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Darna

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Darna
File:Darna cover.JPG
Mango comic's first issue of Darna.
Publication information
PublisherMango Comics
First appearancePilipino Comics #77 (1950)
Created byMars Ravelo
Nestor Redondo — first illustrations
In-story information
Alter egoNarda
Team affiliationsCaptain Barbell, Lastikman, Dyesebel, None
Notable aliasesDaria, Varga (original known alias before Narda)
Abilitiesflight, invulnerability, super-strength, super-speed, vision powers (including heat vision in 2005 TV series)

Darna is a fictional character and superheroine created by Filipino komiks (Philippine colloquial term for comics) legend Mars Ravelo. In her more popular incarnations, she is a warrior from outer space manifesting herself through a girl from Earth, named Narda.

Darna was originally known as Varga and first appeared in Bulaklak Magazine, Volume 4, No. 17, on July 23, 1947. Ravelo had differences with the editors of Bulaklak Magazine and Varga's name was changed to Darna. The character was re-launched on May 13, 1950. Nestor Redondo drew the first Darna.

Since then, Darna has become a Philippine cultural icon and the most recognizable character among Ravelo's creations.

Character overview and history

Template:Spoilers

Overview

Regardless of her many incarnations, the story of Darna begins with a village girl named Narda who finds a small white stone, a tiny meteorite from outer space. Narda swallows the stone and shouts "Darna," she becomes a mighty warrior ready to defend Earth from evil forces.

Abilities

Darna's powers include flight, super strength, super speed and near-invulnerability. The winged medallion on her helmet also emits a powerful "concussion ray" and the medallions that make up her belt can be used like throwing stars (shuriken). In the 2005 TV series, she also has heat vision. Narda transforms into Darna, and vice versa, by shouting out their respective names. First, however, Narda has to swallow the white stone, which conveniently comes out of her mouth every time Darna changes back into herself. However, it was not so in her original incarnation (see below).

Contrary to popular belief, Darna was not named after the magical Ibong Adarna (Adarna bird), which appears in a Philippine epic of the same name. In Bulaklak Magazine, Narda was already established as Varga's mortal identity. "Darna" was simply an anagram of "Narda". Also, see [1].

History

Early years

Darna's first adventure (as Darna) was first serialized in the pages of Pilipino Comics #77, where she was pitted against the sultry snake goddess Valentina. Here, Narda, a young girl, swallows the stone, which has the word Darna on it, and transforms into Darna by shouting out the latter name. Likewise, Darna turns back into Narda by shouting her name. The stone, from the planet Marte, stays in her body, and her secret is known to her brother Ding, who becomes her sidekick, and her grandmother. The superheroine quickly gained popularity among Filipino comic book readers.

Later years

Starting in 1951, several Darna movies were made. Some made from 1973 onwards starred the future multi-awarded dramatic actress Vilma Santos. In these 1970s films, Darna's origin was changed; no longer a little girl, Narda was now in her late teens. Also, she herself becomes Darna, unlike the original where she just "channels" her (not unlike Jason Blood and Etrigan). Only Ding knows her secret in this version. Also, the stone comes out of Narda's mouth every time she changes back; she has to swallow it every time she wants to transform (This became standard for following versions). Darna is not specified as coming from Marte, just as a "warrior of Light". This version of Darna became most people's idea of the character for about 3 decades. A catchphrase popularized by the movies and said by Narda runs, "Ding, ang bato!" ("Ding, [give me] the stone!")

A TV series was also produced in 1977. Created by Ketchie Benedicto and airing on KBS 9, Darna! The TV Series starred another future multi-awarded dramatic actress, Lorna Tolentino, as Darna/Narda.

The Mango Comics miniseries

In 2003, an award-winning Darna miniseries was published by Mango Comics, with major input from Ravelo's family. This version showed Narda as a college student who first found the stone 10 years before. However, the details of Darna's origin was changed again - Her race of "Adarna Warriors" originally came from the planet Tiamat, as did Valentina's, the "Serpent Queens". Their respective peoples had warred for many years. On Tiamat, Darna's race used artificial wings, reminiscent of the Hawkmen and Hawkwomen of Thanagar, while Valentina's race was reminiscent of Nagas as well as Gorgons. Because of the war between the Adarna Warriors and the Serpent Queens, they fled the planet Tiamat and went to the planet Nibiru, also known as Marte.

Here, Darna (both the name and the character) is linked to the Adarna bird (Ibong Adarna. The editorial decision to designate them as such probably came from the popular (but erroneous) belief that the name "Darna" was taken from "Adarna".

The 2005 TV series

Main article: Darna (2005 TV Series)

In 2004, executives of GMA Network and Hugo Yonzon, current license holder of Darna and head of Mango Comics, signed a licensing agreement for a new Darna television series. It premiered in Filipino homes on April 11, 2005 and garnered a 47.1% rating according to AGB, making it the highest rated pilot episode ever in Philippine television. During the fourth episode, it garnered 52.1% overnight ratings from AGB, the highest rating yet for the show because this was the episode that Narda transforms into Darna for the first time. Filipino actress Angel Locsin starred as Darna. The television series ended Friday, November 25, 2005.

A lot of changes and new material were added for this incarnation of Darna. The show follows the original with Narda finding the stone as a child, but she only becomes Darna and discovers her powers at age eighteen. It follows the 2003 comics in making Darna part of an alien race (the Adranika of Marte) who fought another alien race of serpent people (called the Anomalka). However, many new allies and enemies were invented for the show, as well as more backstory. Notably, Narda and the (half-Anomalkan, half-human) Valentina are half-sisters.

Four actresses who previously played Darna were involved in the TV series:

  • Gina Pareño (Darna and the Planetman, 1969) appeared as Darna's grandmother
  • Rio Locsin (Bira, Darna, Bira, 1979) appeared as the wife of Dr. Zombie, one of the villains
  • Lorna Tolentino (Darna in 1977 TV series) portrayed Queen Adran of Marte
  • Regine Velasquez (plays Darna in Captain Barbell, 2003) sang the theme song of the series. Quite interestingly, she also provided a voice clip of shouting "Darna!" for use in the TV series, as Angel Locsin's own efforts were apparently subpar.

The series features several prominent Filipino actors and actresses as the villains:

Similarities and inspirations

Some may point out that Darna is very similar to (or less charitably, is a rip-off of ) Western superheroes, particularly Wonder Woman. Darna's costume and some of her powers are very similar to hers. Also, Narda transforms by saying a special word, just like Captain Marvel (especially the original version, where her civilian self is a kid, like Billy Batson). Darna's enemy, Valentina, is based on Medusa, whose comic version is also an enemy of Wonder Woman.

However, Darna's similarity to Wonder Woman is superficial, if anything. Besides the fact that super strength, flight, and super speed are common and hardly unique powers among superheroes, the character has several differences with her purported source material. She has always possessed the power of flight from the very beginning (as Varga in 1947, and as Darna in 1950), while Wonder Woman only gained the power of flight in the 1987 relaunch of her title. She does not require bracelets to deflect bullets with, because they already bounce off her body (like Superman). It seems that only Viva Films' rendition of Darna copies Wonder Woman, because they have her deflect bullets with her bracelets. Also, Diana is not an alien, but an Amazon princess.

Darna's chief inspirations did not include Wonder Woman, but were rather Superman and Captain Marvel, whose comics Ravelo regularly read.

According to some, Ravelo never had a father-figure and he considered his mother as his biggest hero. His mother represented Darna and young Mars Ravelo represented kid sidekick, Ding. This is most likely the reason why Darna is a woman with Superman-like powers.

Supporting characters

Family

Regarding Darna's family, the best known of them are:

  • Ding - Narda's brother and Darna's sidekick. Notably, he died in the 2005 TV series.
  • their grandmother (called Milagros in the TV series)

The TV series elaborated on much backstory for the character, including her family members.

  • Valentina - became her twin sister.
  • Tatay Mulong (Nosferamus - her father, deceased, resurrected, and then deceased again),
  • Nanay Ising - her adoptive mother, deceased
  • Prospera - her biological mother
  • Iking - adopted brother
  • Lenlen - adopted sister

Allies and Enemies

Over the years, Darna has fought against and alongside many characters in her various incarnations, like:

Allies

  • Captain Barbell - a superhuman Earth champion like Darna with a human dual identity. Captain Barbell also possesses Superhuman strength and the power of flight. A famous Philippine comics character also created by Mars Ravelo.
  • Lastikman - an alien shapeshifter, not unlike Plastic Man and Mr. Fantastic; also created by Ravelo.
  • Dyesebel - a mermaid born from human parents who helped Narda in her mission against Braguda & the Anomalkans. Another of Ravelo's characters.
  • Dyangga - head of the mermaids who showed Narda the location of the Mahiwagang Kabibe (Magical Clam).
  • Queen Adran - Matriarch/Queen of the noble Adranika race of the Planet Marte.
  • Aio - Queen Adran's "right hand person". The White Stone-bearer and Darna's mentor.
  • Wonder kids - two super kids created in the 2005 TV series.

Enemies

  • Valentina - Darna's most famous and greatest foe.

In the 1950's, she was originally a bitter, deformed woman born with snakes for hair from ordinary human parents. When she grew up, her parents were killed by the local people and was subsequently adopted by a creature named "Kobra", a giant serpent with a hag's head. Valentina was soon referred to as "goddess of the snakes" who had a close familiar - "Vibura", a loyal serpent. (Vibora is Spanish for viper.)

In the 1973 film "Lipad, Darna, Lipad", she is played by Celia Rodriguez and is known as "Dr. Valentina Vrandakapoor", with a Ph. D. in Reptilian Zoology from the University of New Delhi. Valentina is portrayed as the Queen of the Serpents and moonlights as a ramp model. She was seen walking on the lobby of the Manila Hotel in a turban covered Medusa wig, bare midriff Indian sari, and on her belly button, a giant ruby known as the “Star of Bombay” that can blow away suspecting Bollywood wannabees. Humourously, she sees Darna flying across Rizal Park and she says, “Sino ba yang babaeng mababa ang lipad?” ("kalapating mababa ang lipad" - literally low-flying doves - is a Tagalog euphemism for women of low repute, i.e. prostitutes.)

In the 2005 TV series, Valentina is a human/Anomalkan hybrid. She is Braguda's greatest and most favored apprentice when she returns to planet Earth. She believes herself to be Narda's cousin but later learns that they are half-sisters. Ultimately, she helps Darna kill Braguda.

Classic villains
  • Babaing Lawin - Armida the Hawk Woman (Unrelated to the later GMA TV series Mulawin, also starring Angel Locsin, the 2005 Darna)
  • Babaing Impakta - Evil Conjoined twins
  • Babaing Impakta II - A "manananggal", a vampire-like aswang(supernatural monster in Philppine folklore in which it separates at the waist, the upper half is enabled to fly while the other half walks to frighten people and to signify that a manananggal lurks) in the "Lipad, Darna, Lipad" film (1973).
  • Babaing Tuod I - (Lucifera the tree monster-also called The Woodwitch; has the ability to fight enemies by means of her vines and roots, and can turn plants into deadly weapons.
  • Isputnik -a superheroine who once did battle with Darna.
  • The "Planetmen"- Extra-terrestrials from "Darna at ang Planetman"
  • The "Planet Women"- Amazonian emissaries who tried to transport the Earth into their part of the galaxy; from "Darna vs. the Planet Women"
  • X3X- alien Warrior Queen from "Darna and the Giants"
  • The Giants - genetically altered earthlings by Warrior Queen - from "X3X"
TV series vilains
  • Braguda - Queen of the Anomalka race of the Planet Marte.
  • Babaing Tuod II- The possessed version of Alice (Narda's Best friend) (2005 version from the TV series)
  • Babaing Impakta III - Another possessed version of Alice (from the 2005 TV series)
  • Babaing Lobo- Another possessed version of Alice (from 2005 version from the TV series)
  • Babaing Linta - Garda the leech woman
  • Dambuhalang Ahas (Giant Snake) - Also known as Higanteng Sawa (Giant Python), Braguda's first servant in Earth. Responsibe for the death of Nanay Ising and the transformation of Valentina to a Babaeng Ahas (snake-woman).
  • Ms. Luna - a manananggal
  • Mambabarang - Warlock king of insects
  • Sulfura - has the ability to spew fire and acid and melt her enemies
  • Molecula - a shape-shifter
  • Nosforamus - grim reaper-"The Shadow of Death" and right hand man of Braguda
  • Dr. Zombie - re-animator of corpses.
  • Ella the Zombie - reanimated policewoman
  • The Toy Master - a Clown who possessed the magical powers stolen from a Gnome.
  • Demonica - a villain created for the 2005 TV series
  • Black Darna - the evil twin of Darna in the 2005 series; Black Darna has the same powers and abilities as Darna.
  • Divas Impaktitas- Valentina's 1st 3 Vampire minions created by the magic Black Stone.
  • Varka - Anomalkan who wishes the death of Braguda according to the Prophecy, however insists on dominating Earth. Killed by Braguda when she found out that Varka betrays her.
  • Peruka - friend of Varka. Killed by Valentina for treason.
  • Trolka- An Anomalkan Warrior/Executioner who carries a "Ball and Chain" Mace.
  • Lalaking Ahas (The Snake Man) - was Efren (Narda's true love) who was temporarily trasnsformed into this creature by a spell cast by Valentina.
  • Narda's past - it is said that Narda's past is the greatest enemy of Darna, according to the Adranikas.

Locations

The following locations are featured in Darna stories:

  • Sa Bayan Ng "M" (To the Town of M) (from issue # 1, 1950) - when creator/writer Mars Ravelo wrote the first issue - Narda & Ding's location - Sa Bayan ng "M" refers to the place Mars Ravelo grew up. "M" is Malabon, General Trias, Cavite in the Philippines. This is the setting of Narda/Darna's origin. (This information was confirmed by the Estate of Mars Ravelo.)
  • Mabuhay University (from Mango Comics DARNA # 1) is the College where the adult Narda attended. It is based on the University of the Philippines.
  • Planet Marte - the planet where both the magic white stone and magic black stone comes from. Darna's power comes from this planet that is both technologically advanced as well as mystically inclined. Science and magic are not seen as two separate opposing disciplines. They are both integrated in this society composed of two tribes - the noble Adranika race and the evil Anomalka race.
  • Planet Tiamat - the planet of Darna and Valentina in the Mango Comics version; here their respective races fought each other for many years. Darna's race is reminiscent of the Hawkmen and Hawkwomen of Thanagar, while Valentina's is reminscent of Nagas and Gorgons.
  • Planet Marte or Nibiru - where the Adarna Warriors fled to when Tiamat was destroyed. This concept of 2 alien races warring for supremacy that came from the 2003 Mango Comics mini-series was utilized in the TV series. The "Adarna Warriors" were renamed to the "Adranika" while the "Serpent Queen" race was given a name - the "Anomalka". However, the TV series version introduces Adran and Braguda, the rulers of their respective races.
  • Galactica - Another term for "Galaxy".

List of Darna movies

Over the years, Darna has appeared in many films.

  • Darna vs. The Planet Women
    • Directed By Armando Garces
    • Opening day: December 25, 1975
    • Produced by: TIIP
    • Starring: Vilma Santos as Darna, Bentot Jr as Ding, Rossana Ortiz as Elektra, Zandro Zamora, Eva Linda and Lita Vasquez with Ernie Garcia
  • Darna Kuno?
    • Directed by: Luciano B. Carlos
    • Opening day: March 30, 1979
    • Produced by: Regal films
    • Starring: Dolphy as Darna, Lotis Key, Marissa Delgado, Brenda Del Rio as Darna with Celia Rodriguez, Ruel Vernal and Bella Flores
  • Darna and Ding
    • Directed by: J. Erastheo Navoa and Cloyd Robinson
    • Opening day: February 8, 1980
    • Produced by: D' Wonder
    • Starring: Vilma Santos as Darna/Narda, Nino Mulach as Ding, Celia Rodriguez as Lei Ming, Marissa Delgado as Dr. Irene Vontesberg, Veronica Jones as Babaing Lawin and Max Alvarado as the Giant Films.

A new movie is being planned in December 2006 for the Metro Manila Film Festival under GMA Films and the film outfit is said to be eyeing singer-actress Regine Velasquez to play the Filipino heroine.


Other Darna appearances

  • Sharon Cuneta as Darna in Viva Films Captain Barbell (December 25,1986)
  • Liza Macuja - Comics the Ballet (1997)
  • Anjanette Abayari, Alma Concepcion, Daisy Reyes Darna in Toyota FX Commercials.
  • Aug 1-17, 2003 "DARNA THE BALLET" (CCP).

Mica Bernas as Narda. Chin-Chin Gutierez and Tex Ordonez as Valentina. Kristine Crame and Kris Belle Paclibar as Darna.

  • Regine Velasquez as Darna in Viva films "CAPTAIN BARBELL" Dec 25, 2003. And in The Singer and the Song Writer Concert Tour 2004.
  • Chiquito was the first male (i. e. parody) Darna in " Terebol Dobol".

See also

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