Zorro: The Fourth Adventure

The earliest Zorro story appeared in the serialized popular magazine tale "The Curse of Capistrano" by American writer Johnston McCulley. The setting for the Zorro stories is California, a land that changed hands three times - from Spain to Mexico and then to the United States. The time period is during the Spanish rule over Mexico in the 19th century. The protagonist, Diego, is a common man hero akin to Robin Hood. He is the son of a landlord but chooses to fight for justice, eliminate oppression, and redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor. Therefore, he must transform into Zorro and operate secretly. Zorro's attire includes a black mask, black hat, black cloak, black steed, sword, and whip. Zorro means "fox" in Spanish. Whenever this black desert fox appears mysteriously, he leaves his signature mark with his sword. California only脱离 Spanish colonial rule and joined the United States in the year . Prior to this, the last governor, LaFer, used high-pressure dictatorial rule against the local people, causing the populace great suffering. The noble Diego stood up as the masked hero Zorro to oppose the tyranny, thus giving birth to the legend of Zorro. Zorro first appeared in a fictional novel written by a journalist named John Mc Culley. Zorro, which means "fox" in Spanish, was created by this journalist who adapted the story of an English legendary figure and added the deeds of three heroes from the Mexican Revolution era. The French actor Alain Delon portrayed Zorro as a swordsman whose good friend was appointed governor of a colony but was unfortunately killed on the way. Thus, he assumed the identity of the governor and went to the colony. Once there, he transformed into Zorro to uphold justice. After killing the villains, Zorro rode away, and his girlfriend told the local people, "When we achieve peace and justice, Zorro will return." By the late 19th century, California in the United States was still under Spanish territory. The residents of the California region were severely oppressed by the Spanish army, living in dire straits. Although everyone was angry and dissatisfied with the military's actions, no one dared to speak out. For the people of California, it seemed like their suffering would never end, and they had resigned themselves to thinking that their previous peaceful lives were just a dream. But this was not a dream; a righteous messenger unafraid of military oppression was slowly approaching from across the sea. In many previous film and television works, we have encountered Zorro as a middle-aged man. This time, a Japanese animated series titled "The Legend of Zorro," also known as "Flying Swordsman Zorro," based on the story of Zorro's youth, meets us. This animation quickly gained prominence among the youth with its new character designs, distinctive artwork, captivating storyline, and meticulously crafted music, overshadowing previous Zorro works. Young Diego was born in California, USA, and is the master's son of the Vega family. His father is a wealthy rancher, and Diego's mother passed away when he was young. The father never remarried, and the maid Maria took full care of the household, ensuring Diego's healthy growth. One evening, Diego brought home an orphan named Bernardo who was seriously ill. They adopted him, and Diego cared for him like a younger brother, making Bernardo a full member of the Vega family. Diego and Lolita grew up together since childhood, being sweethearts. Lolita is a charming girl loved by all, coming from a wealthy family but possessing a strong sense of justice and compassion. Later, Diego was sent to Spain for study. During his studies, Diego dedicated himself to mastering fencing and became an accomplished fencer. After Diego left for school, a commander named Ramon arrived and took office. Ramon was a complete opportunist, leading the troops to wreak havoc locally, plunging the people into dire straits. Before Diego returned home after graduation, he received a letter from his father, who informed him of the current situation in their hometown. Fueled by righteous anger at the army's brutality, Diego and Bernardo stepped forward, transforming into the masked heroes Zorro and Little Zorro, challenging the army.