dunne, michael :: Birthday 2013: JSA Meets JLA by Jerry Ordway

Justice Society meets Justice League panel reinterpertation

Artist: Jerry Ordway (All)

25 Comments - 3,943 Views - 2 Likes

Justice Society meets Justice League panel reinterpertation Comic Art

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Additional Images:

Justice League of America 21 Original panel

Previous Item:
Jerry Ordway JSA-JLA Panel Reinterpertation Colored by Glenn Whitmore

Artwork Details

Title:	Justice Society meets Justice League panel reinterpertation
Artist:	Jerry Ordway (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	3,943
Likes on CAF:	2 3
Comments:	25
Added to Site:	10/31/2013
Comic Art Archive:

Description

There is a story to how this commission came about and it begins last March as my wife and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary by returning to the place where we honeymooned. As is my custom for any kind of a vacation I took several books about different topics with me, since I knew there was a hammock nestled between two trees awaiting me and I could happily spend early mornings in it reading, accompanied by the lulling sounds of Jamaican waves

One of those books was TwoMorrow's Publishing, American Comic book Chronicles, 1960-1964. As I was reading it one morning I flipped to page 126 and there in front of me was the panel from Justice League of America 21, depicting the first formal meeting between the Justice League and the Justice Society.

I sat there gently swinging away and savored the moment and remembered another moment some fifty years earlier when that magical image jumped out at me just as it did this past March. This time my thoughts were of a way to make that image relevant today and I thought to myself, "Man would I love to have Jerry Ordway recreate this image."

Flash forward a couple of months, Jerry and I are exchanging emails, at the same time the adorable one and I are discussing my impending birthday. Her question was simple "What do you want for your birthday. " Mine was just as simple, " A commission." Her response was a reminder, "You know you asked for that last year and the artist never did your commission and that one was supposed to be special, because you turned 60." I rationalized the lack of a present by pointing out I had saved her money, but assured her this year I would have a back-up list in the event that one artist could not do a birthday commission, I'd simply make a request to another artist whose work I would also like to have.

But top of the list was Jerry to do this particular image. If he was unavailable I would have suggested another project with the artists on my want list, but if this image was going to be reinterpreted for me, the only artist to do it would be Jerry. We exchanged emails and Jerry was agreeable to do the commission and although it would not be done for my birthday, I had no doubt it would get done.

I asked Jerry to change a few things in the original Sekowsky panel, such as depicting Hourman with trunks as opposed to a tunic. Re-positioning Green Arrow so he would be more on panel. Jerry moved J'onn J'onzz a bit more, so you can clearly see he is attending this historic event. I also went back and forth as to whether or not Superman should be from Earth 1 or Earth 2. If he had ended up being the Earth 2 character he would have had a more Schuster Shop look, ultimately I left it up to Jerry and I think he made the right choice by depicting him in his 60s look a la' Ordway.

Needless to say I am extremely grateful to Amy and Jerry because this is a simply stunning commission and a wonderful birthday present. The art is in the frame shop as I write this and will soon hang on a wall in our home.

Now it is time to turn my thoughts to this year's Christmas Commission and those artists who were number 2 and three for a birthday request are now at the top of my list for Christmas 2013. I'll look forward to a posting Christmas Day.

Enjoy!
10-31-13

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About the Owner

	michael dunne
Joined:	January 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	michael's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Mark Geier
Member Since 2013

Posted on 10/31/2013

Wow, stunning piece! I've gotten a commission from Jerry in the past, he's great to talk to and is a great artist. Congrats on such a great birthday present!

Shannon El Guapo Slayton
Member Since 2005

Posted on 10/31/2013

Amazing piece! Love Jerry's work!

John Michael Jackson
Member Since 2004

Posted on 10/31/2013

Now that's what I call an all star squadron! :)

larry clay
Member Since 2006

Posted on 10/31/2013

Incredible piece by the only artist that could have done this "justice". Great back story as well Michael. Happy Birthday.

Byron Hamm
Member Since 2006

Posted on 10/31/2013

Absolutely fabulous interpretation by Jerry! His style definitely was the only way to go with this! Such a beautiful piece!

Roy Johnson
Member Since 2010

Posted on 10/31/2013

Excellent, based on an inspiring image.

Rob Shalda
Member Since 2013

Posted on 10/31/2013

What a wonderful birthday commission. A brilliant rendition of the first meeting between DC's premier super teams! Congrats!

Ghost9 King
Member Since 2010

Posted on 10/31/2013

Great story and great commission! Simply beautiful.

Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy
Member Since 2005

Posted on 10/31/2013

This makes me so NOSTALGIC..Wow !

John Burk
Member Since 2007

Posted on 10/31/2013

Outstanding commission! Jerry really is amazing in what he does. Congrats!

Ray Cuthbert
Member Since 2003

Posted on 10/31/2013

Absolutely stunning! No one but Jerry Ordway could make it look THIS good!

Jason Versaggi
Member Since 2005

Posted on 10/31/2013

I love it. This is awesome nostalgia of highest order. Bravo!

Timothy Finney
Member Since 2006

Posted on 11/1/2013

1. Happy belated birthday! and 2. Wow, did Jerry borrow Murphy Anderson's brush? That is Silver Age smooth for sure.

Fred's CAF Gallery
Member Since 2003

Posted on 11/1/2013

This is FANTASTIC!!!

Al Gordon
Member Since 2006

Posted on 11/5/2013

Awesome! Jerry's the very best!

Alex B
Member Since 2008

Posted on 11/9/2013

Congrats for this awesome concept and stunning result !

Rob L
Member Since 2003

Posted on 11/10/2013

JEALOUS for several reasons ... 1) AMAZING art by Ordway (I'd love something by him); 2) COOLEST wife for buying you treasures like this; 3) DISGUSTED that you don't look remotely like 60.

Adam Ianbarry
Member Since 2010

Posted on 12/13/2013

Wonderful!!!

Jovi Neri
Member Since 2011

Posted on 12/25/2013

Great story and great commission. As a proud owner of Ordway art purchased from the master himself, I can tell you that these are hard to find but very fulfilling to have! I love this!

Arthur Chertowsky
Member Since 2008

Posted on 1/17/2014

We're the same age - I'm 59 - and this was also a "magical image" for me all those decades ago. Jerry Ordway recreated it beautifully, and he was a great choice for the project. Now those Earth-2 heroes look so young to me, but back in the 1960's I wondered how they had the strength to fight crime if they were around 40 ...

Greg Gross
Member Since 2006

Posted on 7/28/2014

Classically cool! Beautiful piece!

Will K
Member Since 2006

Posted on 9/16/2014

Why didn't I comment before ??? Better late than never. Very few artists can carry the torch of this kind of nostalgia better than Ordway.

Jason Caldwell
Member Since 2014

Posted on 7/20/2016

Absolutely incredible piece with a great story behind it too! The two Lanterns make this for me- those smiles!

Alex Johnson
Member Since 2006
Forum Moderator

Posted on 2/1/2021

Remarkable!

Did you know someone colored it? You can see the color version here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/137385896932362/permalink/691855854818694/

michael dunne
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 2/1/2021

Alex Johnson wrote:

Remarkable!

Did you know someone colored it? You can see the color version here:�https://m.facebook.com/groups/137385896932362/permalink/691855854818694/

�

Yes. Glenn Whitmore colored it some years ago and it is my profile picture on Facebook. Jerry was selling color prtints of it at some point.

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