Our series of special slipcased gift sets of the most visually opulent comic strip in the medium's history, based on the King Arthur mythos, continues with Vols. 19-21 (1973-1978). In Vol. 19, Prince Valiant is sent to defend the borders against invading barbarians, but it is young Arn who takes center stage as he travels to his homeland and loses his heart to Lydia, daughter of Haakon. In Vol. 20, Aleta defeats a wizard, then Aleta's younger sister Helene is gambled away by her husband to a Corsair mercenary, drawing Val and his Singing Sword into a deadly duel. In Vol. 21, it's election time for the King of Minstrels. Arn and Court Jester Sir Dinadan travel to France to set things right, while Val accompanies the headstrong Gunther of Germany on his quest to recover stolen holy relics and claim a wife in Jerusalem. The mercenary army of a Persian warlord sweeps across the Middle East, forcing Queen Aleta to seek refuge in a hidden utopian city ruled by women. Val competes in tournaments in Marseille and Camelot and reunites with Sir Lancelot, but a tragic death impacts a member of Val's family. Also in this set: Hal Foster's complete comic-strip adaptation of Franz Werfel's 'The Song of Bernadette' and beautiful color illustrations for the 1930-31 Lucky Bag Naval yearbooks. And: The historical reality behind Prince Valiant's world!
