Arak # 41

This past May, comics lost one of its most prolific modern-era illustrators, Mister Tony DeZuniga. I was privileged to have met him at my first San Diego ComiCon several years ago, and it became a welcome part of my yearly SDCC trips to stop by his table, ask how he had been doing that year, and purchase work from him, whether it was an original commission of my own characters or a published page. It was pleasant not only to watch him work on his latest painting or sketch but also to talk about one of my favorite characters - Jonah Hex - with the co-creator himself. What I liked most about his action scenes was that he would focus as much on the expressions (whether grim, victorious, or despairing) of the opponents as on the overall battle itself, which made his work on "Jonah Hex", "Conan", and "Arak" all the more realistic, even when they were fighting otherwordly foes and walking myths.

Travel well, Tony, and thank you for many years of entertainment and storytelling. I didn't know you for long, but I'm glad for the time that we had to talk and for the chance to watch you creating new worlds.