RIP Tony DeZuniga, co-creator of Jonah Hex & Black Orchid

Veteran Filipino comicbook artist and concept designer Tony de Zuniga passed early in the morning today May 11, 2012 from complications of a stroke he had in April. Tony was well-loved, especially in the community of Filipino artists working in comics, who conducted multiple fund-raisers to assist with his care.

Tony DeZuniga was born and raised in Manila, capital city of the Phillipines, where he started doing comics as a teenager. He graduated from the University of Santo Thomas and worked in advertising, eventually moving with his family to the U.S. where he worked for Scholastic as an illustrator.  Soon he was hired by DC, where he was the first Filipino artist to have work accepted by American publishers. Tony is probably best known for co-creating the cult classic characters Jonah Hex (yes, he hated the movie) and Black Orchid for DC, but he worked extensively for DC, Marvel and Dark Horse.  De Zuniga remained a champion of comics artists in his home country and worldwide, and was encouraged by the future that new technologies and publishing platforms promised for practitioners of the medium.

“I hope artists can tap this well because they won't be trapped by the limitations of traditional publishing" -Tony DeZuniga, on comics and new media

Tony is survived by his wife and three daughters, to whom we at GhettoManga send our heartfelt condolences. He was 71 years old.
Rest in Peace,
-samax.  

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