After a couple of "classic style" of adventures, Jack Murphy infuses another dose of tragedy and intrigue in the book as Emperor Justinian plots the kidnapping of Val and Aleta's newborn. Meanwhile Galan gets a good portion of the limelight that serves to develop and further separate him from his brother's path.

Worth mentioning also that under Hal Foster, Prince Valiant had some light fantasy elements (somewhat magic sword, ladies giving predicitions) that could very well be coincidences, but now there are some genuine mystical characters and creatures that Val and meets during his trials and tribulation. It's still light fantasy but this time it cannot be atributed to clever tricks.