As soon as Zorro took to the air and the ratings soared, publishers rushed to get out stories of the masked man. Many of the old Johnston McCulley stories were reprinted, but there were also quite a few new books based on the Disney series. All of the books listed here were based directly on the Disney version and were licensed items, usually featuring artwork based on Guy Williams and other cast members.
Zorro books based on the series were released in a number of foreign languages and sold around the world. I've focused my own collection on English language texts, as reflected on this page. I have been gathering information on the foreign language editions and will add them to the site at a later date.
A number of books were reissued when the series was repeated in syndication; many were just reprinted without changes, except for the cover price. The reprints are listed here if they have different covers, page sizes, etc.
Books based on the series
Big Golden Book 398
Adapted by Irving Werstein
Pictures by John Steel
Simon and Schuster, 1958
28 pages
This book is based on the Capitan Monastario story arc.
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.
The Daily Mirror (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.
The Daily Mirror (1960)
Stories by B.F. Deakin
Illustrated by John Challen
The Daily Mirror, England, 1960
125 pages
Told in 15 chapters, this is a revised version of Whitman Authorized Edition 1586, which is described below.
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 Monastario. 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.
Little Golden Book D68
Adapted by Charles Spain Verral
Pictures by John Steel
Golden Press, 1958
24 pages
This is the Golden Press edition.
Little Golden Book D77
Told by Charles Spain Verral
Pictures by Hamilton Greene
Simon and Schuster, 1958
24 pages
In Zorro and the Secret Plan, the caped avenger 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.
Little Golden Book D77
Told by Charles Spain Verral
Pictures by Hamilton Greene
Golden Press, 1958 and reprinted in 1965
24 pages
This is the Golden Press edition
Punch-Out Book GF-132
Adapted by Dick Moore Pocket Books, 1958
4 pages
This book featured four pages of heavy stock figures that were punched out and folded for playing. It measures 7.25x13 inches.
Stories From Other Lands
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 Authorized Edition 1586
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, 1958 and reprinted in 1965
96 pages
This book appears to have used the cover of one version of Whitman #1190 and the pages from the other. It was reprinted in 1965.
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.
Whitman Coloring Book 1190
Drawings by John Steel and Tony Pawlo
Whitman Publishing, 1958
A second entry with the same catalog number from Whitman Publishing.
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.
Books about the series
The Legend of Zorro
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. The book is out of print but can usually be found on Amazon.
The Wonderful World of Disney Television
by Bill Cotter
Hyperion, 1997
272 pages
Written by the owner of this site, this book covers every episode of every Disney television series through 1997. There is a detailed chapter on Zorro, with additional information not included on this site. The book is out of print but can be found on Amazon, eBay, etc.
The Zorro Television Companion
by Gerry Dooley
McFarland & Company, 2005
640 pages
A well-written and exhaustively researched look at the series. Author Gerry Dooley tracked down an amazing amount of information on the show.
Magazine stories
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 Piña, 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 loan shark 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.
