The Story of 'Prince Valiant'

While the setting for Prince Valiant is Arthurian (cAD450) the real story begins in AD1937 when illustrator Hal Foster brought the legendary hero to life, in detailed comic strip genre. This was not the frippery of The Potts, Fred Basset, Ginger Meggs or even the Phantom (Ghost Who Walks) but a true work of art, meticulously capturing the life and times of the famed Nordic prince from faraway Thule.

This Prince Valiant visits Camelot, befriends Sir Gawain and Sir Tristram, earns the respect of Merlin and King Arthur, and becomes, himself, a Knight of the Round Table. He fights the Huns with his magic Singing Sword and travels far and wide to places as exotic and distant as Africa and the Americas, always with the quest of upholding all that is good.

But this is not the story of that Prince Valiant.

Oh no.

This is the story of a little Australian boy who gained courage, inspiration and aspiration from that Brave Knight at a time when the world seemed to close in and offer little hope. It is the story of a family, who were cruelly evicted from their lodgings and were forced to live in an automobile. That unfortunate small lad, with no comfort but his pillow, teddy bear and second-hand blanket would pretend to sleep on the back seat, eyes closed with an angelic façade, to help his Dear Mother cope with the trying ordeal. Inside, of course, the young boy was aware that, outside, it was as dark as pitch with a sinister wind howling through the trees. But also, inside, the boy drew on the deeds and daring of that Knight from Thule who banished armed foe, witches and marsh monsters, knowing that good would not only eventually prevail but triumph.

As it did.

That car, coincidentally, was a 1962 Chrysler Valiant (R&S Series) and on the young lad's arrival at school, unwashed, unkempt but unashamed, one of the prefects, 'Dab' Farnsworth, put his hand on that small boy's shoulder and gave him the nickname, 'Prince Valiant'. And that name stuck.

Yes, that little boy was me.