stuff :: Atomic Age

Williamson/ Torres Crime Illustrated 3, 1956

Artists: Angelo Torres (Penciller) , Al Williamson (Inker)

7 Comments - 4,609 Views - 4 Likes

Williamson/ Torres Crime Illustrated 3, 1956 Comic Art

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Additional Images:

Panel 1, with details from Squeeze Play ('54; left), and WSF 29 ('55; inset, flipped)

Panel 2: overhead groupings

Panel 3: Off balance figures

Panel 4: Powerful vertical compositions

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Artwork Details

Title:	Williamson/ Torres Crime Illustrated 3, 1956
Artist:	Angelo Torres (Penciller)
Artist:	Al Williamson (Inker)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	4,609
Likes on CAF:	4 5
Comments:	7
Added to Site:	3/30/2014
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Although the story is signed by Williamson alone, I was for a long time convinced that Frazetta must have pencilled at least parts of this page. The coiled, animal energy of the figures throughout is quite Frazetta-like and entirely unknown in the work of Williamson, whose work is typically described as classical, graceful, elegant. In panel one, the guy on the left is basically the same guy we see in the splash to the Frazetta solo story Squeeze Play, drawn two years earlier, and the powerful hands and forearms of both men are similar, though much less worked, to those of Frazetta's famous Weird Science Fantasy 29 cover. Panel two features a well composed high angle group shot. This is a tricky panel which Frazetta used skillfully throughout his career. I've never seen anything comparable in a solo Williamson story (I've found a couple of high angle groupings in Valor 2, and I feel they support my thesis. The figures don't cross each other with the sophistication of the scenes I'm showing here and the foreshortening is slightly awkward). Panel three features an off balance pose that is totally characteristic of Frazetta, who used it even for figures who hadn't just been belly-slugged as this one has.

HOWEVER, I have come to lean more toward an alternate theory: Angelo Torres pencils. It is reported by EC experts that young Angelo did a very good Frazetta imitation when he wanted to, and Angelo remembers working on this story (though not any specific panels). I think Squeeze Play, in particular, must have made a strong impression and influenced the figures in panels one and two. I haven't found an earlier Frazetta example for the position of the girl in panel 3, just multiple later ones, but that doesn't mean there isn't one out there that Torres could have seen.

Additionally, two or three very knowledgeable Frazetta/EC collectors have expressed doubt that Frazetta was involved. They believe the page is Williamson/ Torres, and their main arguments are practical: " By 1956, Frazetta was working full time in Capp's studio. It is pretty well documented that the Fleagles (which Al said never really existed and was something George Woodbridge made up) didn't hang around with each other much during that time. You have to recall, Frank met and was dating Ellie (they married in Nov 1956) and Al was dating his first wife at the time, too. Like all of us, friends fall away when people date and settle down. No time for hanging out and afternoon baseball...I would bet money Al pencilled all of that page."

If you look through the rest of this story, the villain looks very different in many panels- sharper face, more slender body. I think those are panels Williamson drew.

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About the Owner

	Aaron N. ( 6 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	November 2009
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
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Comments on this Artwork

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Santi Ferrer
Member Since 2009

Posted on 3/30/2014

Great piece !

frank x townsondecker
Member Since 2006

Posted on 3/30/2014

NICE!!!

Filmore W. Bedwick
Member Since 2003

Posted on 3/30/2014

Stunning!

Mark Howland
Member Since 2004

Posted on 3/31/2014

Very cool, regardless of how many hands were involved. I did think (with the little I know) that the flying female hair in panel three looked Fritz-like.

David K
Member Since 2008

Posted on 2/24/2017

My word.... that is just some absolutely gorgeous art!!!

Steve N. Comic/Fantasy Art
Member Since 2017

Posted on 11/18/2021

Immortal tandem here, doing what they do best...

Julien K
Member Since 2017

Posted on 9/23/2022

Great piece, the dynamic/powerful postures especially in panels 2-4 look a lot a like Frazetta

All
	Dave E 9/6/2025 11:14:00 AM
	Ben H 9/6/2025 11:10:00 AM
	J Murdock 9/6/2025 11:08:00 AM
	P A 9/6/2025 11:02:00 AM
	Henrik Henrik 9/6/2025 10:58:00 AM
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