American Mythology Productions 2019
Written by Mike Wolfer
Illustrated by Alex Miracolo
Coloured by Beezzz Studio
Lettered by Natalie Jane
Don Diego's vacation is far from relaxing. An accident in the lucrative tin mine on the Asistencia grounds kills several Native American workers, who are unceremoniously buried in the graveyard outside the Mission's walls. Later that night, a terrifying supernatural manifestation attacks and murders a monk within the sanctity of the chapel, while Muat's brother Lanu is whipped to death by the Spanish soldiers who are sworn to protect the Asistencia. Zorro jumps into action that night to investigate the mysterious murders. But inside the chapel, he comes face-to-face with a horrific, supernatural force that tells him that Zorro himself is the key to stopping the coming nightmare of possession and death within the walls of San Leticia Asistencia...
I love what these folks are doing with the Legend of Zorro! I mean at this point in time both the Spanish and Native American's believed strongly in the supernatural and the old gods, well the Native American's at least. So it is only natural that we would see Don Diego and his alter ego fighting these forces throughout his journey's on the continent. I am sure that back in the day it was considered unthinkable to do what we do now and so it is with great pleasure that I read these adventures as I feel that they are an extremely natural fit for the time, era and peoples of the land.
I am thoroughly enjoying the way that Mike is telling this story. The way that we see the plot & story development and the character development working so well together and being so essential to one another, as if one were Zorro the other Don Diego, is superb to see. With the addition of the pacing which picks things up beautifully which allows the release of information, revelations and the myriad of twists and turns to create a very quick feeling ebb & flow to the book. Now I like to talk about going off-script quite a bit but in this case we really aren't doing that instead the reader becomes to engrossed by what's happening on the page we don't have time to do anything else. Mike keeps us riveted on the pages and we just can't get enough.
Alex's work on the interiors is very comic book style oriented which is delightful. Still I would like to see a bit more finesse with the linework so it can really bring out more attention to detail. I mean there are moments like seeing the statue on page four that looks incredible and I want to see more like that! I wouldn't hurt to make the dead scarier and the spirits less cute either, just saying because this doesn't exactly evoke fear in anyone. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels does show a solid eye for storytelling. The book would also benefit from stronger use of backgrounds. The colour work however is delightful. There is some nice choices in colours and the various hues and tones being utilised to show shading. That night sky from the window was stunning. The dead flesh could've been creepier though or at least different than the colour of the soldiers shirts.
I am having a lot of fun with this story and how we see it unfold. In typical fashion we see someone who doesn't know of Zorro, a damsel who is not in distress per se and some corrupt soldiers as well those running the Asistencia. Secrets abound in this place where demons and the dead have free reign including inside the chapel which is supposed to be hallowed ground. Can Zorro stop the darkness from spreading or all who reside here doomed? Well next issue will bring us to the climax and close out this chapter and I can't wait to see what it's going to be.