Virgil Reilly

Virgil Reilly (29 November 1892 – 23 January 1974) was an Australian cartoonist, comic book artist, and illustrator whose career spanned much of the 20th century. He is best remembered for his work at Smith's Weekly between the world wars, where his glamorous, seductive young women—dubbed "Virgil's girls"—became a signature feature. During World War II, he continued drawing sensual, assertive women for the Sunday Telegraph and contributed cover art and patriotic cartoons to the Australian Women's Weekly. In the late 1940s and 1950s, Reilly turned to comic books, becoming a prolific artist known for co-creating the superhero "Silver Flash" and the "Rocket Squadron," as well as dramatizing real naval battles. His credited work on titles such as *Silver Flash*, *The Invisible Avenger*, *True Navy Combat*, *"Punch" Perkins of the Fighting Fleet*, *Fighting Fleet Comics*, and *Sea Battles* spanned 1950 to 1960. Reilly's style combined bold linework with a flair for dynamic action and appealing figures, making him a standout in Australian comics. He signed his work simply as "Virgil." While major awards are not recorded in his era, his legacy endures as one of Australia's most versatile and popular newspaper and comic-book artists.