Zorro Volume 1 HC by Matt Wagner

Dynamite's Zorro

by Matt Wagner

Based by the novel by Isabel Allende! Dynamite presents the return of yet another legend as Matt Wagner unveils the all-new Zorro! Writer, Art Director, and cover artist Matt Wagner is in command of this all-new "Year One" Zorro comic book adventure. Similar in tone and scope to Dynamite's acclaimed Lone Ranger series, Zorro also features artist Francesco Francavilla who complements Wagner's pulp action writing!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Westerns, Superheroes, Comic Book, Historical Fiction

Hardcover

First published May 28, 2009

About the author

Matt Wagner is an American comic book writer and artist. In addition to his creator-owned series' Mage and Grendel, he has also worked on comics featuring The Demon and Batman as well as such titles as Sandman Mystery Theatre and Trinity, a DC Comics limited series featuring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.

Reviews

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚔️ Lots of fun! I hardly ever do a graphic so this was a treat and to read about my boyhood hero too ⚔️ The art was great and I quite honesty don’t know a lot about the original Zorro legend so this has been eye-opening ⚔️ on to number two in this series which actually employs a different artist 🗡️

[Lost Planet Airman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent treatment, at least as far as an 'amateur' fan of Zorro like me can tell, of Zorro. The adventures are based on, but not direct adaptation of, the novel by Isabel Allende, which I have yet to read. There are eight chapters (eight issues), each with a short adventure of Zorro and a narrated snippet of Diego de la Vega as a youth. Well illustrated, lavishly colored and very detailed action left me feeling I had been on an adventure myself.

(Flash Fact: at one point, in the 2nd or 3rd chapter, the military refers to our hero as "the curse of Capistrano". The Curse of Capistrano was the original 1919 novel by Johnston McCulley that introduced Zorro to the world.)

A few tiny flaws in the comic adaptation -- some of the adventures of young Diego would be challenging for even an adult to face, and some of the abilities of Zorro would be hard to duplicate in real life (but he isn't called "the fox" on a whim!)

All in all, good clean fun, limited bloodshed and lots of adventure.

[Jemir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone familiar with the many cinematic takes of Zorro made through the years knows why the hero of legend became Zorro but not how he got there. With elements of Batman Begins, Dances with Wolves and V for Vendetta this book not only shows you what training he had to go through to get there but the unexplored love story of his Native American mother and Father as well. A great read that blends an epic, tragic, love story with fun, swashbuckling action. You're not likely to look at Zorro the same if you read this and, in this case, that's a good thing.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really enjoy this. My love of Zorro is childlike, from the '50s Disney show, where there are only a few truly bad actors, good people make mistakes and grapple imperfectly with classism/racism, Zorro loves protecting the weak and tries to do so without killing. This comic (which I guess is based heavily on a 2005 book) provides a rich tapestry of diversity which is great, though somehow also seems to be a pretty one-dimensional depiction of most of those cultures. I can't speak to the historicity of the way things are portrayed, that has never been something I was concerned about in Zorro. I enjoy that they made Zorro's mom one of the Tongva people but I find it really uncomfortable that they co-opted the name of a historical Tongva woman (Toypurina) to do so? That sort of vibe (cool representation but done in a weird way??) feels like it happens throughout. SPOILERS (Fridging both of the main characters' indigenous mothers was....a real bummer to say the least.) A lot of language, brutality, rape, racism, weird (inaccurate) biblical commentary, and more just made it a real bummer for me.

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becoming a legond

An excellent book. The origin of a legond, that has inspired so many more. The artwork is good and fits the story perfectly. The story is awesome and captures the brutality and need for a hero of the era.

Two brothers from different mothers and stations in life shall form a legond. What life events made them the men they are now and what they will fight for.

A great book. As soon as I started reading it, I could wait for the next chapter. Each chapter starts in the present, then the past, the finishes back in the present. The fight for justice begins a legond is born.

[F.C. Shultz]

Is Zorro my new favorite super hero?

[Paxton Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the same spirit as the Antonio Banderas Zorro movie. Lots of fun. Great art.

2023 reread: This is apparently based on the Isabelle Allende novel. I’ll have to read that because this story is really good. Nice “Year One“ tale.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another able resurrection of a classic character by Dynamite.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, as a few other reviewers have noted, the art is the center piece of this one, and I also felt that way about Dynamite's 'The Lone Ranger'. I liked Matt Wagner's take on Zorro, but then again I've never read Isabel Allende's (although I really loved her novel The House of the Spirits-incredible). I usually associate Zorro with the film that Bruce Wayne went to see as child the night his parents were murdered in Crime Alley, and I see him as one in a long line of men who protect the innocent and bring righteous justice upon the scourges of humanity. Keep on keepin' on El Zorro.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matt Wagner is a craftsman within the comic industry. He's not flashy or showy--but he's generally got excellent scripting and storytelling in place.

Wagner is traditionally best know for his more experimental and creator-owned works Mage and Grendel--but he's got a solid presence on the pulp and genre tales (generally outside of the Capes; other than some Batman, Trinity and

He works best at telling competent and confidently voiced tales such as Sandman Mystery Theater, Green Hornet, Madame Xanadu, John Tower, The Shadow, The Spirit and here....Zorro.

Wagner has a mastery in place and a reverence with these characters. They often come off a extremely dated now, but Wagner is able to update the sensibilities within the storytelling without reinventing them. They retain their composure, they aren't particularly postmodern or anything.

This is Zorro told similar to Frank Miller's "Year One" origin. Relatively lean. And influenced by all the best stuff that worked in the past.

Dynamite has a relatively troubled history with their licensed properties. They often have solid writers and great covers, but mediocre properties and lower-tier art. Not bad art, just not matching the caliber of the covers--Fret Not, Francesco Francavilla handles art chores here.

Now, this is a nascent work of his, and not quite the skill of his Black Panther, Archie or Black Beetle runs--but definitely the feel one is hoping for. 3.5 Stars.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Matt Wagner's stuff usually, but this was just a fairly mediocre and unremarkable thriller. I can't recall a single good line from it. Francavilla's a good artist, suited to the material. The coloring and the garishly reflective paper did him no favors, however, as I was constantly tilting the book one way or another to get some glare off the pages. That was really annoying.

But still, the story was the main drawback. It's basically the story of Diego's teenage years, as he picks up the tools that enable him to become Zorro, coupled with a few pages each issue of Zorro tormenting soldiers and stealing their payroll or destroying their weapons. Meh.

[Arlene Avilez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Or 3 and a half star?

I only know Zorro the movie with Antonio Banderas and that's more like passing the torch that is the name Zorro.
So when the dog was dashing around the library with me as her kite, I spotted this title and needed to know- the original story.
Or an origin story. Or there other origin stories?
I need to do proper research into the Legend of Zorro at some point in life.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an example of an origin story that is done right. This is based on the novel written by Isabel Allende and adapted into a graphic novel. The story added on what Zorro's creator didn't include in the original story. Zorro is also the inspiration for Batman and other Superheroes. This year is also the 100th anniversary of Zorro. This graphic novel is highly recommended.

[Indika de Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Wagner has done a brilliant revival of Zorro who happens to be one of my favorite characters of all time.

The story is well written and fast paced yet highly enjoyable.

Highly recommended for the fans of Zorro or anyone who is interested in one of the all time classic American heroes...

[Mh430 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything's right with this one. The script and the art are both terrific and the series does an amazing job of synthesizing the many details of the Zorro character developed over his century plus history through books, movies, and television. Highly recommended.

[Steve S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know the difference between a comic book and a graphic novel, but this felt more like a comic book. It was a lot of fun. It provided the origin story for Zorro and it makes me want to watch the movies again.

[Joe Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable romp through an origin story and well illustrated. I've tried some books from this publisher before and found the art somewhat variable especially in the ability to draw people, but this one was well done and the art added to the old west meets batman vibe.

[Joseph Holguin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the book a lot. When Don De La Vega became Zorro at the end was my favorite

[David Hickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

the fox lives

A fantastic comic book . Love this from start to finish.
A great origin story . Exquisite art and dialogue

[Jenn Kause · Rating 5 out of 5]

no words, just daddy

[yumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced masked hero origin story, just so ;)

[Joseph Szabo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been a fan of Dark Avengers: The Shadow, Daredevil, especially the Batman.

Zorro, while I wouldn't quite say he is a complete Dark Avenger (his temperament is a little too happy) I will include him with those great characters because he certainly inspired them.

Zorro, in this book by Matt Wagner, is a very good example of the character and his backstory, be it extremely late.

Zorro, as we came to realize early, does have a dark side, much like The Bat and The Shadow.

With Lamont Cranston (Kent Allard in pulp writings) his past was always somewhat vague. He may have been a terrible person at one time. Maybe not. We really don't know and it depends on the medium you're using at the moment. He was The Black Eagle, a French pilot who crashed in South America and learned how to cloud men's minds and, by the way, or maybe called The Dark Eagle. He came to New York to work as the avenger known as The Shadow and also under the alias of LAMONT CRANSTON...

See, vague...and a bit confusing too. Yet, The Shadow still rocks.

We didn't know much about The Bat for a time but gradually we got to know what made him tick, with everyone eventually imprinted with what happened to Thomas and Martha Wayne in that alley.

Batman? You're damn right he rocks.

Now, Zorro, one of the greatest enigmas of adventure literature, takes a few things from the characters who inspired him, along with a past version of the character and it works very well - there is a lot of Batman and Shadow nods about his training and how he came about being called "The Fox."

This is an adaptation of an adaptation, based on a book by Isabel Allende who based her work on past hints and comics and films about Don Diego de la Vega. It is "true" to what the pulp writer Johnston McCulley wrote about the man and the material inspired by him but now we know his motivations a little more clearly.

Also, not to get sidetracked, I love the idea that Zorro has not just a villain but an archenemy. He was played well by Stuart Wilson in The Mask of Zorro, the evil Don Rafael Montero. That film was the first time we ever heard of Montero but that was a good thing. Zorro fans need it. Joker is Batman's main villain. Shiwan Khan is The Shadow's. Kingpin is Daredevil's. All great Dark Avengers need the main villain and while Montero doesn't really show up in this book, only mentioned, I can't wait to see him possibly in the second volume.

The joy in this book is not about Zorro's swordplay, sly maneuvering, or the wise cracks, it's about us witnessing how and why Don Diego de la Vega became a legend - to finally see the great man get a backstory that we always hoped for.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of the 1998 film, "The Mask Of Zorro", I was elated when I found this on my local library's shelf - I had no idea there were Zorro graphic novels! I enjoyed this read from start to finish. The authors and illustrators brought so much life to a character I already loved. Diego de la Vega was such a layered and mysterious character that one movie didn't quite do him justice (my personal opinion). I love love LOVE Antonio Banderas, but Anthony Hopkins is a great deal of the reason that movie succeeded - because Diego's character was so much more than just an action hero. Here, in this graphic novel, we see Diego as he transforms from someone very much like the film's Alejandro to the wiser Diego we see in the movie; but in the movie we see the finished product - the man who no longer searches out danger in seeking justice, but one who has come to the end of his journey as a hero, and has come to terms with it.

So, of course I digress, because that's totally my thing. What I enjoyed here is seeing the evolution of Diego, of Zorro, of the legend. I look forward to reading more swashbuckling adventure stories in Zorro-graphic-novel form as soon as I can get my hands on them!

[Matt Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story and I loved the illustration. A little confusing at times (maybe because I had a cold while I read it) so I wasn't sure who was Diego and who was Bernardo. But it was fascinating to read about this origin of Zorro (never did before). And, of course, the action scenes with Zorro were amazing. Recommended to any Batman fan at least.

[Wes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am very entertained by Zorro and this was a pretty good telling of his origin. The concept is very much the same as Batman Year One, but Zorro's story is being told by his faithful companion.

The art was good and the story moves pretty quickly. I will certainly pick up more Zorro by Matt Wagner to see what he can really do with the character.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mistakenly thought that Isabel Allende wrote this comic, but it is merely inspired by her. The book is Zorro's origin story and reads a lot like a superhero comic, but it's much better than you might expect. Certainly better than most superhero comics.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a birthday gift and I truly enjoyed it. It was very well written and the art was pretty good. I loved how the story was written in parallel between real-time and his origin story. Anyways, good stuff!

[Matt Sabonis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, great stuff. Wagner manages to make Zorro enthralling, especially considering it's an origin we've seen frequently. Francavilla's art is gorgeous, though, and the true selling point for the book.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite heroes is brought back to life in this excellent graphic novel. This briskly-paced origin story is told with a nice old-school reverence for the character, and the art is superbly old-fashioned as well. If you are a Zorro fan, you will probably enjoy this.

[Gonzalo Oyanedel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt Wagner confirma su talento con los héroes de vieja escuela dando al personaje de Johnston McCulley un nuevo aire, combinando los aportes de Douglas Fairbanks, Tyrone Power, Alex Toth e Isabel Allende en una reinvención amena y dinámica que honra sus raíces. Un clásico para nuevos tiempos.