Sale recently spoke to Newsarama about his involvement with Heroes and his current work on DC?s Superman Confidential with writer Darwyn Cooke.

Newsarama: Staring with your Heroes work, how many pieces have you done so far?

Tim Sale: I?ve done maybe 20 paintings for the show and 30 comic book panels, not counting the comic that was given away as a promotion in San Diego. I should say right away, that the "paintings" are not actually paintings, they are wash drawings on comic book paper, about 11"x17", that are then colored by the amazing Dave Stewart on a computer, and then blown up and transferred to canvas -- except for the canvas part, just like Catwoman: When In Rome was produced.

NRAMA: What pieces have been the most challenging? Are there any you're particularly proud of or that you wish you could do differently?


TS: There are some that haven't been shown yet that I love, very moody, but so far the Train Wreck from the pilot, and the Shadow Chasing the Cheerleader are the one's that come to mind. Oddly enough, the painting that may have had the most airtime is my least favorite, the Peter Flying one.

NRAMA: How often are you called upon to produce a new painting, and how long does each painting take?

TS: I have had art in almost all of the episodes, sometimes many pieces, either comic panels or "paintings". The comic panels, the stuff Hiro looks at, are also colored by Dave, but they are done, one panel per page, but otherwise just like a regular comic would be. The deadlines are sometimes very tight, but everyone on the show now knows that my full time job is drawing for DC Comics, and that that must be my priority, so the maximum lead time I can have is best for everyone involved. Not always easy or possible on a weekly series, but that's the goal.

NRAMA: Would you ever see leaving comics and working in Hollywood with the clout you?re getting from Heroes?

TS: What's this clout you're talking about? (laughs). Show it to me! No, I'd never leave comics altogether, no. I love comics too much. And I would never want to only do one thing. That?s part of my personality, I move on. It?s why I can?t do a regular comic book series. I get bored. Who knows? Like I said, I had no idea I?d be working on TV at all a year ago. As long as that?s fun and interesting, I?ll be pursuing that. There may be a point when I?m doing something else for a while, but I imagine if that happens, I'll always want to come back to comics at some point. I just dig the medium too much.