I grew up reading Prince Valiant in the Sunday Comics. He was awesome, the story arcs always took different twists and turns. They were adventurous. I like taking adventurers – hopping on a train to Baltimore spontaneously to visit the Walters Museum or painting my toenails red with gold crackle. You never know what may happen. One day when I was getting my pedicure I met the goddaughter of Charlie Smalls, composer, songwriter for “The Wiz”. While we were soaking our toes, She and I had one of the best conversations. I can’t listen to “Home” without thinking about that conversation.

Silly Ending

“It is fitting that such a silly duel have a silly ending!” - Prince Valiant*

As we have found many of our heroes do not have super powers or amazing abilities. They just act heroically. In the Nordic Kingdom of Thule, on the ancient Norwegian coast is a young prince, Prince Valiant. Prince Valiant travels to Camelot and meets Sir Gawain and becomes a member of the Knights of the Round Table. As his name would suggest Valiant is bold brave and courageous. It seems whoever he met Prince Valiant would eventually win their respect and honor. Valiant would gain the Singing Sword, sister sword to Excalibur. Prince Valiant would travel to the Mediterranean, Africa and America to find great adventures.

Great adventures do not always mean mayhem. Great adventures do not mean dueling and fighting. Sometimes a “Great Adventure” may seem foolish or silly. A great adventure could just be a leap of faith. A great adventure could be a spontaneous train ride to a museum. Finally a great adventure could be as simple as wearing a bowtie to work. If the adventure is accepting that Fulbright or wearing that silly paisley tie there is something in common for both adventures – “a leap of faith”. The Tarot card, the Fool, is often portrayed as a young man with his dog and pack on an adventure. Just like Prince Valiant we can gather up our singing sword, all our courage and head out into a vast horizon into unknown lands ready for a “Great Adventure”

Prince Valiant
First Appearance: Prince Valiant, in the Days of King Arthur, February 13, 1937, King Features Syndicate

Creators: Harold Foster

* “The Challenge”, March-May, original printing 1939 from Prince Valiant: Free Comic book Day Special Edition 2013, King Features Syndicate