Pinoy Marvel comics’ artist launches mall exhibit

MANILA, Philippines - Tony de Zuñiga, the first Filipino to ever do illustrations for comic book juggernauts, Marvel and DC comics, has returned to the Philippines for a two-week exhibit of his famous works. From January 9 to 25, De Zuñiga’s superhero collection will be displayed at the Crucible Gallery at the 4th level of SM Megamall Building A in Mandaluyong. Among those displayed are his penciled works of Batman, Spider-man, Punisher, Conan, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and his signature Jonah Hex. De Zuñiga is a pioneer among Filipino comic book artists in the US. He was responsible for bringing to life Jonah Hex, a rough-and-tumble Western anti-hero and the bullet-proof super heroine “Black Orchid" which he both inked in the 1970s. A Hollywood film about Jonah Hex is currently in the works, De Zuñiga told GMANews.TV, with actor Josh Brolin playing the disfigured comic book character. In August 2007, De Zuñiga 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. For more information on his exhibit call: (02) 635-6061. - Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV