As Brett Matthews and Sergio Cariello did for The Lone Ranger this time Dynamite Entertainment taps Grendel creator Matt Wagner and artist Francisco Francavilla to retell the classic story of Zorro in this new series.  Here’s our review of the first issue!

Zorro #1
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“A legend is formed by those who hear it..by those who believe it.”

In the tradition of Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One, Matt Wager (creator of Grendel) retells the origin of one of comics earliest and most enduring characters – Zorro.

In this first issue the tale is told of the first appearance of a mysterious demon who attacks a band of soldiers by the lone survivor of the altercation.  Intermixed with his tale is the origin of Diego De La Vega as told by his childhood friend and loyal supporter Bernardo who peals back the veil to give us a look at the important events in the life that shaped Deigo into the man he would become.

There is much here to enjoy and as the story unfolds on multiple fronts from Diego’s first experience at injustice as a child to juming out of the night in the shadows.  In these short and limited panels of our hero’s first foray into the night the story borrows from Miller’s Batman origin tale, which is only fair as Batman has borrowed much from Zorro over the years.  In fact my only real complaint is that it’s done so well we never actually get to see Zorro!

Wagner also adds a new element to including in the tale Isabel Allende’s version of Diego’s mother as a Mexican tribal warrior whose heritage, along with the Spanish heritage from his father, was passed on to her son.  The story includes a Spirit Quest for both Bernardo and Diego as each finds part of their future, and a piece of Zorro.

The art by Francisco Francavilla captures both the harsh light of Diego’s past and the darkness and mystery (what little we do see) of Zorro.  I’ll wait a little longer until the masked man makes more of appearance in the series to provide a final critique, but I like what I’ve seen so far.

The tale is dedicated to Zorro creator Johnston McCulley and the “countless films and comic creators who have chronicled the adventures of America’s first masked super-hero.”  From the first words to the reveal of the final panel the story, one that has been told many times over the years, will keep you enthralled.  Whether this is your first experience to Zorro or your hundredth, this is a Zorro worth spending some time with.

Issue #4 is a bit of a break, a chance to include a pair of familiar faces, and set-up some storylines which should (hopefully) play out down the road.  Taken by itself however the latest issue feels a bit too much like filler before the big fight between Angel and the champion demons of Hell.

Angel: After the Fall #4
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“That almost made the whole damn thing worth it.”

Season Six continues with a few more familiar faces – those of Lorne and the Groosalugg (who show up in Silver Lake of all places), but the anticipated throw-down between Angel and demons is sadly not covered here.

Most of the issue is taken up with Angel’s preparation for the upcoming battle of champions, although we do get a short flashback to Angel’s, and Los Angeles’, first moments in Hell.

Gunn continues to put his plan in action by destroying the Wolfram & Hart Building.  This also has an unexpected consequence on poor Wesley, whether or not this was part of Gunn’s plan or just a side-effect will have to be seen.

We also get more time-loopyness around Spike this time who is offered a Hagun Shaft, said to be able to kill even Immortals, by the Demon Lords as a back up plan to take care of Angel should he find a way to win.  As to why they would saddle this task with Spike, or even Illyria isn’t explained (or even well though out, it seems to me).

Other than the big explosions by Gunn the main trouble with this issue, aside from getting reintroduced to Lorne and Groo, is how much it feels like filler prolonging the battle which is to come.  I’m also a bit concerned that the time-shifts we’ve seen effecting many of the characters haven’t even by addressed yet by the characters themselves (don’t you think someone would have commented on it by now?), or explained by the writers.  This is really the first mis-step of the series; however if some of the foreshadowing comes to fruition in the next few issues perhaps it will be worth it.  We’ll just have to wait and see.