"Batman '89" Older Batman Unmasked by Jerry Ordway

"Batman '89" Older Batman Unmasked by Jerry Ordway 11x14

"Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?"

2019 was the 30th Anniversary of Tim Burton’s 1989 film, Batman. “Batman” is a very special film for me. It was my first serious introduction to the character of Batman. But more importantly it was something I remember bonding with my Dad over. My Dad enjoyed movies, but he was not one to get overly or even overtly excited for a movie. I remember clear as day watching the trailer on TV and when the Batmobile is revealed my Dad said with pure excitement in his voice “Aw, wow we have to see this movie!”
Come June 1989 my own Batmania truly began. I still remember running into Showcase Cinema West with my Dad to make the show time. From the first frame I was hooked.
Granted for a 5-year-old some of it was very intense. My Dad made me close my eyes when the Joker shocks the monster and when Batman remember his parents murder.
While the film has started to show some of its age, it captures a tone and aesthetic and made an indelible mark on the character and my life. I also think Michael Keaton’s performance is fantastic. I kept hoping one day we could see him return to the character and maybe voice him in an animated movie. My Dad and I saw every Batman movie together, most opening night and he always said Keaton was the best Batman.
To celebrate the anniversary, I wanted to add some pieces based on the movie to my original art collection, and I did, artists Tom Reilly and Daniel Warren Johnson did some amazing pieces featuring Batman unmasked. But there was one artist I was desperate to see interpret this version of the Dark Knight, Jerry Ordway. Jerry drew the comic adaptation of “Batman” and I still think he set the high bar of what comic adaptations could be. Then in 2020 it was announced that Michael Keaton would reprise the roe of Batman in “The Flash.” To say I am so excited to see Michael Keaton's Return to the cape and cowl is a massive understatement. With Jerry Ordway appearing at Baltimore Comic Con, I wanted to see Jerry do a piece of Batman '89 Unmasked but I specifically wanted the 70-year-old Bruce Wayne, for reference I found a set photo of Keaton from the set of "The Flash." Jerry knocked this out of the park. He said he had a lot of fun with this piece. His muscle memory to draw Michael Keaton came back quicker than he thought, and he knocked this piece out of the park.