THE hit NBC drama "Heroes" has introduced characters with extraordinary abilities that have made the show the most popular new series of the season. But the real hero behind this incredibly creative and fresh drama is the show?s artist, Tim Sale.

Sale, 50, not only produces the giant paintings done by artist and ?precog? Isaac Mendez (played by Santiago Cabrera), he also creates the all-important ?9th Wonders!? comic book, also drawn by Mendez, that?s followed religiously by Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka).

The comic book is the show's bible and shows viewers - and the characters - where the plot is headed.

Sale's vibrantly colored art work makes "Heroes" a two-dimensional success story, feeding hungry fans clues each week. How Sale came to be the show's unlikely hero is fascinating. The 20-year industry veteran has worked for Marvel on The Hulk and Spider-Man. While with his present employer, DC Comics, he took on Catwoman and Superman, and was asked by "Heroes"creator Tim Kring to illustrate the pilot script. At the time, Sale had no idea how integral his artwork would end up being to the show's future. When "Heroes" was picked up by NBC, Sale was brought on as the show's "artistic consultant."

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