Playboy #3

"Class Will Tell" is a sharp, character-driven vignette from 1965, written and illustrated entirely by Claude Smith, whose singular vision shapes every line and shade. In a quiet moment on the street, two men observe three women, their paths crossing in a subtle dance of social dynamics and unspoken assumptions. The story unfolds with precision, capturing a fleeting encounter that lingers in the air long after the final panel—where the women walk off with a wealthy older man, leaving the others behind. The cover by Claude Smith complements the tale’s tone with a striking, stylized portrait that hints at the tensions beneath the surface.