Darna is a superhero appearing in Filipino comic books created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. The character was introduced during the Golden Age of Comic Books, debuting in Pilipino Komiks #77 on May 13, 1950. Darna is a retooling of Ravelo's earlier character, Varga, who first appeared in 1947. With her continued presence in literature and art, Darna has been described as a Filipino cultural icon. Throughout the years, she has been adapted to a number of media platforms, such as film, television, plays and video games.
Marcial "Mars" Custodio Ravelo was a Filipino comic book cartoonist and graphic novelist. Dubbed as the "King of Pinoy Komiks", he is notable for creating Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino,Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony, and Dragonna among others.
Valentina is a supervillain appearing in Philippine comic books, created by Mars Ravelo and Nestor Redondo. Based upon the eponymous Greek mythological figure, she first appeared in Pilipino Komiks and was the first adversary of the superhero Darna. Referred to as the "Goddess of Snakes", she has command over all kinds of serpents and has venomous snakes in her head instead of hair. She has been featured significantly as Darna's archenemy in many adaptations of her stories in other media.
Philippine Comics have been popular throughout the nation from the 1920s to the present. Comics scholar John A. Lent posited that the Philippine comics tradition has "the strongest audience appeal, best-known cartooning geniuses, and most varied comics content" in Asia after Japan and Hong Kong.
Komiks is a Philippine fantasy drama anthology television series broadcast by ABS-CBN. It aired on the network's Saturday evening line up from February 4, 2006, to August 8, 2009, replacing My Juan and Only and was replaced by Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla. The series featured popular local comic book stories by Filipino comic writers Pablo S. Gomez, Francisco V. Coching, Mars Ravelo, Elena M. Patron and Jim M. Fernandez.
Zuma is a Filipino comic book character created by Jim Fernandez in 1974. The character first appeared in a serial written by Fernandez entitled Aztec. From 1976 to 1985, Zuma got his own series named Anak ni Zuma that was serialized in Aliwan Komiks published by Graphics Arts Service Inc. with illustration by Ben Maniclang. The comics series was the biggest best seller for Aliwan. Following this publication success, spin-offs and a 1990s reboot about the character were published and it was further expanded in other media including film and television.
Dyesebel is a Filipino comic book character, conceived by Mars Ravelo and drawn by Elpidio Torres. Dyesebel is a mermaid, who eventually gains full human form through a deal with a sea-witch.
Jim M. Fernandez was a Filipino comic book artist best known for his works on Aztec and Aliwan Komiks. He also popularized the fictional character, Zuma in his novels. Apart from being an editor, illustrator, cartoonist, and writer for Philippine comics, Fernandez was also a certified public accountant in the Philippines.
Lastikman is a Philippine television drama fantasy series broadcast by ABS-CBN. The series is based of Mars Ravelo's comic book character of the same title. Directed by Chito S. Roño, Jerome Pobocan and Tots Sanchez-Mariscal, it stars Vhong Navarro and Iya Villania. It aired on the network's Primetime Bida line up and worldwide on TFC from September 24, 2007 to January 25, 2008, replacing Margarita and was replaced by Kung Fu Kids.
Mars Ravelo's Lastikman: Unang Banat, or simply Lastikman: Unang Banat, is a 2004 Philippine superhero film based on the comic book character Lastikman, directed by Mac Alejandre and written by RJ Nuevas. It stars Mark Bautista, Sarah Geronimo, Cherie Gil, John Estrada, Danilo Barrios, Elizabeth Oropesa, Joel Torre, Mark Gil, Bearwin Meily, and Tuesday Vargas. The film was released through Viva Films on December 25, 2004, as part of the 30th Metro Manila Film Festival.
Captain Barbell is a Filipino superhero created by writer, Mars Ravelo and artist Jim Fernandez. His characteristics are similar to American fictional superheroes Superman, DC Comics' Captain Marvel or Shazam, and Thor but Ravelo based his backstory on Captain America. He first appeared in Pinoy Komiks #1 on May 23, 1963. He also appeared in Kampeon Komiks.
Flash Bomba is a comic book superhero created by Filipino graphic novelist Mars Ravelo.
Tiny Tony is a Filipino comic book character created by Mars Ravelo and illustrated by Jim Fernandez.
Varga, a Filipino comic superheroine, was created by Marcial "Mars" Ravelo and first appeared in Bulaklak Magazine in 1947. The character, originally named Varga and later known as Darna, is an alien princess from Planet Vergon. She possesses superhero abilities like flight, super strength, and psionic skills. Varga, recognized as the first female superhero in the Philippines, has been featured in various media, including films,TV shows and comic books.
Captain Boom is a Filipino comic book character who fights crime that was created by Mars Ravelo and illustrated by his son Ric Ravelo. Captain Boom first appeared in United Komiks of PSG Publishing House in 1966. When the character was first introduced in television, his character is renamed to Kapitan Boom. Kapitan is a Tagalog word for "captain."
Antonio "Tony" Velasquez was a Filipino illustrator regarded as the Father of Tagalog comics and as the pioneer and founding father of the Philippine comics industry. He was the co-creator of Kenkoy, an “iconic Philippine comic strip character”.
Dominador "Hal" Santiago (August 9, 1941 – February 21, 2021) was a Filipino illustrator and writer in the field of Philippine comics. Santiago was described by Filipino writer Jim M. Fernandez as the “Raphael of [Philippine comic book] Illustrators”. His illustrations for eight comics series made him one of the most prolific Filipino comic illustrators, second only to Mar T. Santana, who has illustrated 17 series.
Lastikman is a 2003 Filipino superhero film based on the comic book character Lastikman, written and directed by Tony Y. Reyes. It stars Vic Sotto, Donita Rose, Michael V., Jeffrey Quizon, Michelle Bayle, Anne Curtis, Oyo Boy Sotto, Ryan Eigenmann, Pocholo Montes, Elizabeth Oropesa, Lito Legaspi, Evangeline Pascual, and Joonee Gamboa.
