Zorro

Real Name: Don Diego Vega

Identity/Class: Normal human

Occupation: Caballero

Affiliations: Fray Felipe / Bernado, Sir Edmund Kendel, Toronada;
(Topps / Image Comics) Lady Rawhide

Enemies: Alcalde, Captain Ramon, Sergeant Gonzales, Don Luis Quintero
(Topps / Image Comics) Dracula

Known Relatives: Alejandro Vega (father); Elena Felicidad (mother)
(Son of Zorro, 1925) Don Q (son)
(Zorro, the Gay Blade, 1980) Bunny Wigglesworth (brother)
(Zorro and Son, 1983) Carlos de la Vega (son, a.ka. Zorro Jr.)
(Mask of Zorro, 1998) Esperanza de la Vega (wife, deceased) Elena Montero (daughter), Alejandro Murrieta (son-in-law), Joaquín (grandson)

Aliases: The Fox, Diego de la Vega (amended name from the Disney TV version on)

Base of Operations: Pueblo de Los Angeles, Southern California, c.1820s

First Appearance: "The Curse of Capistrano", All-Story Weekly Volume 100, #2 (August 9th,1919)

Powers/Abilities: A master swordsman, particularly good at fencing. He is also skilled with a whip. In addition he is a master horseman, extremely fit, and very acrobatic.

History: Born in Madrid in 1793, Diego Vega emigrated to America with his parents Alejandro Vega and Elena Felicidad soon after his birth. They settled in California, becoming rich land owners, and although Diego returned to Spain to study art and science at Madrid University, and to learn fencing from the English knight Sir Edmund Kendel, he always considered California his home.

Back in America things had taken a turn for the worse. The ruthless Alcalde gained power in California, and used his position of influence to exploit and rob the poor people of the area. Alerted to this by his father, Diego returned home. Knowing that open opposition might bring disaster down on his family, Diego passed himself off as a fop, while secretly adopting the masked identity of El Zorro (the Fox), a bandit in black upon the black stallion Toronada, who stood up for truth and justice against the oppressors. While his friend Felipe (a.k.a Bernado) pretended to be a deaf mute and thus spy on Alcalde for his master, Diego would venture out from the caves underneath his father's Hacienda to strike terror into his enemies.

Comments: Created by Johnston McCulley, a former newspaper crime reporter who had turned his hand to writing. The first Zorro story, The Curse of Capistrano debuted in 1919 in the pulp magazine All-Story Weekly. Though the original look (below, right) for the hero was slightly different from the one which he would become best known for, many of the major components were in place - the mask, cape and sword.

Curse ended with Zorro unmasking (in the second to last chapter), and revealing to everyone in the pueblo of Los Angeles, as well as the readers, that the Fox was Don Diego. It seems clear that no sequel was planned. Perhaps this might have been Zorro's sole appearance, had Hollywood not intervened. In 1920 the silent movie, an adaption of Curse called The Mark of Zorro was made, with Douglas Fairbanks as the hero. Zorro became a household name, and the public demanded more adventures. Publishers Grosset and Dunlap re-released Curse under the title The Mark of Zorro to tie in with the movie. Two years later McCulley bowed to demands, and The Further Adventures of Zorro was released in Argosy Magazine. McCulley would continue to write Zorro stories on and off until his death in 1958, the year after the Walt Disney tv series which made his character a world-wide phenomenon debuted. The final story written by McCulley, The Mask of Zorro, was published after his death, early in 1959.

Zorro on the Printed Page

Prose

In all McCulley wrote some 65 additional tales of his masked rider spread over 40 years. The list of McCulley's Zorro's stories included below may not be complete:

1. The Curse of Capistrano, 5 episodes, appeared in All-Story Weekly Volume 100, #2 through Volume 101, #2 (August 9th 1919 to September 6th 1919)
2. The Further Adventures of Zorro, 6 episodes, appeared in Argosy, Volume 142 #4 through Volume 143 #3 (May 6th 1922 to June 10th 1922)
3. Zorro Rides Again, 4 episodes, Argosy Vol. 224 #3 through Vol.224 #6 (October 3rd 1931 to October 24th 1931)
4. Zorro Saves A Friend, Argosy Vol. 234 #1 (November 12th, 1932)
5. Zorro Hunts A Jackal, Argosy Vol. 237 #6 (April 22nd, 1933)
6. Zorro Deals With Treason, Argosy Vol 249 # 2 (August 18th, 1934)
7. Zorro Hunts By Night, Cavalier Classics Vol 1, #2 (September 1940)
8. The Sign of Zorro, 5 episodes, Argosy  Vol. 305 #2 through Vol. 305 #6 (January 25th, 1941 to February 22nd, 1941)
9. Zorro Draws A Blade, West Vol. 56 #2 (July 1944)
10. Zorro Upsets A Plot, West Vol. 56 #3 (September 1944)
11. Zorro Strikes Again, West Vol 57 #1 (November 1944)
12. Zorro Saves A Herd, West Vol. 57 #2 (January 1945)
13. Zorro Rides the Gauntlet, West Vol. 57 #3 (March 1945)
14. Zorro Fights A Duel, West Vol 58 #1 (May 1945)
15. Zorro Opens A Cage, West Vol. 58 No. 2  (July 1945)
16. Zorro Prevents A War, West Vol. 58 No. 3 (September 1945)
17. Zorro Fights A Friend, West Vol. 59 No. 1 (October 1945)
18. Zorro's Hour Of Peril, West Vol. 59 No. 2 (November 1945)
19. Zorro Slays A Ghost, West Vol. 59 No. 3 (December 1945)
20. Zorro Frees Some Slaves, West Vol. 60 No. 1 (January 1946)
21. Zorro's Double Danger, West Vol. 60 No. 2 (February 1946)
22. Zorro's Masquerade, West Vol. 60 No. 3 (March 1946)
23. Zorro Stops A Panic, West Vol. 61 No. 1 (April 1946)
24. Zorro's Twin Perils, West Vol. 61 No. 2 (May 1946)
25. Zorro Plucks A Pigeon, West Vol. 61 No. 3 (June 1946)
26. Zorro Rides At Dawn, West Vol. 62 No. 1 (July 1946)
27. Zorro Takes The Bait, West Vol. 62 No. 2 (August 1946) - written by Johnston Steele
28. Zorro Raids A Caravan, West Vol. 62 No. 3 (October 1946)
29. Zorro's Moment Of Fear, West Vol. 63 No. 3 (January 1947)
30. Zorro Saves His Honor, West Vol. 64 No. 1 (February 1947)
31. Zorro And The Pirate, West Vol. 64 No. 2 (March 1947)
32. Zorro Beats the Drum, West Vol. 64 No. 3 (April 1947)
33. Zorro's Strange Duel, West Vol. 65 No. 1 (May 1947)
34. A Task for Zorro, West Vol. 65 No. 2 (June 1947)
35. Zorro's Masked Menace, West Vol. 65 No. 3 (July 1947)
36. Zorro Aids An Invalid, West Vol. 66 No. 1 (August 1947)
37. Zorro Saves An American, West Vol. 66 No. 2 (September 1947)
38. Zorro Meets A Rogue, West Vol. 66 No. 3 (October 1947)
39. Zorro Races With Death, West Vol. 67 No. 1 (November 1947)
40. Zorro Fights For Peace, West Vol. 67 No. 2 (December 1947)
41. Zorro Starts The New Year, West Vol. 67 No. 3 (January 1948)
42. Zorro Serenades A Siren, West Vol. 68 No. 1 (February 1948)
43. Zorro Meets A Wizard, West Vol. 68 No. 2 (March 1948)
44. Zorro Fights With Fire, West Vol. 68 No. 3 (April 1948)
45. Gold For A Tyrant, West Vol. 69 No. 1 (May 1948)
46. The Hide Hunter, West Vol. 69 No. 2 (July 1948)
47. Zorro Shears Some Wolves, West Vol. 69 No. 3 (September 1948)
48. The Face Behind The Mask, West Vol. 70 No. 1 (November 1948)
49. Hangnoose Reward, West Vol. 70 No. 3 (March 1949)
50. Zorro's Hostile Friends, West Vol. 71 No. 1 (May 1949)
51. Zorro's Hot Tortillas, West Vol. 71 No. 2 (July 1949)
52. An Ambush For Zorro, West Vol. 71 No. 3 (September 1949)
53. Zorro Gives Evidence, West Vol. 72 No. 1 (November 1949)
54. Rancho Marauders, West Vol. 72 No. 2 (January 1950)
55. Zorro's Stolen Steed, West Vol. 79 No. 3 (March 1950)
56. Zorro Curbs A Riot, West Vol. 73 No. 3 (September 1950)
57. The Three Strange Peons, West Vol. 74 No. 1 (November 1950)
58. Zorro Nabs A Cutthroat, West Vol. 74 No. 2 (January 1951)
59. Zorro Gathers Taxes, West Vol. 74 No. 3 (March 1951)
60. Zorro's Fight For Life, West Vol. 74 No. 2 (July 1951)
61. The Mask of Zorro, Short Stories for Men Vol. 221 No. 2 (April 1959)

After McCulley died, others have occasionally turned their hands to writing Zorro books.

There was a novelisation The Mask of Zorro to tie in with the 1998 movie, written by James Luceno. Following this, Tor Books released a short series of new, original stories

• Zorro and the Jaguar Warriors by Jerome Preisler

• Zorro and the Dragon Riders by David Bergantino

• Zorro and the Witch's Curse by John Whitman

There was also a series of books aimed at younger readers, also kicked off by the 1998 movie:

• The Secret Swordsman by William McKay

• Skull and Crossbones by Frank Lauria

• The Treasure of Don Diego by William McKay

Seven adventure novels for middle readers were written by Sandra Curtis, V.P. of Creative Development of Zorro Productions, Inc. The titles include:

D.J.Arneson also re-wrote two of the original Zorro stories for younger readers:

• Zorro and the Pirate Raiders (based on The Further Adventures of Zorro)

• Zorro Rides Again (based on Zorro Rides Again)

Moonstone Publishing recently announced plans for a new prose Zorro short story collection.

Comics

In 1949 Dell Comics brought out the first Zorro comics. Printed in Four-Color (which was eventually renamed Zorro), they initially adapted the novels. The Dell series is considered somewhat of a classic, with art by the great Alex Toth. Fifteen issues were produced, which have been reprinted in a hardback anthology in 1988 by Eclipse Comics as Complete Classic Adventures of Zorro, and in paperback anthology by Image Comics in 1999 under the same title.

1. Four-Color #882

2. Four-Color #920

3. Four-Color #933

4. Four-Color #960

5. Four-Color #976

6. Four-Color #1003

7. Four-Color #1037

8. Zorro #8

9. Zorro #9

10. Zorro #10

11. Zorro #11

12. Zorro #12

13. Zorro #13

14. Zorro #14

15. Zorro #15

A Summary of Zorro on the screen

As stated above, the 1920 Fairbanks' movie The Mark of Zorro was instrumental in giving the character the exposure it needed to ensure longevity, and as a direct result Zorro returned to the written page. Meanwhile in the cinema, Fairbanks also returned to the Zorro fold, this time playing Don Q, Son of Zorro. Others soon followed. Republic produced five serials between 1937 and 1949, while Tyrone Power donned the mask in a talkie remake of Fairbanks' The Mark of Zorro in 1940.

Zorro made it to television in 1957, when Walt Disney cast Guy Williams in the part. He played the part for three seasons and 82 half-hour episodes between 10th October 1957 and 2nd April 1961. Two cinema movies, edited together from episodes of the series, were released: The Sign of Zorro (1958) and Zorro, the Avenger (1960). The show made lasting alterations to the legend, changing Diego Vega to Diega de la Vega, and altering how he hid his identity - in the books everyone knew he was a good swordsman, so Diego acted as a boor and bigot, rude and snobbish to those below him in the social strata; in the series Diego was a likable but apparently ineffectual fop. Shown across the world, it's opening theme introduced Zorro to legions of new fans: "Out of the night, when the full moon is bright, comes a horseman known as Zorro. This bold renegade carves a Z with his blade, a Z that stands for Zorro. Zorro, the fox so cunning and free. Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z." The show's success would have meant it went on longer, if not for a dispute between Disney and ABC.

Disney's Zorro

1. Presenting Senor Zorro

2. Zorro's Secret Passage

3. Zorro Rides to the Mission

4. The Ghost of the Mission

5. Zorro's Romance

6. Zorro Saves a Friend

7. Monastario Sets a Trap

8. Zorro's Ride into Terror

9. A Fair Trial

10. Garcia's Secret Mission

11. Double Trouble for Zorro

12. Zorro, Luckiest Swordsman Alive

13. The Fall of Monastario

14. Shadow of Doubt

15. Garcia Stands Accused

16. Slaves of the Eagle

17. Sweet Face of Danger

18. Zorro Fights His Father

19. Death Stacks the Deck

20. Agent Of The Eagle

21. Zorro Springs a Trap

22. The Unmasking of Zorro

23. The Secret of the Sierra

24. The New Commandante

25. The Fox and the Coyote

26. Adios, Senor Magistrado

27. The Eagle's Brood

28. Zorro by Proxy

29. Quintana Makes a Choice

30. Zorro Lights a Fuse

31. The Man with the Whip

32. The Cross of the Andes

33. The Deadly Bolas

34. The Well of Death

35. The Tightening Noose

36. The Sergeant Regrets

37. The Eagle Leaves the Nest

38. Bernardo Faces Death

39. The Eagle's Flight

40. Welcome to Monterey (Start of Season 2)

41. Zorro Rides Alone

42. Horse of Another Color

43. The Senorita Makes a Choice

44. Rendezvous at Sundown

45. The New Order

46. An Eye for an Eye

47. Zorro and the Flag of Truce

48. Ambush

49. The Practical Joker

50. The Flaming Arrow

51. Zorro Fights a Duel

52. Amnesty for Zorro

53. The Runaways

54. The Iron Box

55. The Gay Caballero

56. Tornado Is Missing

57. Zorro Versus Cupid

58. The Legend of Zorro

59. Spark of Revenge

60. The Missing Father

61. Please Believe Me

62. The Brooch

63. Zorro and the Mountain Man

64. The Hound of the Sierras

65. Manhunt

66. The Man from Spain

67. Treasure for the King

68. Exposing the Tyrant

69. Zorro Takes a Dare

70. An Affair of Honor

71. The Sergeant Sees Red

72. Invitation to Death

73. The Captain Regrets

74. Masquerade for Murder

75. Long Live the Governor

76. The Fortune Teller

77. Senor China Boy

78. Finders Keepers

79. El Bandido (start of Season 3)

80. Adios El Cuchillo

81. The Postponed Wedding

82. Auld Acquaintance

In 1992 Disney colourised the entire series, and re-released it.

New Adventures of Zorro

Made by Filmation, and aired as part of 1981's Tarzan/Lone Ranger/Zorro Adventure Hour, with Henry Darrow providing the hero's voice, the first Zorro cartoon only had a short run of thirteen episodes between 12th September and 5th December.

1. Three Is a Crowd

2. Flash Flood

3. The Blockade

4. The Frame

5. Turnabout

6. The Tyrant

7. Terremoto

8. The Trap

9. Fort Ramon

10. The Take Over

11. Double Trouble

12. The Conspiracy

13. The Mysterious Traveler

Zorro

A co-production between America's New World Television, France's Ellipse and Italy's RAI, the international Zorro series lasted for four seasons and eighty-eight episodes between 5th January 1990 and 2nd December 1992. Duncan Regehr played the role, with Henry Darrow returning for a third time to the Zorro fold, this time as Diego's father Alejandro (season 2 on; Efram Zimbalist Jr. played the part in Season 1)

1. Dead Men Tell No Tales

2. Deceptive Heart

3. Water

4. Double Entendre

5. The Best Man

6. The Sure Thing

7. Zorro's Other Woman

8. The Legend Begins (1)

9. The Legend Begins (2)

10. The Legend Begins (3)

11. The Legend Begins (4)

12. Pride of the Pueblo

13. Honor Thy Father

14. The Magician

15. A Deal with the Devil

16. Whereabouts

17. All That Glitters

18. Child's Play

19. A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

20. Ghost Story

21. The Bounty Hunters

22. The Unhappy Medium

23. An Explosive Situation

24. Family Business

25. May 90 Palomarez Returns

26. The Wizard (start of second season)

27. Master and Pupil

28. Kidnapped

29. The Tease

30. He Who Lives by the Sword

31. Freedom of the Press

32. Sanctuary

33. The Chase

34. Broken Heart, Broken Mask

35. The White Sheep of the Family

36. The Challenge

37. Rites of Passage

38. The Falcon

39. It's a Wonderful Zorro

40. The Marked Man

41. Big Brother

42. To Be a Man

43. The Whistling Bandit

44. The Don's Dilemma

45. The Jewelled Sword

46. The Newcomers

47. The Devil's Fortress (1)

48. The Devil's Fortress (2)

49. One for All (1)

50. One for All (2)

51. The New Broom (start of season three)

52. Rush to Judgement

53. A New Lease on Love

54. The Man Who Cried Wolf

55. Armed and Dangerous

56. The Buccaneers

57. A New Beginning

58. A Woman Scorned

59. Wicked, Wicked Zorro

60. Alejandro Rides Again

61. The Old Flame

62. Miracle of the Pueblo

63. A Love Remembered

64. Dirty Tricks

65. Mendoza the Malevolent

66. Test of Faith

67. Siege

68. They Call Her Annie

69. Silk Purses and Sow's Ears

70. Turning the Tables

71. One Special Night

72. Balancing the Books

73. Blind Man's Bluff

74. Heir Apparent

75. The Word

76. Ultimate Justice (start of season four)

77. An Affair to Remember

78. The Fox and the Rabbit

79. Love Potion Number Nine

80. As Ye Sow

81. Like Father, Like Son

82. The Arrival (1)

83. Death and Taxes (2)

84. Conundrum (3)

85. The Discovery (4)

86. Symbol of Hope

87. The Reward

88. My Word Is My Bond

The Legend of Zorro (a.k.a. Legend of Little Zorro)

1992 saw Italy's Mondo release fifty-two episodes of their cartoon version of Zorro.

1. The Symbol of Justice is "Z"!

2. Here comes Little Zorro!

3. Gabriel, the Plotter!

4. Wake Up My Friend!

5. Father's Secret

6. A Trap with a Red Jewel

7. An Heiress to Property

8. A Guitar to Kill

9. Let's Find the Pirate Treasure!

10. Diego has become a Ghost!

11. The Adventure of Little Zorro

12. Figaro, the Stray Dog

13. Little Zorro at Full Blast

14. The Stagecoach is in Danger!

15. Lolita's Kiss

16. The Sword from Japan

17. Zorro is Cornered!

18. Diego, the Clever Detective

19. A House of Tricky Devices

20. The Boy Who Seeks Vengeance on Zorro

21. Fly, Wings of Dreams!

22. Gonzales, the Thief

23. The Bride is a Spanish Girl

24. Raymond, the Enemy of People

25. The Clown in Tears

26. Pepita, the Liar

27. Romping Madam and Little Zorro

28. Haunted Ruins

29. Mona Lisa is Crying

30. Gonzales in Love

31. Wicked Design of the South India Trading Company

32. The Doctor is a Drunkard

33. A Terrible Wooer

34. The Order to Kill Zorro

35. Gonzales in Love Again

36. Zorro Was Unmasked At Last!

37. Diego has become a Rascal

38. A Lady Inventor at Full Blast

39. The Battle in the Storm

40. My Far Lady Zorro

41. Lolita, Get Your Gun!

42. A Trap by the Ninja Magic

43. Beauty and Monster

44. Gabriel's Rebellion

45. The Legend of Divine Wood

46. Zorro's Head is Cut Off

47. Governor-General Kidnapped

48. A Righteous Military Officer

49. Farewell to the Army

50. Blast of the Demonic Cannons!

51. Raymond: A Prelude to the Collapse

52. A Sword of Justice Forever

Zorro

In 1997 Michael Gough became the voice of Zorro in a new Warner Bros. cartoon series. Twenty-six episodes aired over two seasons between 20th September 1997 and 12th December 1998.

1. To Catch a Fox

2. Sting of the Serpent-God

3. Night of the Tolchen

4. The Beast Within

5. The Enforcer

6. Two Zorros Are Better than One

7. Tar Pit Terror

8. A King's Ransom

9. The Pirates of San Pedro

10. The Anti Zorro

11. Valley of the Manbeast

12. The Revenge of the Panther

13. The Iron Man

14. The Samurai and the Sorcerer (start of the second season)

15. The Poison Pen

16. Vision of Darkness

17. The Case of the Masked Marauder

18. Return of the Conquistadors

19. The Hunter

20. The Raiding Party

21. The Four Horsemen

22. The Nightmare Express

23. The Ice Monster Cometh

24. The Secret of El Zorro

25. The Nordic Quest

26. Adios, Mi Capitan

In other areas, Zorro has also been featured in a number of stage plays across the world, including a West End musical in London in 1995. Additionally in 2001 Gold Rush Games released a Zorro Role-Playing Game, Legacy of Zorro.

CLARIFICATIONS: None

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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