107-Year-Old Western Franchise Officially Returns In 2027 With A New Release

Published Nov 12, 2026, 11:37 AM EST

TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments. 

One of the most legendary Western and swashbuckling adventure franchises returns in 2027 with a brand-new release that takes fans behind the scenes of an adventure pitting pop culture's most iconic swordsman against one of history's most recognizable military figures. Fans of historical adventures, Westerns, and swashbuckling action won't want to miss this release, particularly those interested in exploring the artistic process behind one of the franchise's latest adventures.

When a franchise has endured for more than a century, you know it has achieved legendary status, and that is certainly the case for Zorro. The franchise had its humble beginnings in 1919 with a serialized pulp adventure novel titled The Curse of Capistrano, written by Johnston McCulley, and has since expanded into multiple movies, reboots, television shows, and more. Now, 107 years later, the legendary masked avenger is still headlining new projects, with his latest expected to arrive on February 3, 2027.

Alien Books' Zorro: Director's Cut #1 will be an oversized one-shot revisiting the first issue of Zorro: Dark Age by comics legends Howard Chaykin (American Flagg!) and Jorge Fornés (Batman). This special release, available for $6.99, will also offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the series, featuring selections from Chaykin's original script alongside Fornés' sketches, layouts, and inks. Complete with a durable cardstock cover, this release is particularly appealing to longtime Zorro fans and collectors interested in the artistic process behind the franchise's latest adventure.

However, this isn't the only release on the horizon for Zorro fans, as July 6, 2027, is another date they should circle on their calendars.

Zorro vs. Napoleon: Everything You Need To Know About Dark Age

Main Cover by Jorge Fornés for Zorro: Director's Cut #1 (2027)

As previously mentioned, Zorro: Director's Cut #1 revisits the first issue of Howard Chaykin and Jorge Fornés' acclaimed Zorro adventure. However, for those who want to dive into the complete three-part series in one place, they can look forward to the July 6, 2027, release of Zorro: Dark Age. This 112-page paperback will collect Chaykin and Fornés' Zorro issues #1-3 and will be available for $19.99. For those interested, the official synopsis for the series can be found below:

Don Diego de la Vega, known to the world at large as Zorro, is no stranger to facing down dangerous foes and risking his life to help the less fortunate. Now, he will face his biggest challenge yet as he goes up against the might of Napoleon Bonaparte and his armies!

Can Zorro overcome the odds and continue his quest for justice or will his story be cut short by Napoleon?

This chapter marks a notable moment in Zorro's ever-growing legacy, taking the masked vigilante away from his traditional stories set in Spanish California and pitting him against one of history's most recognizable military figures: Napoleon Bonaparte. The Napoleonic setting also gives fans a different historical backdrop for Zorro's familiar swordplay and fight for justice, making this adventure feel both fresh and recognizable.

If you're a longtime Zorro fan, let us know what you think of this ambitious new take on the franchise! Does it capture the spirit of the legendary masked swordsman, or does it stray too far from what makes Zorro so iconic?

Zorro: Director's Cut #1 from Alien Books will be available to read on February 3, 2027!

Zorro