Tony DeZuniga

Infobox Comics creator
name = Tony DeZuniga


imagesize =
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = 1941
location = The Philippines
deathdate =
deathplace =
nationality = Filipino
area = Penciller, Inker
alias =
notable works = Jonah Hex
Black Orchid
awards =
website =

Tony DeZuniga (b. 1941) is a Filipino comic-book artist best known for his work for DC Comics, where he co-created the characters Jonah Hex and Black Orchid.

Biography

Early life and career

Tony DeZuniga began his comics career at the age of 16, as a letterer for a weekly magazine whose contributors included comic-book artists Alfredo Alcala and Nestor Redondo, who became mentors. DeZuniga received a Bachelor of Science degree in commercial art from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and in 1962 came to the United States to study graphic design in New York City, New York. He returned to his native country to work in advertising and to freelance for Filipino comics.

Returning to New York City in the late 1960s, DeZuniga broke into American comic books under editor Joe Orlando at DC Comics, inking pencil art by Ric Estrada on a romance comics tale for "Girl's Love Stories" #153. DeZuniga's American-comics debut as a penciler came with a self-inked Doctor Thirteen story for "Phantom Stranger" #12 (Mar./Apr. 1971).

DC and Marvel Comics

DeZuniga went on to become a regular contributor at DC, co-creating with writer John Albano the long-running Western character Jonah Hex, and with Sheldon Mayer the first Black Orchid. DeZuniga also served as an introduction to what would be a 1970s influx of Filipino artists to American comics, prompting Orlando and DC editor-in-chief Carmine Infantino to visit the Philippines in 1971 to scout talent. Among the artists found there who would soon become mainstays of both DC and Marvel Comics were Alfredo Alcala, Alex Niño, Nestor Redondo, and Gerry Talaoc.

DeZuniga worked for industry leaders Marvel and DC for 18 years, drawing such prominent Marvel characters as the X-Men and Spider-Man.

Later career

DeZuniga later became a video game conceptual designer, spending a decade with the U.S. and Japan divisions of Sega. He has also done freelance work for McGraw Hill and the Scholastic Corporation, and for TSR's "Dungeons & Dragons" game.

Upon retirement, DeZuniga began to do commissioned paintings and to teach art. His work has been the subject of at least one gallery exhibition. [ [http://www.livevideo.com/video/Komikero/7AA499E4B0754E2794DA0F264E1A6187/tony-dezuniga-art-exhibit-opening.aspx The Komkero Live Video Channel: Tony DeZuniga Art Exhibit Opening] (Jan. 27, 2007)]

Awards

* 1997 Sega Presidents Award for Excellence.Fact|date=October 2007

Notes

References

*comicbookdb|type=creator|id=1673|title=Tony DeZuniga
* [http://www.alanguilan.com/museum/dezuniga.html The Philippine Comics Art Museum: Tony DeZuniga]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8RXv-yviNk Komikero Presents: Interview with Comics Illustrator Tony DeZuniga] (subtitled)