The Lone Ranger Avenges ‘The Death of Zorro’

Well, we didn’t see this one coming. Check out the press release from Dynamite Entertainment:

NEW YORK, NY (December 14, 2010)-One of comicdom’s first and greatest heroes, Zorro, will have fallen in battle, sacrificing his life to save his people.  Upon learning of this tragedy, it falls unto the future hero of the Wild West, The Lone Ranger®, to avenge the death!

Dynamite Entertainment, home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, and Classic Media, a global media company with a portfolio of some of the world’s leading entertainment franchises, including The Lone Ranger, and Zorro LLC, today announced the publication of the first crossover comic for pop-culture’s most-famous masked heroes, The Lone Ranger and Zorro.

Written by Ande Parks, the first issue will also feature covers by Alex Ross and professional wrestling icon-turned-artist, Jerry “The King” Lawler, as well as Francesco Francavilla and Tom Yeates! The comic is scheduled to arrive in stores in March 2011.

“This series is a really exciting opportunity for me,” says writer Ande Parks.  “Not only do I get to write two truly legendary American heroes, but I get to write a defining moment for one of them… his death. This series isn’t just about the death of Zorro, though. It’s about the enormous legacy that he leaves behind. When a hero dies, he leaves behind a legion of people that have been touched by his deeds. In this case, Zorro’s legacy has touched a young Lone Ranger.  Unfortunately, the bad guys that have ended Zorro’s life are a small but powerful army who plan on continuing to victimize the Native Americans Zorro was trying to help. Zorro’s legacy, even as embodied by The Lone Ranger, may not be enough to defeat this army of renegade Civil War bushwhackers.”

“Zorro and The Lone Ranger were two of the primary icons I had never gotten a chance to paint before, and I was excited to get the chance with such an important crossover,” says Alex Ross.  “Of the designs I conceived, this is more of an intimate portrait-like shot, separating the two men by the subtlest of details.”

“Zorro is one of the most iconic heroes of all time, and it is an incredible honor that Zorro is partnered with another legendary hero, The Lone Ranger,” adds John Gertz, the President & CEO Zorro Productions, Inc.  “This comic is a must-read for fans of both Zorro and The Lone Ranger!”

“We are excited to partner with Dynamite Entertainment and Zorro Productions  to bring together two of the greatest heroes in the comic world,” said Karyn Schneider, VP, Licensing, Classic Media. “The Lone Ranger is America’s favorite hero of the Wild West and has captured the hearts and imaginations of fans for generations.  With the two characters’ enduring legacies, this first crossover comic marks a memorable moment in comic book and pop-culture history, inspiring fans for many years to come.”

Dynamite has had tremendous critical success with our Zorro and The Lone Ranger books, written by Matt Wagner and Brett Matthews respectively, and are honored to be working with Ande Parks to tell this tale,” says Dynamite President Nick Barrucci.  “I am excited to see the responses from fans from both franchises in this crossover of these two renowned heroes!”