"SADDLE UP! Andes takes us on an exhilarating, dust-kicking ride through the actual origins and history of the first hemispheric Latinx superhero: Zorro." —Frederick Luis Aldama, editor of Tales from la Vida: A Latinx Zorro's Shadow explores the masked character's Latinx origins and his impact on pop culture—the inspiration for the most iconic superheroes we know today. Long before Superman or Batman made their first appearances, there was Zorro. Born on the pages of the pulps in 1919, Zorro fenced his way through the American popular imagination, carving his signature letter Z into the flesh of evildoers in Old Spanish California. Zorro is the original caped crusader, the first masked avenger, and the character who laid the blueprint for the modern American superhero. Historian and Latin American studies expert Stephen J. C. Andes unmasks the legends behind Zorro, showing that the origins of America's first superhero lie in Latinx history and experience. Revealing the length of Zorro's shadow over the superhero genre is a reclamation of the legend of Zorro for a multiethnic and multicultural America.

The Mark of Zorro (The Curse of Capistrano) tells of the story of Don Diego Vega, alias 'Señor Zorro', in the company of his deaf and mute servant Bernardo and his lover Lolita Pulido, as they oppose the villainous Captain Ramon and Sgt. Gonzales in early 19th-century California during the era of Mexican rule. The novel is set amongst the historic Spanish missions in California, pueblos such as San Juan Capistrano, California, and the rural California countryside

Hustler duo China and Smooth have been inseparable since they were kids. The hood-smart childhood sweethearts would later go on to become hood-rich and grow into one of the most powerful tandems on the streets. A definite force to be reckoned with, it was only a matter of time before the pair who came into their own almost effortlessly would draw the ire and attention of some of the underworlds most dangerous power-players. Which is when China caught a case. Now she's locked up, sentenced to 3 years behind bars. Smooth uses this opportunity to reclaim his throne on the streets. Hoping to give his true love something to come back to. But in the back of his mind she's all he can think about... and that just might be the opening his enemies need to put him down once, and for all.

While mild-mannered Don Diego Vega seeks a bride, cloaked crusader Señor Zorro (Spanish for “Mr. Fox”) rides the dangerous highway of Mexican California armed with a sword, whip, and pistol—righting wrongs, defending the weak, and punishing injustice. The story is set in Reina de Los Angeles, a town in southern California circa 1800 when California was still a part of Mexico, and when Mexico was controlled by Spain. The Los Angeles of this time is populated by four societies that must coexist, but that coexistence is out of balance. The oldest and weakest group is the “natives” who live in the pueblo. Next come the clergy, the friales who first planted the orchards and who live in the missions. Then, the gentry, who live as dons and doñas on feudal estates, or haciendas. Finally, the land is ruled by the strongest of these powers, an unjust governor in San Francisco de Asis. He controls the army under whose rule the natives are abused, the friales mistreated, and the gentry disrespected. This is the story of a young man of “good blood” who decides he must restore balance to this frontier society. Johnston McCulley wrote stories of Zorro for forty years. This, his first Zorro story, was originally serialized in a magazine as The Curse of Capistrano. Señor Zorro went on to leave a deep impression on popular culture, and has appeared in the work of many other authors and artists, in many media, ever since. One reason the character of Zorro endures is that he carries on a tradition of daring and heroic figures, both literary and historic, who precede him. Best known perhaps are the medieval Robin Hood of English folklore whose “merry men” are reminiscent of Zorro’s “avengers,” and the Scarlet Pimpernel of revolutionary France. Lesser known is the real-life figure William Lamport, the “Irish Zorro,” whose statue still stands in Mexico City. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.

The pulp fiction master Johnston McCulley is most famous today as the creator of Zorro, though over a long career he issued a plethora of exciting heroes and villains. Colourful characters such as Black Star, Thubway Tham, The Spider, The Bat, The Crimson Clown, The Thunderbolt and many more helped influence the development of American pulp and comic book literature. This eBook presents McCulley’s collected works, with numerous illustrations, many rare texts, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to McCulley’s life and works * Concise introductions to the major series * All the Zorro novels for the first time in digital publishing, with individual contents tables * Includes a selection of Zorro short stories * A wide range of McCulley’s famous creations * Features numerous pulp novellas and stories appearing in digital print for the first time * Images of how the books were first published, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts * Excellent formatting of the texts * Easily locate the stories you want to read * Ordering of texts into chronological order and genres CONTENTS: The Zorro Series The Curse of Capistrano (1919) The Further Adventures of Zorro (1924) Zorro Rides Again (1931) The Sign of Zorro (1941) A Task for Zorro (1947) Zorro’s Fight for Life (1951) Miscellaneous Zorro Short Stories The Black Star Stories The Black Star (1916) Black Star’s Subterfuge (1916) Return of the Black Star (1917) Black Star’s Campaign (1919) Black Star Comes Back (1921) The Thubway Tham Stories Thubway Tham Stories The Spider Series The Spider’s Den (1918) The Spider’s Sign (1918) Into the Spider’s Jaws (1918) The Spider’s Strain (1919) The Spider’s Reward (1919) The Thunderbolt Tales Master and Man (1920) The Kidnapped Midas (1920) The Big Six (1920) The Man in Purple Series The Man in Purple (1921) The Man in Purple Meets a Man in Blue (1921) Breath of Disaster (1921) The Bat Stories The Bat Strikes! (1934) Bite of the Bat (1934) Shadow of the Bat (1935) Code of the Bat (1935) The Crimson Clown The Crimson Clown (1926) The Avenging Twins The Avenging Twins (1927) The Rollicking Rogue Stories The Rollicking Rogue (1930) The Rollicking Rogue’s Second Deal (1930) The Green Ghost Series The Green Ghost (1934) The Day of Settlement (1934) Swift Revenge (1934) The Green Ghost Stalks (1934) The Murder Note (1935) Deadly Peril (1935) Bloodstained Bonds (1935) The Mongoose Cases Alias the Mongoose (1932) The Voice from Nowhere (1932) The Mongoose Strikes Again (1932) Smoke of Revenge (1932) Jewels of the Rajah (1932) Ransom for Vengeance (1932) Six Sacks of Gold (1933) Profit for the Mongoose (1933) Trap of the Mongoose (1933) The Whirlwind Stories Alias The Whirlwind (1933) The Whirlwind’s Revenge (1934) The Whirlwind’s Red Trail (1934) The Whirlwind’s Rage (1934) The Whirlwind’s Ready Blade (1934) The Whirlwind’s Frenzy (1934) The Whirlwind’s Private War (1935) Other Pulp Stories Wild Norene (1914) Captain Fly-by-Night (1916) The Jungle Trail (1917) The Brand of Silence (1919) Four Hours (1919) Carden, Crook Comedian (1920) Flaming Hate (1920) The Mystery of the Private Dining Room (1920) Mysterious Doctor Toke (1921) The Obvious Clew (1921) The Ghost Phone (1921) Jerry, the Boaster (1923) The Black Jarl (1923) The Scarlet Scourge (1925) Miscellaneous Stories

The year is 1849, and the future state of California is under the control of former soldiers from the Mexican-American War. Their leader, General Gomez, is busy buying up the locals' land for pennies on the dollar, so that he and his cronies can maximize their profits from the coming gold rush. But he and his men are dogged by a series of masked, would-be avengers all calling themselves Zorro. They are an almost laughable annoyance, simple peasants living out the fantasy of a local legend. Until one man shows up and starts picking off Gomez's men one by one, as stealthy as a fox. He brandishes a sword which he uses to carve the letter Z into his victims' cheeks... Could this be the true Zorro?

Embark on a thrilling journey through the Spanish California of yesteryear with Johnston McCulley's exhilarating novel, "The Further Adventures of Zorro." Join the legendary masked hero as he returns to defend the innocent, fight for justice, and outwit the cunning villains who seek to exploit the weak and oppressed. But amidst the sun-drenched landscapes and swashbuckling adventures, a question beckons: What new challenges will Zorro face as he continues his crusade against tyranny and injustice? As McCulley's enthralling narrative unfolds, immerse yourself in the daring escapades and narrow escapes that have made Zorro a timeless icon of courage and defiance. Experience the thrill of rooftop chases, daring rescues, and epic duels as Zorro battles foes both old and new in his quest to uphold the ideals of honor and freedom. What secrets will be uncovered as Zorro delves deeper into the mysteries of Spanish California? Will he triumph over the forces of oppression and corruption, or will he be undone by the treachery that lurks in the shadows? Join Zorro as he rides into the sunset once more, his trusty blade flashing in the California sun as he fights for the downtrodden and the disenfranchised. Witness his courage, his cunning, and his unwavering commitment to justice as he confronts the forces of evil with a smile and a swish of his cape. Are you ready to join Zorro on another daring adventure? Prepare to be swept away by the excitement and romance of "The Further Adventures of Zorro," where every page is filled with action, intrigue, and the timeless appeal of a hero who fights for what is right. Don't miss your chance to experience the thrill of adventure. Purchase your copy of "The Further Adventures of Zorro" today and ride alongside the masked avenger as he defends the innocent and strikes fear into the hearts of those who would dare to oppress them.

Alexandra: A History is a social and political history of one of South Africa’s oldest townships. It begins with the founding of Alexandra as a freehold township in 1912 and traces its growth as a centre of black working-class life through the early years before the Nationalist government, through the struggles of the apartheid era and into the present day. Declared as a location for ‘natives and coloureds’, Alexandra became home to a diverse population where stand owners, tenants, squatters, hostel-dwellers, workers and migrants from every corner of the country converged to make a new life for themselves near the economic hub of Johannesburg. The stories of ordinary people are at the core of the township’s history. Based on numerous life-history interviews with residents and previously unexamined archive sources, the book portrays in vivid detail the daily struggles and tribulations of the people of Alexandra. A significant focus is the rich history of political resistance, in which political organisations and civic movements organised bus boycotts, anti-removal and anti-pass campaigns, and mobilised for housing and a better life for the township’s residents. But the book also tells the stories of daily life, of the making of urban cultures and of the infamous Spoilers and Msomi gangs. Over weekends Alexandra came alive as soccer matches, church services and shebeens vie for the attention of residents. Alexandra: A History highlights the social complexities of the township, which at times caused tension between different segments of the population. Above all else, despite a long history of hardship and adversity, the community spirit of the people of Alexandra, expressed in a fiercely loyal love of their township home, has repeatedly triumphed and endured.