in this chair here beside this table. Why, I question not. This is my life. Sometimes I sneak off to pee, but then it's back to the chair by the table by the cave. Dearest Traveler, might you have a stick of gum for the Witch Lady?
in volume 3 (1941-42 ) the prince Valiant's lips are colored red even his cheeks are rosy
he very much looks like a girl why did they do that ??
Feel like Val gets the lipstick for a long time after.
hey Ed can you give me the name of one comic you showed off a while ago? it was done by one guy heavily aping off Mcfarlane's style and featured some kind of green spawn looking guy with long hair on the cover, does it ring any bells?
And then marvel stole etrigan the demon for a random character of the Defenders
Just the excuse I need to get into early Prince Valiant : )