TIM SALE ON SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL

[MattBrady]

Artwork colored by Mark Chiarello

As we already reported, DC will be kicking off two new series in November, focusing on the early days of their most popular heroes. While Batman Confidential will focus on the early days of the Dark Knight, Superman Confidential will examine the earlier days of the Man of Steel through the eyes of rotating creative teams.

First up on the series – a six issue arc written by Darwyn Cooke and illustrated by Tim Sale. We caught up with the artist for more on the arc.

To begin with, when asked, Sale explained that getting on the book was easy enough. “I was approached by Dan DiDio. Jeph [Loeb] had recently signed with Marvel, and I had still obligations under my exclusive contract with DC that needed honoring, and Dan had come up with the idea of the Superman and Batman Confidential titles. He knew of my admiration for Darwyn's work, and that I had expressed to Mark Chiarello that I would love to someday work with Darwyn, and once Dan said that Darwyn would be writing, I was in.”

Following along with Didio’s vision for the Confidential titles, like the story in Batman Confidential’s first arc, the series tells of key moments in Superman’s history, in this case, the first time he ran into that little souvenir from home – Kryptonite.

“Darwyn had dug up the first kryptonite story from 1949 by Bill Finger and Al Plastino and we took that as our jumping off point,” Sale explained. “Our version is very different in both style and plot, but there are structural things in the tale that are similar. It's really Darwyn's baby, we didn't discuss much, only things like what I think is fun to draw, and Darwyn's instincts along those lines are really good.

“Our story is set when Superman is young and just discovering the extent of his powers. It is also very early in his relationship with Lois.”

In order to show that Superman Confidential’s Superman isn’t the modern-day version, but rather a slightly greener version of the hero, Sale said that he went back to the approach he took with Superman For All Seasons.

“The art style I'm using is different, but the innocence that my Superman has is the same,” the artist said. “There is more variety in his expressions perhaps, in this version than the one I drew in For All Seasons.”

The fact that this story’s look doesn’t quite match that in For All Seasons was a deliberate choice Sale made, he explained. “I wanted very much to have a different look than For All Seasons, both because I want that look to be special for the stories I do with Jeph, and because I felt this story deserved its own look. I do think I have matured as an artist since then also, and there will be some difference from that, too.”

One of the aspects of the art Sale gives a good deal of thought to is one of the larger challenges of Superman – drawing Clark and Superman as the same person, but at the same time, in a manner so that it’s believable that people in Superman’s world just might not catch on that the mild mannered reporter is also the world’s greatest hero.

“For me, it's largely in the hair and clothes,” Sale said. “Body language, too, but I don't draw Clark sort of stooped the way they do in the movies, he's still a big guy. It's one of those comic book cheats that I just bypass, that Clark combs his hair and puts on glasses and a suit, and suddenly he's unrecognizable. He's as big as a house, and no one suspects, he's just a farm kid.”

In regards to working with Cooke, Sale said that the process has been an easy once, given that they share the same approach. “It's great, and we very much see Superman in the same way. The sense of what makes these people tick, and what's fun about them, is in large part what I liked about Darwyn's New Frontier.

Although - Sale said that there was a slight learning curve as their styles meshed and adapted – particularly when it came to Superman’s villains. “Darwyn is fond of some of the more cartoony aspects of the villains in Superman's gallery, and I'm not so much, and so getting my swerve on when it came to them was challenging, but there is so much in Darwyn's writing that I just couldn't wait to get to draw, that it was fun.

“Also, there’s a scene at a volcano in issue two, intercut with a scene of Lois, that I felt I just nailed. It was really fun to contrast the styles and emotions.”

Finally, the artist did give one final hint of something to keep an eye out for in the story: “Darwyn does plant the seed of a character motivation in issue two that I think is brilliant, and long overdue. One of those things that seems so obvious once it's done that you can't believe it's never been done before.”

[McAlice]

I love Tim Sale's art

[jdurdan]

Just from the way I read Tim's statement about being under exclusive to DC, it doesn't "read" like he's happy with how the exclusivity has worked out.

[greenflameuk]

I'm not really a fan of Sale's artwork, but i'll get this for Darwyn Cooke.

[Simon DelMonte]

Well, the art will be good, but as one of the few who found New Frontier to be dismal, I can't say that I like the choice of writer. Oh, why couldn't DC retain Loeb?

[Bobo Da Hobo]

Wow. Ladies and Germs, the first Superman since Chuck Austen that I'm buying. Good stuff

[Chris Noeth]

Originally Posted by jdurdan

Just from the way I read Tim's statement about being under exclusive to DC, it doesn't "read" like he's happy with how the exclusivity has worked out.

I can't find anything which read 'unhappy'...

[McAlice]

Originally Posted by Chris Noeth

I can't find anything which read 'unhappy'...

I get that impression from this bit
“I was approached by Dan DiDio. Jeph [Loeb] had recently signed with Marvel, and I had still obligations under my exclusive contract with DC that needed honoring

[Big Dog]

What's the difference between the All Star titles and the upcoming Confidentials? Seems to me like these tales could fall under the All Star banner without creating new titles...

[McAlice]

Originally Posted by Big Dog

What's the difference between the All Star titles and the upcoming Confidentials? Seems to me like these tales could fall under the All Star banner without creating new titles...

Aren't the Confidentials in continuity?

[mightymodok]

Originally Posted by Big Dog

What's the difference between the All Star titles and the upcoming Confidentials? Seems to me like these tales could fall under the All Star banner without creating new titles...

Explanation: More $

[Goat warrior]

Originally Posted by Big Dog

What's the difference between the All Star titles and the upcoming Confidentials? Seems to me like these tales could fall under the All Star banner without creating new titles...

They will be on time (well, I hope so...)

[chap22]

well, i was planning on saving money by not buying either of the 2 Confidential titles, but dammit it will be HARD not to plunk down cash for a Cooke/Sale collaboration. dammit DC, just take my whole paycheck, why don't you?

[mightymodok]

Originally Posted by Goat warrior

They will be on time (well, I hope so...)

Dammit, your answer was better than mine!

[Moriarty]

Fascinating. This may warrant my attention...

[ParisCub]

Well, I love Darwyn Cooke, but I can't stand Sale's art... So I guess I won't buy another Superman title... which is good news for my wallet.

[Big Dog]

Originally Posted by mightymodok

Explanation: More $

That's my thinking as well. A Sale & Cooke story sounds amazing, but why start another title if not for $$? Push it over in the All Star title or use a mini-series. At least it would get the All Star title on schedule if you have another story being created as one is running. I'm afraid DC might bog us down with Batman and Superman related titles like Marvel did with X-titles...

[jmcl89]

Originally Posted by McAlice

I get that impression from this bit
“I was approached by Dan DiDio. Jeph [Loeb] had recently signed with Marvel, and I had still obligations under my exclusive contract with DC that needed honoring

It just sounds like he plans to resume working with Loeb once he fulfills his contract. Which isn't very surprising.

[punjeb]

While I love Supes, and Cooke & Sale's work, I'll pass. I just have a problem with titles set in the past. There's no real drama. Of ourse, we know (in present-day set titles) they won't kill off Supes for good or have any other unannounced ststus-quo changes...but this is even moreso with titles set in the past. There's no drama, no suspense and no character development. Just like the old "Adventures of Superman When He Was A Boy" Superboy stories. As nothing will really happen, why bother?

Just my opinion.

[HartyPotter]

Cool, it sounds like it will be a good first arc.

[MatthewSmith]

Originally Posted by chap22

well, i was planning on saving money by not buying either of the 2 Confidential titles, but dammit it will be HARD not to plunk down cash for a Cooke/Sale collaboration. dammit DC, just take my whole paycheck, why don't you?

I certainly know how you feel, chap.

I've been burned by these rotating creative team books before, so I decided I would wait for the trades and only buy the arcs that were actually good as opposed to adding the books to my pull list and getting stuck with subpar stuff by a lesser team months from now.

But dammit, I'm not going to be able to wait for the trade when its Darwyn Cooke and Tim Sale. Just can't do it.

[DJ Sloofus]

Sale's artwork is usually top-notch. I hope this series really takes off, instead of just fizzling away like many other projects that have been hyped in the last few years.

[Punchy]

Superman encountered Kryptonite already in Birthright! Back before he was Superman!

Oy

It'll be a good story probably, and that's all that really matters.

[smitch]

Cooke and Sale are two of my favorites, and I love the stories set in the past. These elements combined make for a nostalgic comic, which is my favorite kind. I like art and stories that make me feel like a kid in 1945. That probably sounds weird, but that's the feeling that I like to get out of this art form. A connection to the past.

[psycha]

I LOVE TIM SALE!!!

I'm so buying that. A bit worried about the writing though.