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Comic Book Creators Remember Tim Sale, Who Died Yesterday

Tim Sale, the legendary comic book creator, passed away yesterday at the age of 66.

Published Fri, 17 Jun 2022 08:57:09 -0500

Last updated Wed, 04 Dec 2024 06:17:06 -0600

Tim Sale, the legendary comic book creator, passed away yesterday at the age of 66. A number of friends, colleagues and admirers have been sharing their condolences, memories, sadness and recognition of the man's impact on social media. This is just a small example of the outpouring of feelings.

Rob Liefeld: With great sadness I celebrate the life of Tim Sale. We shared a powerful orbit thanks to an introduction by our mutual friend Jeph Loeb. We had great adventures and I'm so glad you were smiling when I saw you last. You were a gentleman, a scholar and a genius to boot. Heaven got a good one today. I'll miss you, you handsome Devil. R.I.P.

Jim Lee: Tim Sale was an amazing artist, draftsman and storyteller. He had that special kind of talent you encounter once in a generation. I am convinced his work stood out because he was simply fearless. He didn't care that his work looked different from the mainstream house styles.
Beyond the taut chiaroscuro style which became his trademark, Tim clearly put a premium on storytelling, clarity and pacing—cherishing emotion above all. His stories were beautifully visceral, nuanced and evinced deep humanity. Tim simply had no use for surface banality.
I think he would freely admit his style was neither slick or hyper detailed or particularly precious, but he quickly became both an artist's artist *and* also a fan favorite which is not a common combination.
Truthfully, he had that kind of talent usually associated with the most arrogant or self absorbed among us. But not Tim. He was such a sweet, kind and good natured soul.
Here's one of my fondest memories with @sale_tim and his longtime collaborator writer @jephloeb3 and our close mutual friend @oliv.jalabert. It was a moment in time, celebrating a marathon signing at the legendary Album Comics shop in Paris, most likely in 2004.
I feel fortunate to have called him a friend and will miss him beyond words. Tim passed away this morning. He was only 66.

Ian Churchill: Tim Sale has passed away. I spent a fair amount of time with Tim over the years. When we were together I'd call him big brother and he'd call me little brother. Jeph Loeb was our 'Dad'. I miss him already. My thoughts are with his family. R.I.P. Tim.

Jason Fabok: This one hits hard. Tim was one of my heroes and Ive looked up to him since I was in my late teens and read Long Halloween. RIP Mr. Sale. You were one of the very best that will ever be.

Matt Wagner: Hey gang…today I'm so incredibly saddened by the passing of Tim Sale, an extraordinary artist and one of my dearest friends for the past 35 years. Tim was like a brother to me and, even though we never lived in the same town, we spent so many hours over the course of our friendship on the phone and online discussing art, comics, fiction, music, life and love. Tim was my confidante in so many things. He was always there with unconditional support, he challenged me in all the best ways and, more often than I'd care to admit, confounded me in matters that only made me love him more. Here we are back around 1989…two young bucks ready and rarin' to take on the whole comics industry, make our black & white marks and draw and tell the kind of stories that we wanted to read. Well…we finally did all that, my brother. You bet your f-cking ass we did. Words alone cannot express how much I'll miss you.

Steve Seagle: After getting the initial caution recently, I was hoping to not have to write this post, but the great artist and good friend Tim Sale died today from the recently announced medical issues he was facing. Condolences to his family and to his partner, Susan. Tim was the second artist I worked with in comics back in 1988 on the Comico Comico Comics Celebration then Dark Horse Comics reprinted/collected series THE AMAZON. He was suggested for the series by our amazing editor Diana Schutz and seconded by the legendary Bob Schreck who were both with Comico at the time. Back then – pre internet – pre cell-phones – pre Big Conventions, Tim and I communicated through mail and by landline and it was "fun" trying to do all the necessary research at a time where said research was hard to come by. I'd send Tim giant old issues of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC or entire textbooks on South America just to get him one or two related terrain photos, or visuals of indigenous peoples. His imagination did the rest. Tim's meticulous, effortless, yet effort-apparent style breathed unimaginable life into the world and characters of the story. Tim often credited me as "spoiling" him with 3-panel pages which he eventually requested from all other writers he worked with, but he spoiled me with beautiful art and decades-ahead-of-their-time covers that I could never have imagined. Tim and I kept in touch over the years while on similar paths on adjacent runs of Matt Wagner's GRENDEL and Jim Lee's Wildstorm universe – but never together on a project. When mutual friend and most-frequent Tim collaborator Jeph Loeb coaxed Tim to move to California, I was able to coax Tim to move to the neighborhood where Duncan Rouleau and I live. I got to see Tim more than I ever had previously, but not nearly enough before he eventually left for Seattle again. Tim and I worked together once more on an 8 page horror story for the Vertigo anthology HEART THROBS. We had a blast. The pages were inspired by the old DC romance books we both had a fondness for, and it felt like old – very old – times. We talked about doing another big project together, but unfortunately that 8 pager will now be the last time we had the chance to collaborate. Each day when I walk up the stairs of my office to start work, I look directly at this original art that Tim kindly gave me – the promotional piece for THE AMAZON – the first thing he ever drew for the series – and I think fondly of Tim. I will continue to do so going forward, only now in memory of a good friend and great artist. And that has me quite sad today.

Mike Mignola: Very sad to hear that the great Tim Sale has passed. I hear it was peaceful which, I suppose, is what you hope for. He was funny and super smart and a great talent. And gone way way too soon. He will be missed.

Doc Shaner: Superman For All Seasons was the first Superman book I really connected with in high school. So much of that was thanks to Tim's work, and it remains a favorite because of him. Rest in peace, Tim Sale.

Tim Seeley: I only met Tim Sale a couple of times, but when we did we lamented that people somehow confused us by our sorta? similair names. I said I lamented it less than he did, cuz he was really damn good.

Bryan Hitch: Neal, George and now Tim Sale? Sad times. Tim was a master storyteller from whom I learned to give the moments space they deserved with the story and visuals. I knew only his work but that was wonderful. Gone far too soon.

James Gunn: We've lost another great voice in comics. Rest in Peace, Tim Sale.

Chris Ryall: The cross-section of varied Tim Sale being shared emphasizes both his incredible talent and also the immensity of the loss. Here are some of my favorites, Tim's covers for Daredevil: Yellow. R.I.P.

Josh Adams: The idea the Tim Sale is hanging out with my dad and George Perez and all the other greats somewhere up there brings me a little comfort. RIP Tim Sale.

Joyce Chin: Goodnight dear friend. Tim Sale passed today. He was one of the very first people I met in the business, and always one of the most talented and kindest. I wish we'd all had more time… Very early on in my career in comics, Tim Sale surprised the heck out of me by gifting me this double page spread of Superman flying over Metropolis from the incredibly influential book he did with Jeph Loeb, Superman For All Seasons.
I'm so glad I was lucky enough to have him as a friend, and I will always miss him.

J.M. DeMatteis: I never met or worked with Tim Sale, who passed away today at the age of 66, but I LOVED his artwork: such grace, power, and emotion wedded to fluid, crystal-clear storytelling.
A terrible loss. Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

Tom King: Goddamnit. Tim Sale was one of the greatest story tellers in the history of comics, an era defining Batman artist, and a kind, humble, cool man. My favorite, his stunning work on Challengers, showed me what a super hero story could be. We're all still living on borrowed time. RIP

Bruno Redondo: This hurts. Farewell Tim Sale, you will be remembered.

Jackie Estrada: R.I.P. the wonderful comics artist Tim Sale. It was always great seeing him at Comic-Con, going back to at least 1990. His best-known work is probably his collaboration with Jeph Loeb, "Batman: The Long Halloween." In 1999 Sale won the Eisner Award for Best Penciller/Inker for his work on "Superman For All Seasons" and "Grendel: Black, White and Red," and his story with Matt Wagner in "Black, White and Red" #1 won the Eisner for Best Short Story. This photo is from 1997.

Phillip Hester: Very down about Tim Sale. Doesn't really process. Great talent with a very healthy attitude about creating art and dealing with success. If you want to learn something from his career, it's this– be yourself, let your people find you.

Matthew Dow Smith: I have no words at the news Tim Sale has passed away. An incredible artist. His legacy will outlast all of us. Rest In Peace.

Gail Simone: We lost one of the greats. Tim Sale was one of my favorite artists, I adored him as a person. I am not ready to say goodbye yet. Thank you to the people who were able to voice what kind of man and artist he was far better. This hurts. My love to his friends, family, and fans.

Patch Zircher: We lost a mega-talent in Tim Sale. An artist whose expressiveness and strong graphic style really did 'leap from the page'. Condolences to his friends and family.

Greg Pak: So very sad to read this. A genuine legend. Deepest thanks to Tim Sale for gifting us with so much brilliance, and deepest condolences to his friends, family, and admirers.

Ryan Higgins: Another devastating loss to the comic industry. Tim Sale was a one of a kind talent, among the most unique artists working in comics in the 90s and early 2000s.

Joseph P. Illidge: We've lost another master of the art. Tim Sale's work on Batman helped pave the way for my time in the BatOffice, so it was a thrill when he accepted my invitation to grace the Valiant universe with his take on Bloodshot. RIP to a tastemaker and swell guy

Van Jensen: Rest in peace, Tim Sale. Art from The Long Halloween, but just one of so many incredible works. I only met Tim once and regret that I was so awe-struck I could barely tell him how much I admired him.

Klaus Janson: It's so difficult to process the passing of my friend Tim Sale.He was a brilliant artist and a kind, warm and generous http://man.My
condolences to his partner, Susan, and his family and the fans who loved him and his work. He is sorely missed.

Christos Gage: So sad to hear of the passing of Tim Sale. I only met him a few times; he was always a gentleman and a pleasure to be around. Needless to say, he was also a genius. His work was quite influential on Netflix's Daredevil Season 1. Condolences to his family, loved ones and fans.

Ram V: One of my defining Batman creators. Tim Sale will be missed. <3

DC Comics: Tim Sale was an incredible artist, whose take on iconic characters had real human depth, and his groundbreaking page designs changed the way an entire generation thinks about comic book storytelling. Our condolences go to Tim's family and friends. He will be deeply missed.

Marvel Comics: Tim Sale was a legendary artist who created comic book masterpieces across and beyond the industry. At Marvel, his Color series became stunning classics and remain just a glimpse at his acclaimed legacy. We mourn his loss today, and our thoughts are with his family & loved ones.

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