Zorro

There are several problems with writing a history of Don Diego De La Vega, better known as El Zorro. In this case the problem comes, not from too little information, but from too much. Since Johnston McCully wrote The Curse of Capistrano in 1918, there has been a small flood of sequels and retellings of the legend of the masked rider. Unfortunately, these different versions have usually been created with little concern to remaining true to what has come before. Even the stories of Zorro creator McCully are filled with numerous inconsistencies. This raises a number of problems for any biographer, particularly when setting the date of the stories. Most versions follow the original Walt Disney series, which was set in the 1820s. This is true of the silent film The Mark of Zorro starring Douglas Fairbanks, the Topps Comics series, and all of the television versions. While widely agreed on though, this date may actually be a little late from a historical perspective. Mexico won its independence from Spain, and control of California in 1820. Most Zorro stories make reference to California being a Spanish possession and this argues for an earlier date. McCully is not a great deal of help, for his California combines aspects of several historical periods. He gives partial dates in several stories, stating that Zorro Rides Again takes place "...in "17—," and The Sign of Zorro "...about 1800..." However, in The Curse of Capistrano , Fray Felipe complains that the secularization of the missions has been going on for twenty years. If this is true, the story would be set in the mid-1850's. A solid date shows up in the serial Zorro’s Fighting Legion , which is set in 1824. Legion involves Zorro with the early government of Benito Juarez, and could hardly have occurred at any other time. Using this as an anchor, the most likely time-line would be that set out in the movie The Mask of Zorro , in which Diego first became Zorro in 1806. Diego’s mother dies sometime during his childhood, and he is sent to Madrid to complete his education. (Chiquita's death is established in the McCully stories and repeated in the Disney series and elsewhere. Chiquita's appearance in the 1940 movie The Mark of Zorro is fictitious.) Diego returns to find that his father, who had been alcalde , has been replaced by the corrupt Luis Quintero. Quintero and the brutal garrison commander, Captain Juan Ramon, are exploiting the peasants, the priests, and the Indians. Diego poses as a harmless fop so that he can battle Quintero and Ramon in the guise of El Zorro. ( The Curse of Capistrano , filmed several times as The Mark of Zorro , The Bold Caballero , and other titles.) Quintero's name is revealed in the 1940 version of The Mark of Zorro but the idea that he is Lolita's father is fictitious.) Diego defeats his enemies, and is set to marry Lolita, but a vengeful Ramon enlists the aid of the pirate Bardosa, and Zorro must defeat them before the marriage can take place. ( The Further Adventures of Zorro by McCully.) Lolita’s health fails, and she is taken back to Spain for a three year recuperation. Diego continues to ride as Zorro, and most of the McCully short stories published in West magazine occur during this time. This is also the period when the episodes of the Disney Zorro television series occur. Zorro's main nemesis during these early years is Capitán Monastario. Diego travels to the Old World to retrieve his bride. While in France, he has an adventure with the descendants of Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan (New World Zorro television series episode, "The Three Musketeers.") He also encounters the vampire Dracula in Spain and France. (This story appears in the Topps Comics miniseries Dracula vs. Zorro . The year 1809 seems likely, for Zorro had reason and opportunity to travel to Spain then. In 1810 a wave of revolutions through Mexico and Latin America made travel to Spain rare and difficult.) Diego returns to California with Lolita and retires