Zorro #1 (1990)

The story opens in Los Angeles in the year 1815, and Don, Alejandro is headed to Monterey on horseback when interrupted by Lancers of the Alcalde. Zorro shows up and takes the Lancers on a diversion. While deftly getting away, Zorro and his horse fall from a high canyon edge, and appeared to the pursuing Lancers that he was dead. They leave the scene and Zorro is not dead, but does have amnesia, and cannot even remember his name or identity or the name of his father or Victoria, the girl that he loves, or his mute ward, Felipe. He remembers much of his life even rescuing his father with a hang gliding winged glider that allowed him the access and advantage to free his father. Tornado makes it back to the Hacienda and Felipe goes back with the horse to help Zorro. Once Felipe arrives a lot of his memories return. As he is nursing his wounds, he realizes that without knowing the life of Don Diego, and perhaps somewhat still suffering from a head injury, and unable to wield a fencing sword, he decides to give up the double life of being Zorro, and try to remember the life of Don Diego. With the forced selling of the property because of the inflationary and confiscatory taxes, the Alcalde would buy up the homes and land of the people forced to sell at much reduced value. This enrages Don Diego, and he realizes he must return as Zorro. The Alcalde’s men could not find the body of Zorro, so they made a wax figure, and put him in a coffin for his funeral. Zorro, unobserved, snuck into the coffin, replacing the wax figure. At the eulogy he comes to life and states the reason he fought against the government was because of the unfair, taxes and confiscation of property. He and Felipe set off an arsenal of fake artillery that caused the Alcalde and his men to surrender and give up their confiscatory taxes. The Alcalde swears that he will hunt down Zorro and Zorro leaves, but not without leaving the sign of the Z on the wall outside.