Big Golden Book 398

Simon and Schuster, 1958

I don't own a copy of this one yet so I can't list details on what's inside.

Big Golden Book 6020

Adapted by Irving Werstein
Pictures by John Steel
Golden Press, 1958
32 pages

This large format (9.25x11.5 inches) book is based on the Capitan Monastario story arc. Told in nine chapters, it ends as Zorro turns the defeated Monastario over to a citizen's committee and Don Alejandro wonders why Diego can't be more like the mysterious Zorro.

Daily Mirror, The (1959)

Story by Steve Frazee
Adapted by Arthur Groom
Illustrated by John Challen
The Daily Mirror, England, 1959
125 pages

Told in 15 chapters, this is a revised version of Whitman Authorized Edition 1586, which is described below.

Daily Mirror, The (1960)

Stories by B.F. Deakin
Illustrated by John Challen
The Daily Mirror, England, 1960
125 pages

This book features nine stories of Zorro, including The Return Of Zorro, Zorro The Duelist, Rescue From The Dungeons, The Trick That Failed and The Trap. They bear little resemblance to the televised Disney version, for Zorro's main foes are the new Governor, a "fat, indolent and greedy man," and his henchman, Capitan Mondori.

Little Golden Book D68

Adapted by Charles Spain Verral
Pictures by John Steel
Simon and Schuster, 1958
24 pages

This children's book takes several liberties in telling the origin of Zorro. For one, the villain's name is misspelled Montastario. In the finale, Zorro captures his foe by lassoing him from a tree deep in a forest and then defeating him in a duel in the town square.

Two different cover versions exist.

Little Golden Book D77

Told by Charles Spain Verral
Pictures by Hamilton Greene
Simon and Schuster, 1958
24 pages

Zorro must ride into action when robbers steal the Golden Eagle, a "great symbol of office", from a stagecoach bringing it to Los Angeles in honor of the Governor's visit.

Pocket Books, 1958

I don't own a copy of this one yet so I can't list details on what's inside.

Adapted by Irving Werstein
Pictures by John Steel
Grolier, 1965
256 pages

Published as part of "The Wonderful Worlds of Walt Disney" series of books, this volume contains 19 different stories based on Disney cartoons, films and television. The 24-page Zorro story retells the Capitan Monastario stories from the first 13 episodes of the series. It was adapted from Big Golden Book #6020.

Whitman Publishing Company, 1965

I don't own a copy of this one yet so I can't list details on what's inside.

Told by Steve Frazee
Illustrated by Henry Luhrs
Whitman Publishing Company, 1958
282 pages

This edition retells the first 13 episodes of the series. Upon arriving home in Los Angeles from Spain, Don Diego de la Vega discovers the pueblo is under the merciless rule of Capitan Monastario, a corrupt official who plans on enriching himself at the expense of the local residents. Unable to stop the soldier through a direct show of force, Diego becomes Zorro, the masked avenger.

Whitman Coloring Book 1158

Drawings by Tony Sgroi
Whitman Publishing, 1965

This reprint of Whitman #1190 was released in 1965 to take advantage of Zorro's return in syndication.

Whitman Coloring Book 1190

Drawings by Tony Sgroi
Whitman Publishing, 1958
96 pages

A fairly typical coloring book of the period, this edition loosely tells the origin of Zorro.

My notes indicate that there are two versions of this coloring book with the same number. It was also reprinted in 1965 as Whitman #1158 with a different cover.

Whitman Crayon-by-Number Box 4783

Whitman Publishing, 1965

I don't own a copy of this one yet so I can't list details on what's inside.

Whitman Magic Paint with Water Cards 4432

Whitman Publishing, 1958

I don't own a copy of this one yet so I can't list details on what's inside.

Whitman Trace and Color 1414

Drawings by Tony Sgroi
Whitman Publishing, 1958 and reprinted in 1965
48 pages plus tracing inserts

This is an abridged version of Whitman #1190. Looks like they liked the cover design though since they used it twice! This book features some of the same artwork as the coloring book, but also includes thin pages that budding artists could trace on, copying from the printed pages in the book.

by Bill Yenne
Magna Books, 1991

Published in conjunction with the Duncan Regehr television version of Zorro, this book includes some interesting photos and information from the Disney series, as well as all of the other Zorro outings up to 1991. Now out of print and hard to find. ISBN 1-85422-169-8.

Walt Disney's Magazine was a popular children's magazine, sold both through subscription and on newsstands. Several uncredited 4-page Zorro stories were published, and each is described below. Several other issues also included minor mention of Zorro as part of Disney's overall publicity campaign.

Stories about Zorro and Guy Williams also appeared in many other magazines and newspapers. Click here for a listing, then head off to the library for some fun!

Vol. III No. 3

April 1958

Zorro Outwits Death is loosely based on the episode Zorro's Secret Passage. Monastario again suspects that Benito, a vaquero on the de la Vega ranch, is secretly Zorro, and he arrests him with plans for a speedy trial and execution. Diego must free Benito and prove his innocence so Monastario will stop arresting him.

Vol. III No. 5

August 1958

Zorro didn't make the cover this time out, but he is featured in Zorro's Merry Chase, a story about a missing land deed. Maria Torillo, a local vendor, and her father will lose their land unless Zorro can prove that Pina, the crooked lawyer, has forged his deed to the property.

Vol. III No. 6

October 1958

Part 1 of the story The Fire of the Night features characters from the episode The New Order. Zorro tries to help Theresa, the tamale vendor, when her stand is mysteriously burned to the ground. Who is Jaime Ropa, the stranger who offers to loan her the money to rebuild?

This edition also includes behind-the-scenes photos as Kevin Corcoran visits Henry Calvin in Moochie's Perfect Day.

Vol. IV No. 1

1958 (no month listed)

Another non-cover outing features the conclusion of The Fire of the Night. Not too surprisingly, Zorro proves that the loanshark Ropa is behind the fires plaguing the town's vendors.

Vol. IV No. 3

April 1959

The episodes The Missing Father, Please Believe Me and The Brooch are retold here in two parts. As the story begins, young Anita Cabrillo arrives in town looking for her father, Don Cabrillo, but no one has heard of the supposedly wealthy man. The story includes several pictures of Annette Funicello from the episodes.

Vol. IV No. 4

June 1959

The conclusion of Zorro and the Missing Father reunites Anita with her missing father, who is really the town's blacksmith. He had pretended to be wealthy so his daughter would think more highly of him while she was away at school in Spain.

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