Zorro

The graphic novel of Zorro by Wagner and Francavilla is the most innovative and passionate book I’ve read. With its intricate artistic detail and use of Spanish throughout the story, Diego, otherwise known as the capped crusader Zorro, really came out of the book. This story had many elements to it, including, a love story, and a quest for revenge, and a tale of the riches to rages and back to riches. More importantly this novel symbolizes the struggles between the peons and the oppressed minorities which are the powerless, compassionate, weak, scared, victimized and poor.  This includes poor Mexicans, Native Americans, Jews, and Romani (gypsies), against the Spanish colonizers as wealthy, unjust, power hungry, abusive, racist, hierarchical, and evil.

The controversy between theses two parties has been an issue for many years and Isabel Allende, author of the novel Zorro, brought the issue to light. The graphic novel’s illustrations were so intimate and clear, the words had become ineffective. Like the saying goes“A picture is worth a thousand words”, the book became the ideal obsession. I had no idea that the separation between the “real” Spanish and the others were as severe as it was portrayed in the graphic novel and the book. I’ve starting reading the book and Allende goes into so much detail about the unlawful activity the government exemplifies. I enjoyed the characters because it not only became relatable, but also gave a sense of security to how there is always somebody watching and protecting those who are demoralized.