Every anthology comic book had a set of standard “types” of characters to be used in their strips. These included the superhero (based off of Superman), the Jungle lord or lady (from Tarzan), the space hero (from Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon), and the Arthurian knight (borrowing from Hal Foster’s popular comic strip, Prince Valiant.) In this way, comic strips fueled the comic book industry. If it was a popular comic strip, it could be done in a comic book.
“Galahad” is, of course, one of these “types”. Archie Comics’ Top-Notch Comics needed a knight character. The series was written by Harry Shorten and drawn by Lin Streeter. Because of this, and the shortness of the run, the comic is completely consistent in look and feel. Galahad was created as a companion strip to “The Green Falcon” running in Blue Ribbon Comics. (More on him here.)
The influences aren’t hard to see. Images here are reminiscent of the paintings of N. C. Wyeth and the comic panels from the comic strips. The lack of much magic can also be found there. Hal Foster did not include many dragons or wizards in Prince Valiant but he did like to use historical material. That also is found here.
“The Knighting of Galahad” (Top-Notch Comics #5, May 1940) begins with Galahad offering his services to King Arthur. First he must unseat Sir Kay in a joust before he is sent on his first mission. The beautiful Lady Lynette comes asking for a boon. Her lands are overrun by bandits. Men attack them on the road, taking Lynette to the master of the villains, Sir Gilbert. Galahad pursues, fighting Sir Gilbert on a bridge. They fall into the water where Gilbert gets the upper hand. Galahad uses a rock as a shield before defeating the master of bandits.
“The Golden Chalice”(Top-Notch Comics#6, June 1940) has the Earl of Pellam steal the Golden Chalice from Arthur’s court. Arthur and some knights go after the thieves, having a jousting melee that goes badly for Arthur. Galahad arrives in time to turn the tides. Galahad asks to go in search of the chalice. Galahad does some super-fighting including jumping a horse onto a closing drawbridge. He takes the Earl and the chalice hostage. But the Earl’s lady has other plans. The earl is killed and Galahad heads for the tower. He dives out of the tower window and into the moat. He returns the chalice to Camelot.
“The Knight of the Griffin” (Top-Notch Comics #7, August 1940) has Galahad go in search of Sir Gawain who is missing. He comes upon Gawain being attacked. Galahad defeats the other knights and saves his friend. Gawain tells him that he has been captive of the Knight of the Griffin. Gawain returns while Galahad goes on to face the villain. Galahad comes across a maiden who asks him to fetch her some water. While he is doing that, she switches his blade for a broken one. Next, he saves an old man from some bandits. The old man is Merlin. Galahad finds a shield with the words: He who strikes this shield shall die. He, of course, strikes the shield. The Knight of the Griffin rides out to do battle. Galahad does alright until his broken sword fails him. Merlin is watching and saves him with a spell. The shield on the tree knocks the enemy off his horse. Galahad and Griffin continue to fight on foot. Galahad throws him into a ravine, killing him. He learns from Merlin the woman was Lady Morgana. This is the first episode to use any magic.
“The Danish-Irish Attack” (Top-Notch Comics #8, September 1940) begins with Galahad joining Arthur to face the Irish army. The battle doesn’t go well with the Camelot knights retreating. Galahad leaves to get reinforcements from the King of Pellin. The army of Pellinore is mustered quickly. As they approach the battlefield, Galahad goes on alone to see if scouts are in place to warn the Irish. While Galahad fights several sentries, using a branch as a shield, a lone man steals his horse. Galahad jumps off a cliff to stop him. The Irish scout has the advantage but Pellinore arrives in time to save him. The reinforcements come to the battle and Arthur wins. Galahad falls in battle but Merlin’s magics save his life.
“The Earning of the Magic Sword” (Top-Notch Comics #9, October 1940) starts with Garlan, Galahad’s squire donning his master’s armor and horse while Galahad sleeps. The youth is captured by Lady Morgana’s men, thinking they have taken the knight. Later, when Galahad tries to pull the sword of the Lady of the Lake, he can not because he did not save his squire. He goes to rescue Garlan with the Lady of the Lake at his side. Morgana learns that she has not captured Galahad, who she wants to feed to her tigers, but a boy. Garlan is taken to the whipping post. Meanwhile Galahad and companion sneak into the castle. Before the Lady can gain entrance, a portcullis is dropped, separating the two. Galahad beats Morgana’s men and opens the gate. Morgan is desperate so she releases a prisoner, a green-skinned monster. Galahad is losing against the magical creature when Garlan brings him a magical sword from the Lady and he kills it. Galahad is rewarded with the magical sword, Scabor, for his feats. It is interesting that the Lady goes around handing out more than one sword.
“The Mad King Karlyn” (Top-Notch Comics #10, December 1940) has Galahad and Garlan going to a crazy place. There is a gate but no walls around the city. Their cart must go before the horse to enter. Then they see people trying to kill old people. Galahad learns the king is mad and has ordered all families to slay their elderly. Knights come and knock Galahad out. He is taken prisoner but Garlan still has his magic sword. Galahad is taken before Karlyn. There he sees a prisoner in a cage wearing a solid helmet over his head. He is tortured to sing as the king’s canary. Karlyn takes time to devise a special torture for Galahad. Meanwhile Garlan finds his prison and gets his sword to him using a rope and a bow and arrow. Galahad cuts his way out of prison. He frees the canary, finding it is Karlyn’s twin brother. Defeated, the real king takes over.
“The Viking Attack” (Top-Notch Comics #11, January 1941) has the Viking Thorg torturing Camelot knights for information. (I find it a little silly that a Viking long ship has a Medieval rack on board.) He discovers that Arthur is not prepared for an invasion since food has been scarce. The Vikings land and find Galahad and Garlan bathing. Thorg takes his magic sword and demonstrates he can wield it. He strikes a shield then vibrations make him drop the blade. He is not worthy. On board the ship, Galahad refuses to row as a slave. Thorg swings the sword, cutting Galahad’s chains by accident. He escapes, recaptures his magic sword and takes control of the ship. The Vikings tell him it doesn’t matter since the whole Viking fleet is headed for Camelot. Galahad sails quickly, warning Arthur. The Camelot knights are ready for the invaders, dropping boulders on their ships. Galahad has saved the realm.
Conclusion
Archie Comics dropped the anthology titles Top-Notch Comics when they found certain strips were more popular than others. The obvious one is the Archie gang, which came out of Pep Comics #22, December 1941. The adventures of Archie Andrews, Jughead, Betty & Veronica have lasted the decades with hundreds and hundreds of comics being written about them. As a Sword & Sorcery/Heroic Fantasy fan. I’d trade the lot for more Galahad. (I know I am in the minority here.) There was that one time, Archie did Dungeons & Dragons though…
