Bill Ward was born on tomorrow's date in 1919. Ward was an amazing talent with a special kill drawing bodacious women. He created many Good Girl illustrations but he's most likely remembered for the focus of today's Dojo celebration -- Torchy.
Bill Ward was a special artist. He had that uncanny knack of being able to simultaneously draw a fetching female who oozed sex and still seemed somehow impossibly demure. A Ward woman was always exceedingly well endowed, gifted as it were with those special attributes men find alluring from a distance and even up close. Among Ward's greatest visions was his creation Torchy, a vintage hottie often rendered by the very talented Gill Fox after Ward was shifted to more traditional romance comics by his publisher. Torchy Todd is a blonde bombshell who affects the men around her with seismic intensity.
As you can see by the covers and recreations above, Torchy as illustrated by Ward made a most memorable impression. The artwork above for an early edition of Bob Overstreet's Price Guide also showcased the bodacious beauty and other lovelies as well. For the record: Wonder Woman, Bulletgirl, Hawkgirl, Miss Fury, Lady Luck, Sheena, and Phantom Lady.
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Thanks for showcasing one of the best good girl art cartoonists to put ink on paper. We're lucky that he produced tons of work. Gill Fox did some nice art in the earlier issues for Torchy, too. Like Wood, I was fortunate to pick up a few of his signed pieces, including a cover proof of the Comic Book Price Guide you show.
ReplyDeleteI love that cover and will just have to make do with the book itself. I envy you.
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