Press Release
The company that announced to fans a new line of Zorro comics just last month, promising to take the iconic fan favorite character in bold new directions, has another major announcement regarding the comic series. Renowned comic artist Michael Kaluta has signed on to produce art for the books, helping to lead up to the character’s 100th-year celebration in 2019.
Kaluta, a staple in the comic book community since the early 1970’s, began his career with work on Edgar Rice Burroughs novel adaptations for DC comics and made a name for himself with his elaborate panel designs and books like The Shadow in 1973-74. Kaluta has worked with a number of major comic book publishers over his career, such as Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Vertigo, IDW, and now American Mythology.
He is a multi-award-winning artist for his work in comics over the last five decades. No stranger to pulp hero action, he promises to pack even more punch to an already exciting series taking Zorro into dark waters as he battles supernatural beings and demonic forces. The artist’s work will be showcased beginning with the new series' planned second story arc Zorro: Sacrilege. Fans of the artist will have even more to celebrate as Kaluta looks to return to his ERB roots by contributing to American Mythology’s upcoming Carson of Venus series and the horror title, Eternal Thirst of Dracula.
The first story arc for the Zorro series will be written by David Avallone (“Doc Savage: The Ring of Fire,” “The Twilight Zone: The Shadow”). Avallone is excited to take the hero in a fresh direction, not an easy task for a character pushing 100. “I was thrilled when American Mythology asked me to write such an iconic pulp hero; the guy who showed the Shadow and Batman how it’s done.”
“I first became familiar with Michael Kaluta through the covers that he illustrated for the various DC Comics horror titles that were published in the early-to-mid '70s.” Mike Wolfer, Editor-in-Chief, for American Mythology said. “It was his delicate lines more than anything that set his work apart for me, and that's become the signature of his work. Like most of us, I'm a fan of comic book artists- I'm one myself. But in my mind, there's a distinction between a "comic book artist" and a "comic book illustrator." Mr. Kaluta is a comic book illustrator, and we're incredibly fortunate to have such a highly-regarded artist contributing to our titles.”
Zorro: Swords of Hell #1, is advance-solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ May 2018 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in August. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies with their local comic book retailers.