InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- Legendary comics illustrator Tony de Zuniga, whose pen gave life to Jonah Hex and the superheroine Black Orchid, among others, died early Friday. He was 79.
Called simply “Mang Tony” in comics circles, 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.
Fans and friends had earlier rallied to raise financial support for his hospitalization.
Formerly based in California, Mang Tony had decided to return to the country for good.
In 2010, Jonah Hex was turned into a multi-million dollar Hollywood film starring Josh Brolin and Megan Fox.
“He loves the Philippines. He wants to retire here,” Tina, his wife of 11 years, said.
Mang Tony is survived by two sons from his first marriage and three daughters from his second.
The wake is open to the public on Saturday at the Funeraria Paz in Sucat.
Mang Tony’s remains will be cremated on Wednesday.
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