Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Tony DeZuñiga's Superheroes

Tony DeZuñiga's Opening of Art Exhibit entitled "Superheroes" was
a phenomenal success.Numerous personalities from the Art and Comics
Community has attended and was spotted during the said
event. It is indeed a night of art, fellowship and with a solemn background
music!Filipino atmosphere can truly be felt during that night.And his
appearance in his exhibit was been the most significant during the
opening.This was held in Crucible Gallery, 4th Floor, SM Megamall,
Mandaluyong, Metro Manila last January 16, 2007.

It was been best noted that Tony DeZuniga was the first Filipino
Artist who made it in the US Comics Mainstream. According to
Randy Valiente (a Komiks historian, artist, creator and writer),
Tony was Considered to be the Father of Filipino Artists Invasion
in the US comics.Tony started in the Philipine Komiks Industry
at the age of around 16 as a letterer.Alfredo Alcala and
Nestor Redondo was among his mentors.At around 1960's
that he went to New York for schooling and then went back to the Philippines
to do some Advertising related works as a Creative Director.But due to his
passion in drawing Comics, he went back to US and made an appointed
to Orlando Bloom, one of the editors of DC Comics.Jonah Hex, a western
anti-hero character, was his first ongoing series in collaboration with the writer
John Albano.When DC had a problem on fiscal matters, they have no other
choice but to adjust their budgetting including the reprinting of their back
issues and problems on the increasing fee of an American Artist's professional
fee.In 1972, it was Tony who introduced the Filipino artists and their works in
DC Comics and Marvel Comics.It was then the start of the so called "Filipino
Artists Invasion".Tony was also the first Filipino artists to work on
Marvel's popular comics title: X-Men.

His works can be best described in his mastery on Illustrating human
anatomy, pen and brush strokes, beautiful women,detailed and strong
realistic approach. He is also a very versatile artist. He does not just
concentrate in one medium because it looks he wanted to explore
time to time--ranging from, pencils, charcoals, watercolors, pastels.
colored pencil to oil painting.

His achievements as of today is still dominant and will marked in the Philippine
Art History. He truly inspires fellow artists and had broken the barrier between
Comic Artists and Illustrators including painters in the local art scene.

Today, Tony spend more time in painting and was still doing professional
works as a concept designer for Sega Game Systems in the United states..
We can also conclude that he is one of the most successful Filipino Comic
Artist and our living inspiration.A Truly World Class Filipino Artist indeed.

We salute you Sir. You are a superhero in real life.


















above photo: Tony DeZuniga (with shades, black shirt
and holding a pen) Was busy signing
of his printed books of Masterpieces.


















above photo: Edgar Tadeo ( The Innocents)
and Gerry Alanguilan (Superman Birthright and Elmer)

talks tough.



















above photo: KC Cordero ( A veteran Editor and
founder of Filipino Comics) and Randy Valiente
( Diosa Hubadera and Guardian Empires)

enjoys watching people passing by the exhibit.



















above photo:
Gener Pedrina ( in black shirt/
Sanduguan Creator) enjoys the meal during the
opening of the Exhibit.



















above photo: Azrael Colladilla( a proffesional events
coordinator)
was busy chatting with the owner of
one of the prestigious
comics bookstore in the country.


















above photo:
Marboy (in blue shirt, the
famous moderator
in Philippine Komiks Message Boards)
was tantalized
on the works of Tony DeZuniga in
The Crucible Gallery.


















above image: One of the Books
being sold in the exhibit
that
showcases the masterpieces of
Tony DeZuniga
(image courtesy of http://www.media-blastoff.net)























above image: one of the recent oil paintings
of Tony Dezuniga found in
the exhibit gallery.
image courtesy of :
Gerry Alanguilan www.komikero.com


















above images: other artworks that can
be found in the gallery

image courtesy of: Randy Valiente
http://usapang-komiks.blogspot.com/


Full Video Coverage can be found here
specially made by
Gerry Alanguilan :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n2dl-iudnE

below images: Some of his early works in comics
( Left: MoonKnight of Marvel Comics
and Right:
Philippine Local Komiks)
images courtesy of: http://www.lambiek.net

3 comments:

Uncle Ernie said...

One artist from that time who I would like to find out more about was Ruben Yandoc. There are a few very short articles about him on the internet; but they do not have much information.

Anonymous said...

Ernie,

I don't know if Ruben is still around today. I knew him when he used to write and illustrate for Extra Komiks whose editor was Bert Tablan (my father). He hailed from Pampanga and most of his stories and illustrations were about supernaturals.

My email address: fixurhse@yahoo.net

Anonymous said...

i am one of ruben yandoc'c grand daughter,,,he died few years ago,,,but his wife is still alive,,,i don't know if there are some of his works left,,be lived at minalin pamp, but because of Pinatubo's eruption, most of his works were destroyed,,,my email is venessa.derain80@yahoo.com