Torchy

Issue #3 March 1950

Torchy is the embodiment of the GGA genre, really one of a small handful of extremely sexy comic characters that made it into the mainstream of Golden Age comic book publishing.  Featuring Torchy Todd, the character debuted as a backup feature in Doll Man #8 (Spring 1946) and also appeared in many issues of Modern Comics.  As a stand alone series, Torchy lasted six issues (Nov. 1949 – Sept. 1950), with artwork duties alternating between Gill Fox and Torchy creator Bill Ward.

In the comic book industry Bill Ward worked for publisher Quality Comics, where he took over for Reed Crandall on Blackhawk after Crandall was drafted into the military.  It was at Quality that Bill brought over Torchy from his own prior military service.

Issue #4 May 1950

Torchy Golden Age Appearances:

• Doll Man #8-28
• Modern Comics #53-89
• Torchy #1-6

During Ward’s military service in World War II he created the risqué tall, blonde and busty Torchy Todd.  The comic would run in Brooklyn’s Fort Hamilton military base newspaper. Triggering something among young servicemen, the comic strip soon was syndicated to other Army newspapers worldwide.

In the modern era, Torchy ranked 97th on the 2011 Comics Buyer’s Guide’s “100 Sexiest Women in Comics.”

Outside of comics Bill Ward also became one of the best known Pinup artists, publishing work such as “The Telephone Girl” in numerous men’s magazines such as Humorama Magazine, Sex to Sexty and Joker from the 1950’s to the 1970’s.

Regrettably, I sold issues all the issues shown here.