I was also pleasantly surprised on seeing the image; that Disney was using the first (#228)Zorro Dell comic issue, as reference.
Of course they also had the actual Johnston McCulley on hand.
McCulley & Guy Armando Catalano
LOL it's another publicity image, I can imagine Guy Williams saying- this is great, I can totally play this guy.
Yeah I've seen that Hit Comics referenced as a first Zorro comic book appearance, LOL I guess Kid Eternity's powers are the ability to summon random characters from other publishers fiction and realities. In the same issue he also summons Porthos of the Three Musketeers, and a character called Joe Grimm the gentleman Boxer.
As well as novels, movies and movie-serials, Zorro was still appearing in the pulps well into the late 50's.
I doubt this was a licensed appearance, the "Zorro" who shows up is pretty off-model, nothing resembling his recognizable look, costume or even a mask or sword, for a first comic appearance not sure how much he should count, as he seems to be just a "Zorro" in name.
If anything (at least visually) he's more in his Diego [de la] Vega persona, although that name is also not given.
Absolutely, the Dell Four Color #228, is published under Famous Authors Illustrated, and it names and is a licensed adaptation of Johnston McCulley "The Mark of Zorro" novel, ( re titled after the Fairbanks movie) and names and gives copy right to Johnston McCulley.
It was an officially licensed book appearance, and somewhat retelling of Curse of Capistrano/Mark of Zorro.
It's not up to me but if I were to reference the first legit Zorro comic, it would be the Dell one, and the subsequent Dell run that followed...
ZorroMaskDell.jpg
Anyway, point was really that these Dell comics were in fact already there before Disney Guy Armando Catalano Williams take, so that despite being a pulp and film character first, yes one could somewhat suggest he's also portraying a then already existing comic character.
Which is ultimately why I agreed with you.
You said:
Great cast! : )
I'd also add:
Britt Lomond as Capitán Monastario
and George J. Lewis as Don Alejandro de la Vega