Hal Foster
Hal Foster was a Canadian artist born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1892, who became a pivotal figure in the development of comics in the 20th century. After relocating to Winnipeg with his family, Foster self-taught himself drawing, inspired by prominent illustrators. His artistic journey began early, as he contributed to the Hudson's Bay Company catalogue by age seventeen. In the 1910s, he explored adventure and the outdoors, working as a hunting guide and pursuing gold mining before fully committing to art. Foster gained prominence as the illustrator of "Tarzan of the Apes," which debuted in 1929, marking a significant moment in the evolution of adventure comic strips. He later created his own character, Prince Valiant, which debuted in 1937 and became renowned for its artistry and storytelling, drawing heavily from medieval legends. Over its fifty-year run, the strip evolved and incorporated various themes, including familial adventures. Foster's work influenced a generation of artists and helped lay the groundwork for the graphic novel format, solidifying his legacy in the art world. He passed away on July 27, 1982, leaving behind a profound impact on both comics and illustration.
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Subject Terms
Hal Foster
Cartoonist
- Born: August 16, 1892
- Birthplace: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Died: July 27, 1982
- Place of death: Spring Hill, Florida
Biography
Hal Foster was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1892. In 1906 his family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to recoup their finances in a land boom. Foster’s formal schooling ended then, but he set out to teach himself drawing, using such artists as Howard Pyle, Arthur Rackham, and N. C. Wyeth as examples. By age seventeen he was drawing for the Hudson’s Bay Company catalogue. Adventure had always attracted him; in 1915 he and his new wife, Helen Wells, set up as hunting guides in the wildernesses of Ontario and Manitoba. In 1917, they filed a goldfield claim at Lake Rice and worked it for three years.
Foster was still drawn to art, however, and in 1919 he set out for Chicago by bicycle. His plan was to study in Chicago while he worked. After finding a job at the Jahn & Ollier Engraving Company, he signed up for evening classes at the Chicago Art Institute. Later, he worked for the Palenske-Young Studio doing magazine covers and other illustrations for many of the clients.
An acquaintance, Joseph Neebe, offered him the chance to illustrate Tarzan of the Apes. This venture was part of the infancy of the adventure comic strip; Foster took the job, and the first strip appeared on January 7, 1929. By chance, this was the same date that the Buck Rogers strip also saw print, but Foster’s finely rendered drawings, using separate captions rather than word balloons, were unique and influential.
Foster worked on Tarzan-related projects for nine years, until 1938. The 1930’s were a time of rapid growth in the comics medium, and Foster honed his own approach in this atmosphere. While he was drawing Tarzan, however, he was working out a character and original story of his own. The character went through several transformations in the process, starting out at Derek, Son of Thane, and ending up as Prince Valiant, a knight of the Round Table. As background, Foster studied the Middle Ages extensively, as well as legends from feudal settings throughout the world. This strip became both a popular and an artistic success.
Over Prince Valiant’s fifty-year run, the prince grew from child to a fully developed knight, and finally became a father whose children had their own adventures. His exploits both drew on and expanded the Arthurian myths. For example, 1947 episodes depicted Valiant’s visit to “The New World,” in which Foster used the landscape of Connecticut, where he had moved in 1944, as background. As Prince Valiant flourished, Foster won numerous awards, including a rare membership in the British Royal Society of Arts. Eventually, in 1971, he sought another artist who could carry on the project. John Cullen Murphy was chosen, but Foster still wrote the story and was responsible for layouts and colors for the next nine years. Foster died on July 27, 1982, just short of his ninetieth birthday. Artistically, Foster provided a bridge between the great Victorian illustrators and most twentieth century comics and science fiction artists, including famous names like Frank Frazetta and the Disney artist Carl Barks. He helped pioneer the concept of combining story and illustrations into the graphic novel. Altogether, Foster’s impact was immense.