Tony DeZuniga has passed...
I met Tony last November at Komikon and got two large prints autographed by him. One was of the character he created that changed the way comics looked at heroes: Jonah Hex and the other was of Tony's favorite character: Thor.
Many do not realize the impact that Tony had in comics.
The most recognizable creation of his, Jonah Hex, he created in the early 1970s and paved the way for the loner anti-hero concept which took rise in the 1980s. Anyone who has enjoyed The Punisher, Wolverine, Ghost Rider and in many ways Deadpool and Daredevil have a lot of respect to give to Tony. Cable is a nearly direct extraction of Jonah Hex; featuring a reluctant hero plagued by mental, emotional and physical scars.
In re-reading the original Jonah Hex books from the 1970s I gained a much deeper respect for the character and his place in changing comics. Jonah was far from a two-dimensional character and Tony's artwork portrayed a man torn in two. Disfigured physically and adrift emotionally, Jonah was a man who had become a loner due to need rather than desire; his past tortured him in silent ways and the bravado put on by Jonah belied his truly compassionate nature.
The print that I got of Jonah Hex by Tony DeZuniga expresses that duality well and I had intentions of getting that framed once we got back to the States.
The other major character that Tony created was Black Orchid; a female superhero that fought crime thanks to being bulletproof and as tough as she was elegant. The sexual undertones of Black Orchid would have even had Wonder Woman shouting "Suffering Sappho!" but the title was groundbreaking in many ways for the female superhero. Unfortunately the original comic is nearly impossible to find and most people are only familiar with the re-awakening of Black Orchid that Neil Gaiman brought in the 1990s.
Through his life Tony worked on nearly every single major title in both DC and Marvel comics and his extreme attention to detail made him a blessing to every comic run he worked on. In spite of his own dislike for the Jonah Hex movie, he came out of retirement to illustrate a one-shot issue of Jonah Hex to aquaint new readers to the disfigured gunslinger. In reading that issue, one is transported back to the hard-core storytelling of the 1970s and can see a character powerful beyond measure without the aid of supernatural abilities or special gadgets. Merely a keen eye; strong nightvision and a quest for justice in his own fashion.
What I remember most about my meeting with Tony was not the amazing pioneering Filipino comic book artist; but a regular guy commisserating with another regular guy about how impossible it is to get real American Style pizza in the Philippines. I hope he's enjoying a big slice now... one of these days I hope we'll get to enjoy one together.
Rest Tony; you've done an amazing job and you've inspired so many more to take up the path.
http://flipgeeks.com/pinoy-komiks-dc-marvel-etc/filipino-comics-legend-tony-dezuniga-has-passed-away/
Many do not realize the impact that Tony had in comics.
The most recognizable creation of his, Jonah Hex, he created in the early 1970s and paved the way for the loner anti-hero concept which took rise in the 1980s. Anyone who has enjoyed The Punisher, Wolverine, Ghost Rider and in many ways Deadpool and Daredevil have a lot of respect to give to Tony. Cable is a nearly direct extraction of Jonah Hex; featuring a reluctant hero plagued by mental, emotional and physical scars.
In re-reading the original Jonah Hex books from the 1970s I gained a much deeper respect for the character and his place in changing comics. Jonah was far from a two-dimensional character and Tony's artwork portrayed a man torn in two. Disfigured physically and adrift emotionally, Jonah was a man who had become a loner due to need rather than desire; his past tortured him in silent ways and the bravado put on by Jonah belied his truly compassionate nature.
The print that I got of Jonah Hex by Tony DeZuniga expresses that duality well and I had intentions of getting that framed once we got back to the States.
The other major character that Tony created was Black Orchid; a female superhero that fought crime thanks to being bulletproof and as tough as she was elegant. The sexual undertones of Black Orchid would have even had Wonder Woman shouting "Suffering Sappho!" but the title was groundbreaking in many ways for the female superhero. Unfortunately the original comic is nearly impossible to find and most people are only familiar with the re-awakening of Black Orchid that Neil Gaiman brought in the 1990s.
Through his life Tony worked on nearly every single major title in both DC and Marvel comics and his extreme attention to detail made him a blessing to every comic run he worked on. In spite of his own dislike for the Jonah Hex movie, he came out of retirement to illustrate a one-shot issue of Jonah Hex to aquaint new readers to the disfigured gunslinger. In reading that issue, one is transported back to the hard-core storytelling of the 1970s and can see a character powerful beyond measure without the aid of supernatural abilities or special gadgets. Merely a keen eye; strong nightvision and a quest for justice in his own fashion.
What I remember most about my meeting with Tony was not the amazing pioneering Filipino comic book artist; but a regular guy commisserating with another regular guy about how impossible it is to get real American Style pizza in the Philippines. I hope he's enjoying a big slice now... one of these days I hope we'll get to enjoy one together.
Rest Tony; you've done an amazing job and you've inspired so many more to take up the path.
http://flipgeeks.com/pinoy-komiks-dc-marvel-etc/filipino-comics-legend-tony-dezuniga-has-passed-away/