Tim Sale, a comic book artist behind classic works such as “Batman: The Long Halloween” and “Superman for All Seasons,” died on Thursday. He was 66.
DC Comics confirmed Sale’s death in a news release. A cause of death has not been given.
“The entire DC family is heartbroken at the news of Tim’s passing,” Jim Lee, DC’s chief creative officer and publisher, said in a statement. “Tim was an extraordinary artist, who was masterful at storytelling and panel layouts and his compositions were second to none. I was always so impressed and inspired by his use of lighting and shadows which infused his work with foreboding gravitas and dramatic noir sensibilities.”
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. pic.twitter.com/VgXxu7O0V4
— DC (@DCComics) June 16, 2022
Lee said that Sale had been admitted to a hospital due to health issues on Monday, Variety reported.
Lee was born in Ithaca, New York, on May 1, 1956, Entertainment Weekly reported. He attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City and began his career as an artist in 1983, DC Comics said in its news release.
Sale teamed up with writer Jeph Loeb for a revival of “The Challengers of the Unknown,” Entertainment Weekly reported. The pair formed a long-lasting partnership and created several series of Batman stories, including “Batman: Long Halloween.”
For Marvel, the pair created successful comics series featuring the Hulk, Spider-Man, and Daredevil, DC Comics said.
“Tim contributed innovative ideas to every project he worked on,” DC Editor in Chief Marie Javins said in a statement. “His work always surprised with artful compositions and graphic use of contrast and negative space. I especially loved his Batman villains, whose attributes Tim sometimes highlighted through exaggeration and caricature. We will miss Tim, and we consider ourselves lucky to be a partner in his legacy.”
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