Review: Zorro #11

Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when California hadn’t become a state, and Spain ruled via governors and magistrates.  Gold is about to make land owners very rich, and corruption runs rampant.  Who will protect the innocents of the land?

Zorro, Zorro, the fox so cunning and free,
Zorro, Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z!

I’m trying to make it a habit of reading something new each week, and passing my thoughts about the experience to you, Dear Reader.  This week, I picked up issue #11 of Zorro from Dynamite Entertainment, and while I don’t proclaim to know exactly what is going on, the issue did get me interested in the story.

Don Diego makes an unannounced visit to the lovely Senorita de la Pulido, interrupting Major Pasquale, who is attempting to pitch woo in order to convince the young lass into talking her father to sell his land to Alcalde Quintero.  Through their conversation, Don Diego riles Major Paquale over tales of the masked vigilante, and when he loses control, the Major begins brandishing his sword about, with no concern for who might be injured.  Fortunately, Don Diego is able to disarm the Major with his parasol, in a brilliantly conceived scene that shows how deft Don Diego is in disarming his opponents.  Not only does Don Diego keep anyone from getting hurt, he also hides his true identity by playing the bumbling playboy.

Readers soon discover why everyone is so interested in the Pulido estate – there’s gold in them thar hills. When Don Carlos turns down Alcalde Quintero once again, Quintero knows the only way to get the land is to frame Don Carlos as a conspirator in league with Zorro.

Readers get nearly two-thirds of the way through the issue before Zorro appears, discovers Quintero’s plan, and thwarts the plot – temporarily – n to take Don Carlos’s land.  The final page showing Quintero’s rage over Zorro’s act, is classic villain twirling the mustache as he plots his next move.

Stepping into the issue without knowing what was going on, was a bit intimidating, but by issue’s end, I more interested now in finding out what happens next.  Credit to Matt Wagner for constructing an issue that does what it should – progresses the story, without making it inaccessible to new readers.  Being only somewhat familiar with Zorro’s history, I knew enough to put the pieces together, but really nearly anyone should be able to do the same thing with a lot less knowledge.

Those looking to try something new, Zorro #11 is worth a shot.  It’s not an issue full of sword fighting and hijinx, but it does set up the major conflict Zorro will have to resolve.  The issue has some really great moments, and very few low ones, earning Zorro #11 3.5 out of 5 Stars.