HAL FOSTERS PRINCE VALIANT SKETCHBOOKS HC VOL 02 AN ILLUSTRATED MEMOIR (MR)

Hal Foster's Prince Valiant Sketchbooks HC Vol 02: An Illustrated Memoir continues the six‑part, annotated collection of never‑before‑seen sketches from Prince Valiant creator Hal Foster. Part sketchbook, part biography, part tutorial, and part memoir, this volume reveals Foster’s intimate creative process during his final nine years on the strip and his mentoring of his chosen successor, John Cullen Murphy. Produced with the Murphy family’s full participation, the project foregrounds Foster’s life and art, enriched by Brian M. Kane’s meticulous annotations. Readers encounter 366 penciled layout pages, 40 character studies, and 577 pages of Foster’s own descriptions of each panel, alongside 143 additional artworks, 100 photographs, and 123 personal letters and notes. Kane’s scholarship illuminates Foster’s storytelling strategies and aesthetic, offering a rare behind-the-curtain view of a master craftsman shaping a timeless adventure.

Who might be interested in reading?

• Fans of Prince Valiant and classic adventure comics.
• Readers who enjoy behind-the-scenes process, sketchbooks, and artist memoirs.
• Readers who appreciate annotated art books and deep historical analysis of comics.
• Those curious about the relationship between a legendary creator and his chosen successor, and how masterworks are sustained over decades.