Zorro

Origin

Due to Zorro being a character in the public domain his history often changes but his origin regardless as follows: Don Diego became Zorro to "avenge the helpless, to punish cruel politicians and to aid the oppressed".

Creation

Zorro was created by Johnston McCulley, and originally debuted in print in the 1919 novella, The Curse of Capistrano. His public domain status is disputed.

Character Evolution

Zorro is said to be a long legendary crusader who is only to appear in great times of hardship and oppression, this theme is passed down throughout the ages and would seem to be a recurring theme. The mark of Zorro has remained the same and unchanged; a capital Z with no less than the best classic swordsmanship. His sword is traditionally a stainless steel double-edged fencing sword and not a massive medieval long sword. The caped vigilante rarely fights with a shield and has always rode a black horse.

Zorro, like any other comic character, has experienced various changes to his outfit, which also vary depending on the comic writer. But he consistently has a black mask covering his eyes only, a black hat or bandanna covering his head and has black air and brown eyes (quite common for a Spaniard living in the colonial era of California). He wears black clothing; black fencing gloves and a loose black top consisting of lace instead of buttons, but this sometimes changes to a simple black top (buttons with or without).

He has kept his black trousers, black boots and black horse (supposedly untamable by any one but himself). His fights have often ended in deaths of his enemies as they are usually of commanding statuses and therefore there would be no other way to rid the people of corruption other than this way. He tries to be stealthy as his name would suggest (Zorro is Spanish for fox), but in times of great hardship and difficulty sometimes he must result in direct combat. The films help give a strong visual idea of Zorro, in which the comics do not describe. Zorro in the films is a servant in which a priest at a Catholic church would alert him of any trouble and let him hide the confession rooms when he was being chased. His black horse, Tornado, would be kept in his cave along with any other gear, which remained hidden away from the known world.

The main frame of Zorro has stayed the same over the years with a few minor changes to clothing, love life and equipment. But the evolution of Zorro has mainly changed in storyline and not Zorro himself.

Skills and Abilities

• Master Swordsman
• Master Marksman
• Adept at Unarmed Combat
• Tactician - Often uses his cunning rather than brute strength to outwit his foes
• Skilled Horseman
• Acrobatic Prowess
• Atheltic Conditioning

Resources

• Rapier - Uses rapier to leave his distinctive mark, a Z with three quick cuts
• Bullwhip
• Used a pistol in his debut though has not used one in other appearences
• A Black Stallion called Toronado.

Influenced

Zorro inspired several characters such as Batman, El Águila, El Coyote, El Diablo, Lone Ranger, Msieu Lepee and Don Caballero.

Comics

The first Zorro comics were created in France, in 1939, Zorro was published in the Jumbo comic book, illustrated by Tori and Gal. In 1947, André Oulié illustrated Zorro stories for Zorro-Jeudi Magazine.

In the United States, Zorro's stories appear in Dell Comics' Four Color from 1949 From 1958 to 1961, many stories adapted from the 1957 Disney television series were published, some drawn by Alex Toth and Warren Tufts.

In Hit Comics #55 published by Quality Comics in November 1948, Zorro is summoned by Kid Eternity.

Other comics were published by Topps Comics, Marvel, Image, Dynamite Entertainment, Papercutz, and American Mythology.

In 2020, Pierre Alary publishes Don Vega by French publisher Dargaud.

Other Media

Literature

Canon stories by Johnston McCulley

• The Curse of Capistrano,All-Story Weekly Vol. 100 No. 2 – Vol. 101 No. 2, serialized in five parts, August 9, 1919 – September 6, 1919
• Zorro Saves A Friend", Argosy Vol. 234 No. 1, November 12, 1932
• "Zorro Hunts A Jackal", Argosy Vol. 237 No. 6, April 22, 1933 (a.k.a. Zorro Hunts by Night)
• The Further Adventures of Zorro, Argosy Vol. 142 No. 4 – Vol. 143 No. 3, serialized in six parts, May 6, 1922 – June 10, 1922
• "Zorro Deals With Treason", Argosy Vol. 249 No. 2, August 18, 1934
• "Mysterious Don Miguel", Argosy Weekly, Vol. 258 No. 5 – No. 6, serialized in two parts, September 21, 1935 – September 28, 1935
• Zorro Rides Again, Argosy Vol. 224 No. 3 – Vol. 224 No. 6, serialized in four parts, October 3, 1931 – October 24, 1931
• "Zorro Draws a Blade", West Magazine Vol. 56 No. 2, July 1944
• "Zorro Upsets a Plot", West Magazine Vol. 56 No. 3, September 1944
• "Zorro Strikes Again", West Magazine Vol. 57 No. 1, November 1944
• "Zorro Saves a Herd", West Magazine Vol. 57 No. 2, January 1945
• "Zorro Runs the Gauntlet", West Magazine Vol. 57 No. 3, March 1945
• "Zorro Fights a Duel", West Magazine Vol. 58 No. 1, May 1945
• "Zorro Opens a Cage", West Magazine Vol. 58 No. 2, July 1945
• "Zorro Prevents a War", West Magazine Vol. 58 No. 3, September 1945
• "Zorro Fights a Friend", West Magazine Vol. 59 No. 1, October 1945
• "Zorro's Hour of Peril", West Magazine Vol. 59 No. 2, November 1945
• "Zorro Lays a Ghost", West Magazine Vol. 59 No. 3, December 1945
• The Sign of Zorro, Argosy Vol. 305 No. 2 – Vol. 305 No. 6, serialized in five parts, January 25, 1941 – February 22, 1941
• "Zorro Frees Some Slaves", West Magazine Vol. 60 No. 1, January 1946
• "Zorro's Double Danger", West Magazine Vol. 60 No. 2, February 1946
• "Zorro's Masquerade", West Magazine Vol. 60 No. 3, March 1946
• "Zorro Stops a Panic", West Magazine Vol. 61 No. 1, April 1946
• "Zorro's Twin Perils", West Magazine Vol. 61 No. 2, May 1946
• "Zorro Plucks a Pigeon", West Magazine Vol. 61 No. 3, June 1946
• "Zorro Rides at Dawn" West Magazine Vol. 62 No. 1, July 1946
• "Zorro Takes the Bait", West Magazine Vol. 62 No. 2, August 1946
• "Zorro Raids a Caravan", West Magazine Vol. 62 No. 3, October 1946
• "Zorro's Moment of Fear", West Magazine Vol. 63 No. 3, January 1947
• "A Task for Zorro", West Magazine Vol. 65 No. 2, June 1947
• "Zorro Saves His Honor", West Magazine Vol. 64 No. 1, February 1947
• "Zorro and the Pirate", West Magazine Vol. 64 No. 2, March 1947
• "Zorro Beats the Drum", West Magazine Vol. 64 No. 3, April 1947
• "Zorro's Strange Duel", West Magazine Vol. 65 No. 1, May 1947
• "Zorro's Masked Menace", West Magazine Vol. 65 No. 3, July 1947
• "Zorro Aids an Invalid", West Magazine Vol. 66 No. 1, August 1947
• "Zorro Saves an American", West Magazine Vol. 66 No. 2, September 1947
• "Zorro Meets a Rogue", West Magazine Vol. 66 No. 3, October 1947
• "Zorro Races with Death", West Magazine Vol. 67 No. 1, November 1947
• "Zorro Fights for Peace", West Magazine Vol. 67 No. 2, December 1947
• "Zorro Serenades a Siren", West Magazine Vol. 68 No. 1, February 1948
• "Zorro Meets a Wizard", West Magazine Vol. 68 No. 2, March 1948
• "Zorro Fights with Fire", West Magazine Vol. 68 No. 3, April 1948
• "Gold for a Tyrant", West Magazine Vol. 69 No. 1, May 1948
• "The Hide Hunter", West Magazine Vol. 69 No. 2, July 1948
• "Zorro's Fight for Life", West Magazine, Vol. 74 No. 2, July 1951
• "Zorro Shears Some Wolves", West Magazine Vol. 69 No. 3, September 1948
• "The Face Behind the Mask", West Magazine Vol. 70 No. 1, November 1948
• "Zorro Starts the New Year", West Magazine Vol. 67 No. 3, January 1948
• "Hangnoose Reward", West Magazine Vol. 70 No. 3, March 1949
• "Zorro's Hostile Friends", West Magazine Vol. 71 No. 1, May 1949
• "Zorro's Hot Tortillas", West Magazine Vol. 71 No. 2, July 1949
• "An Ambush for Zorro", West Magazine Vol. 71 No. 3, September 1949
• "Zorro Gives Evidence", West Magazine Vol. 72 No. 1, November 1949
• "Rancho Marauders", West Magazine Vol. 72 No. 2, January 1950
• "Zorro's Stolen Steed" West Magazine Vol. 73 No. 3, March 1950
• "Zorro Curbs a Riot", West Magazine Vol. 73 No. 3, September 1950
• "The Three Stage Peons", West Magazine Vol. 74 No. 1, November 1950
• "Zorro Nabs a Cutthroat", West Magazine Vol. 74 No. 2, January 1951
• "Zorro Gathers Taxes", West Magazine Vol. 74 No. 3, March 1951
• "Zorro Rides the Trail!", Max Brand's Western Magazine, May 1954
• "The Mask of Zorro", Short Stories for Men Vol. 221 No. 2, April 1959

Films

• The Mark of Zorro (1920), First movie adaptation, starring by Douglas Fairbanks
• Don Q, Son of Zorro (1925), starring Douglas Fairbanks,
• The Bold Caballero (1936), starring Robert Livingston, first Zorro adaptation by Republic Pictures.
• The Mark of Zorro (1940), starring Tyrone Power
• The Sign of Zorro (1958), starring Guy Williams, compilation of Disney TV series episodes.
• Zorro, the Avenger (1959), with Guy Williams, another compilation of Disney TV series episodes.
• The Amazing Zorro (2002) - Animated movie.

Other films

Mexican films

• El Nieto del Zorro (1948) Mexican Western starring Resortes.
• El Zorro Escarlata (1959), Mexican Western starring Luis Aguilar.
• El zorro escarlata en diligencia fantasma (1959), starring Luis Aguilar.
• El Zorro Vengador (1962), Mexican Western starring Luis Aguilar.
• El Zorro (1962), Mexican Western starring Julio Aldama.
• La Gran Aventura Del Zorro (1976), starring Rodolfo de Anda.

European films

• À la manière de Zorro (1926) Belgium starring William Elie
• Il sogno di Zorro (1952) Italy Walter Chiari
• La montaña sin ley (1953) starring Spain José Suárez
• Zorro alla corte di Spagna (1962) Italy starring George Ardisson
• La venganza del Zorro / Zorro the Avenger (1962) Spain starring Frank Latimore
• L'ombra di Zorro / The Shadow of Zorro (1962) Italy, Spain & France starring Frank Latimore
• Le tre spade di Zorro / The Three Swords of Zorro (1963) Spain & Italy starring Guy Stockwell
• Zorro e i tre moschettieri (1963) Italy starring Gordon Scott
• Zorro contro Maciste (1963) Italy & Spain starring Pierre Brice
• Il segno di Zorro (1963) Spain, Italy & France starring Sean Flynn
• El Zorro cabalga otra vez (1965) Italy & Spain starring Tony Russel
• Zorro il ribelle / Zorro the Rebel (1966) Italy Howard Ross
• El Zorro (1968) Italy & Spain starring George Ardisson
• I nipoti di Zorro (1968) Italy starring Dean Reed
• Zorro marchese di Navarra(1969) starring Nadir Moretti

Turkey films

• Zorro kamcili süvari (1969) starring Tamer
• Zorro'nun Intikami (1969) starring Tamer Yiğit

Film serials

• Zorro Rides Again (1937) by Republic Pictures, starring John Carroll as a descendant, James Vega
• Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939) by Republic Pictures, starring Reed Hadley as Zorro/Don Diego de la Vega.
• Son of Zorro (1947) by Republic Pictures, starring George Turner as Zorro descendant, Jeff Stewart.
• Ghost of Zorro (1949) by Republic Pictures, starring Clayton Moore as Ken Mason, Zorro's grandson.

The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Don Diego trains Alejandro Murrieta (Antonio Banderas) to become his successor and the New Zorro.

The Legend of Zorro (2005)

Zorro (Alejandro Murrieta) must win back his wife and rescue his kid from a gang.

Television

Live action

There was also a Zorro television series and Guy Williams of Lost in Space fame played Zorro in the Disney series which lasted for two seasons on the ABC network.

In 1981, Henry Darrow starring another Disney series: Zorro and son.

Zorro, (1990), starring Duncan Regehr,

Zorro: La Espada y la Rosa (2007) - A Colombian telenovela starring Christian Meier,

Animated series

• The New Adventures of Zorro, 1981 animated series by Filmation.
• Kaiketsu Zorro, (1996–1997) Japanese anime
• The New Adventures of Zorro, 1997–1998 animated series by Fred Wolf Films.
• Zorro: Generation Z (2006)
• Zorro: The Chronicles (2015), a French animated series.