c. late 1942 done by Ward for Army camp newspaper when he was in the service in Brooklyn, NY. 10x27.5” thin art board has 8.25x26.5” India ink image area w/three panels. Crowd yells “Torchy” as Torchy Todd enters a “Happy New Year” GI dance in a slinky gown . Panel two has short soldiers trying to get a dance. She asks “Why Would A Little G.I. Like You Want To Dance With A Big Girl Like Me?” Panel three shows them whirling on the dance floor as he looks eye level at her breasts and says “Are You Kiddin’?” Reverse side has 6.5” tall preliminary pencil sketch showing same G.I. w/his mouth on her breasts. Art is signed “Bill Ward Fort Hamilton” in ink at bottom of panel three. Scattered light dust soil, bit of white-out here and there. Left side has age toning extending a bit into first panel. Image area will mat and frame to Fine appearance. Torchy would go on to make her first comic book appearance in “Doll Man” #8 Spring 1946. Ward (1919-1998) assisted many comic book artists in the 1940s and 1950s, and is noted for his “headlight” art in various pin-up magazines. Historic, likely drawn within the first week or so of Torchy’s creation. A superior example. From the Robert M. Overstreet Collection. Comes with COA.