ZORRO: NEW WORLD #2 – Review

In ZORRO: NEW WORLD #2, available from American Mythology on August 25th, 2021, a magician comes to town to wow the locals and make some money. When a gold shipment is robbed using unusual illusions, Zorro rides in to trick the trickster.

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The Details

• Written By: Ian Rimmer, Ted Alben
• Art By: Mario Capaldi
• Colors By: Mario Capaldi
• Letters By: Mario Capaldi
• Cover Art By: Mario Capaldi
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: August 25, 2021

Was It Good?

It was perfect.

I’m not shy about admitting we’re BIG fans of classic comics and adventures of the old-time serial variety on this site. Zorro is a property we’ve wanted to add to our roster for a long time, and my heart is full of joy now that it’s become a reality.

There’s something wholesome about a classic, simple crime-fighting story. De La Vega has a suspicious yet curious mind, and he wastes no time investigating the newcomer to town when something doesn’t “feel” right. The blend of superstition skepticism and science plays well into a hero who’s a little ahead of his time for the setting. And, the magician’s tricks are just simple enough to be explained but executed well enough to instill awe in the average onlooker as something truly magical.

Of course, the dialog is a little simplistic to the point of feeling melodramatic or corny, but it fits the material so well, you don’t mind it at all.

The art by the legendary Mario Capaldi is a treat for anyone who’s a fan of that transition period from the Golden Age to the Silver Age of comics. It’s amazing how simple poses with a few, sparse action lines can convey so much movement. Capaldi captures the essence of acting with simple lines and character poses, and you can almost feel the motion and direction of the characters. Sure, you could argue it’s outdated art, but it’s incredibly effective at telling the story.

It’s a joy to read wholesome comics like this, and we look forward to seeing more in the future.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

Señor Foucard is a newcomer to Los Angeles Pueblo whose magic act is designed to delight the locals during his short stay. Despite Foucard’s best efforts at wowing the crowd, Diego De La Vega aka Zorro is unimpressed.

Later, Diego spends time puzzling over a particular Foucard trick involving the resurrection of a dead swallow. When he investigates the stage area, Diego overhears Sergeant Mendoza discussing plans to protect a gold shipment. The Sergeant is concerned because the previous shipment was attacked by a bandit able to conjure giant fireballs. Diego decides the next shipment needs some extra protection… from Zorro!

When the next shipment arrives, it’s attacked by the same bandit who throws giant fireballs. The attack scares off the Sergeant and his men, but Zorro intervenes to drive off the bandit, capturing the chemicals used to make the fireball in the process. Later, Diego examines the pouch of chemicals and concludes it has similar properties to chemicals used in pulling off the resurrected swallow trick by Foucard.

Zorro now has the proof he needs. As Foucard beings preparation to leave town, he decides the lovely Victoria will leave with him as his bride… whether she agrees or not. We conclude the issue with Zorro arriving to confront Foucard — magician, robber, and now, kidnapper.

Final Thoughts

ZORRO: NEW WORLD #2 is a welcome visit to a bygone era of classic serial adventures. The story is simple yet effective, and the art is masterfully drawn. If you’re a Zorro fan (or want to see a classic example of a Detective comic with a masked hero wearing a black cape), add this to your colleciton.

Score: 9/10