DeZuniga was the first Filipino comic book artist whose work was accepted by American publishers, paving the way for many other Filipino artists to enter the international comic book industry.[4][5][6]
DeZuniga became a regular contributor at DC. With writerJohn Albano, he co-created the long-runningwestern characterJonah Hex,[8] and withSheldon Mayer the firstBlack Orchid.[9] DeZuniga served as an introduction to what would be a 1970s influx of Filipino artists to American comics, prompting Orlando and DC publisherCarmine Infantino to visit the Philippines in 1971 to scout talent.[10] Among the artists found there who would soon become mainstays of both DC andMarvel Comics wereAlfredo Alcala,Alex Niño,Nestor Redondo, andGerry Talaoc.[10] He was responsible for the discovery of artistSteve Gan and was Gan's United States art agent in charge of importing his artwork to Marvel from the Philippines.[11] DeZuniga inkedJohn Buscema's penciled artwork forMGM's Marvelous Wizard of Oz (1975). This comics adaptation of theMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer film was the first joint publishing venture between Marvel and DC Comics.[12]
DeZuniga relocated back to New York from the Philippines in 1977.[13] Around this time, DeZuniga formedAction Art Studio, which was a group of New York-based Filipinokomiks artists who inked various Marvel Comics titles under the collective pseudonym of "The Tribe." Members included DeZuniga,Alfredo Alcala, andRudy Nebres, among others.[14] DeZuniga worked for industry leaders Marvel and DC for 18 years.[7]
DeZuniga was married three times.[20] He and his wife Mary were co-owners of Action Art Studio in the mid-to-late 1970s.[14] His third wife was named Tina.[20]
In April 2012, DeZuniga suffered a life-threatening stroke.[20] Doctors were able to save him, but numerous complications quickly arose. Both the Philippine and international comics community made an effort to raise funds for his treatment.[5] DuringFree Comic Book Day on May 5, 2012, Filipino comic book artists banded together and launched a sketch drive, T-shirt sale and auction to help raise funds.[21][22]
On May 11, 2012, at 1:25 a.m., DeZuniga died from the stroke having led to his subsequent brain damage and heart failure.[23]
After DeZuniga's death,Marvel Comics issued a statement saying, "Tony DeZuniga stands as a historic figure in comics, a singular voice of his own making. His legacy will be seen and felt in the multitude of fans he leaves behind and the incredible body of work of which he remained justifiably proud to his final days."[24]
Red Sonja, vol. 2, #1 (along withErnie Colón, 1983)
Robocop (Magazine) #1 (over Javier Saltares and Alan Kupperberg pencils, 1987)
Savage Sword of Conan #1, 3, 181, 192-195 (artist); #5, 14, 26-27, 31-32, 38-46, 49-52, 56-58, 171, 177, 190 (inks over John Buscema,Neal Adams,Sal Buscema, Ernie Colón, Dave Hoover,Luke McDonnell and Mike Doherty) (1974–92)
Savage Tales (Ka-Zar) #6-8 (inks over John Buscema pencils); (Shanna the She-Devil) #9 (artist) (1975)
The Secret Defenders #15-17, 19-25 (over Jerry Decaire and Bill Wylie pencils, 1994–95)
^Uy, Jerald T. (14 May 2012)."The secret life of Tony De Zuñiga".Rappler.Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved14 May 2012.Various news sites have initially reported that De Zuñiga, locally known as 'Mang Tony,' was 71 years old, probably basing on previous records that he was born in 1941. But his wife, Tina, clarifies that De Zuñiga was actually 79 years old and was born in November 1932.
^abcValmero, Anna (2 July 2010)."Jonah Hex creator is a hero for Filipino comic book artists". Filquest Media Concepts, Inc. Archived fromthe original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved11 May 2012.As the first Filipino to ever do illustrations for comic book juggernauts Marvel and DC comics, De Zuniga is dubbed the 'Father of Filipino Invasion in US Comics.'
^Ubalde, Mark Joseph (30 October 2007)."Tony de Zuñiga: The 'legend' in Pinoy invasion of US comics". Quezon City, Philippines:GMA Network.Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved11 May 2012.In August [2007], Tony quite literally received his own stamp of approval after the United States Postal Service honored one of his works, Spider-Woman, and is now part of Marvel Superheroes' stamp collection.
^McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1970s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.).DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom:Dorling Kindersley. p. 151.ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9.The Western comic had all but ridden off into the sunset, until the arrival of Jonah Hex gave the genre a new face...A tale by John Albano and drawn by Tony DeZuniga immediately presented the bounty hunter as a cold-blooded killer.
^McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 156: "Very little was known about the Black Orchid, even after writer Sheldon Mayer and artist Tony DeZuniga presented her so-called "origin issue" inAdventure Comics."
^abDuncan, Randy; Smith, Matthew J. (2009)."The Power of Comics: History, Form & Culture". Continuum. Archived fromthe original on 23 September 2009.DeZuñiga accompanied Infantino on a recruiting trip to the Philippines in 1971, beginning the recruitment of talented contributions from one nation's comics industry to another's.
^Alanguilan, Gerry (17 January 2007)."Tony DeZuniga Exhibit, Jess Jodloman". Komikero Komiks.Archived from the original on 2 April 2012.Lots of news, first and foremost being, Tony DeZuniga's art exhibit at Megamall. I went there for the opening last night and it was like a reunion of old and new comics people.
^abcUbalde, Joseph Holandes (11 May 2012)."Legendary US comics illustrator 'Mang Tony' de Zuniga, 79". Mandaluyong, Philippines:InterAksyon. Archived fromthe original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved15 May 2012.Zuniga, the first Filipino to do illustrations for the Marvel and DC brands, suffered heart and kidney failure after being rushed to the Las Pinas Doctors Hospital at 1:30 a.m., Tina, his third wife, told InterAksyon. He suffered a stroke on April 10 that paralyzed his left side.
^Ringgenberg: "Filipino cartoonists pooled their talents on Free Comic Book Day in May to sell sketches and t-shirts to raise money for DeZuniga and his family."
^Agustin, Jon Lindley (11 May 2012)."Comics artist Tony de Zuñiga dies at age 79". Quezon City, Philippines: GMA Network.Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved11 May 2012.De Zuñiga died at 1:25 a.m. after suffering from stroke, heart failure, and brain damage, his wife Tina told GMA News Online. She said the doctors attempted to resuscitate de Zuñiga but could not because his heart and brain have already malfunctioned.
