Ordway, Jerry - Adventures of Superman #424 p.12 - Splash!

This 1986 splash page is a truly one-of-a-kind piece of DC history, originating from the very first issue of the Adventures of Superman relaunch! It features a gigantic, quintessential Jerry Ordway Superman image, captured in a powerful, low-angle flight as he zooms through the canyons of Metropolis. 

This particular page is significant not just for its place in the post-Crisis chronology, featuring the introduction of Cat Grant to the supporting cast and featured here on this page in a panel of her own, but also for its remarkable provenance and the unique way it was finished. What makes this piece genuinely special is that it was hand-coloured by Jerry Ordway himself. Jerry did this as a personal wedding gift for his longtime collaborator, inker Mike Machlan. You can see the heartfelt dedication at the bottom right: "To my pal, Mike! Jerry O." It remained a cherished part of Machlan’s private collection, framed and hanging in his home for decades until his passing a few years ago.

The hand-colouring gives the art a rich, painterly quality that you simply don’t see on standard production boards. The colours have a vibrancy and depth that perfectly complement the bold ink work. It is a rare opportunity to own a piece that bridges the gap between professional comic production and a personal memento between two of the industry's greats.