The legendary Zorro is getting a modern reboot in a new series from Batman: White Knight mastermind Sean Murphy and Massive Publishing. The series, titled Zorro: Man of the Dead, presents a bold new vision of a pop culture icon, one that both honors the spirit of the original while looking forward to the future. Previously announced, Zorro: Man of the Dead has now launched on Kickstarter and ScreenRant is pleased to bring fans an exclusive first look.
Today, Massive Publishing kicked off their Kickstarter campaign for Zorro: Man of the Dead. Sean Murphy described Zorro: Man of the Dead as “Don Quixote meets Narcos.” A young boy living in Mexico watches as his parents are gunned down in front of him by the local cartels. As a coping mechanism, he begins to relate to Zorro. He learns how to fight with a sword and launches a one-man war against the cartels who hold his village in the grip of terror. Massive Publishing also provided Murphy’s interlocking cover for the series, shared below. The Kickstarter campaign promises a number of unique rewards for backers.
Zorro is an Important Figure In Hispanic Representation
Massive Publishing CEO Michael Calero was excited about the project, citing Zorro’s important role in Hispanic representation. Calero, who is a Hispanic writer and editor, was “honored” to have other Hispanic artists, such as Humberto Ramos and Joe Quesada contribute to the project. Calero also cited Zorro’s influence on other characters in popular culture.
Zorro Also Influenced Pop Culture–Including Batman and Superman
Indeed, Zorro is a highly influential figure, having inspired the creators of a number of classic superheroes. Zorro was created by pulp novelist Johnston McCulley in 1919 and was an overnight sensation. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the creators of Superman drew inspiration from Zorro, as did Batman’s creators Bill Finger and Bob Kane. The character has been adapted across a variety of media, including two popular feature films starring Antonio Banderas as Zorro and Catherine Zeta-Jones from the late 1990s/early 2000s. These films, and other media, have depicted the role of Zorro as passed down through the generations, and now Sean Murphy is bringing a new version to audiences.
Sean Murply Is the Ideal Creator to Reboot Zorro
Sean Murphy is the perfect creator to bring Zorro into the modern era. His iconoclastic Batman: The White Knight books perfectly flipped the script on the Dark Knight and his world, and Murphy is now going to do the same for Zorro. Just as the original Zorro fought for the oppressed, this new version takes on the narcos that have seized control of his village and killed his parents. This unique take grounds Zorro in the modern world while at the same time honoring what came before. An icon like Zorro deserves only the best, and Batman: The White Knight’s Sean Murphy will deliver with Zorro: Man of the Dead.
