Did you know that Mars Ravelo’s creation was conceptualized back in 1939? Yes, Darna was created a year before Wonder Woman was created, which was 1940. While the latter saw print by 1941, it took 8 years for local publishers to finally decide to publish Darna in a local periodical named Bulaklak Magazine.  For 28 issues, the original series was written by Ravelo and illustrated by Nestor Redondo. Since then our local heroine has appeared in two ballet productions, three TV shows, and 14 films.

DARNA IN BALLET

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde (1993, 1997)

Prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde played the part of Darna in 2 separate ballet productions by Philippine Ballet Theatre, Pilipino Komiks [1993] and Comics: The Ballet [1997] which celebrated Darna’s golden anniversary.

Christine Crame and Kris-Belle Paclibar (2003)

Ballet Philippines produced Darna: The Ballet which was also performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Christine Crame and Kris-Belle Paclibar alternately danced that part of Darna while the antagonist, Valentina, sung her parts.

Regine Magbitang (2017)

Pilipino Komiks was restaged again in 2017 and this time, the role of Darna was played by Regine Magbitang. This was staged in the in the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theater and was additionally performed in Negros, Philippines.

Christine Crame and Kris-Belle Paclibar (2003)

DARNA ON TV

Under KBS-9:

Lorna Tolentino (1977)

She’s the youngest actress to play Darna. She snagged the 2-episode role when she was 14 years old.

Under GMA Network:

Angel Locsin (2005)

 

With a total of 170 episodes, this was the longest running and highest rating Darna TV series.

Under ABS-CBN:

Marian Rivera (2009-2010)

Marian Rivera played the title role which was praised for her versatility in portraying Darna not just as a heroine, but as a darker evil version as the story progressed.

Iza Calzado and Jane de Leon (2022)

The story revolves around how Iza Calzado as the “original” Darna passes the reins on to her daughter, Jane de Leon. This Darna version was also broadcasted on all leading digital platforms.

DARNA IN FILMS

Darna (1951)

The first actress to play the title role was Rose del Rosario, a Filipino-American. She was so good that she starred in another Darna movie in the year that followed.

Darna at ang Babaing Lawin (1952)

At the age of 35 Rose del Rosario got her second Darna role. The music for this movie was composed by our National Artist for Music [1991], Lucio San Pedro.

Si Darna at ang Impakta (1963)
Isputnik vs. Darna (1963)

After 11 years, another Darna film would be produced and actress Liza Moreno would star in both of them. Of all of Darna’s enemies, one would wonder who Isputnik was. This role was played by Nida Blanca, a “powerful outer space warrior who has the ability to fly”.

Darna at ang Babaing Tuod (1965)

According to IMDb, Eva Montes was known for 3 movies and this Darna movie was one of them. This incidentally, was the first Darna movie in full color.

Si Darna at ang Planetman (1969)

Gina Pareño plays the titular role with Vic Vargas as the Planetman.

Lipad, Darna, Lipad! (1973)
Darna and the Giants (1973)
Darna vs the Planet Women (1975)
Darna at Ding (1980)

Our Star for All Seasons, Vilma Santos-Recto, plays the humble heroine not once, not twice, but four times. On her fourth Darna movie, the adorable younger brother, Ding, was played by another popular child actor, Niño Mulach. For her Vilmanian fans, Vilma Santos-Recto was the perfect Darna of her time. In fact she is, and always will be, the best Darna of the “big screen”.  

Darna, Kuno? (1979)

There were three men who played Darna. Chiquito was the first one and guested in one of Vilma’s movies to spoof her popular role. The second Darna was played by comedy king, Dolphy. It was a spoof of Vilma Santos-Recto’s role. There were actually 3 Darnas in the movie: Dolphy, Brenda del Rio and Lotis Key. Brenda’s role was initially offered to Vilma at that time. The third male Darna was played by Niño Mulach in Darna at Ding (1980). One of those I-have-to-save-my-sister-so-I-am-borrowing-her-superpowers skit.

Bira, Darna, Bira! (1979)

This movie by an 18-year-old Rio Locsin [who also appeared in Darna, Kuno] was the only Darna movie that flopped in the box-office.

Captain Barbell (1986)

Sharon Cuneta had a Darna cameo in this film. At a time when she was being billed as a “Megastar”, she got her fans to see her in this movie.

Darna (1991)

Before becoming a philantrophist and business woman, Nanette Medved was an actress and a model. She was cast as Darna in this Joel Lamangan film that won 3rd Best Picture in the 1991 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Darna! Ang Pagbabalik (1994)
Ang Pagbabalik ni Pedro Penduko (1994)

Anjanette Abayari was an actress and a beauty queen when she snagged the titular role.

Captain Barbell (2003)

Regine Velasquez does the Darna cameo in this movie as she fights alongside Captain Barbell played by Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. Captain Barbell’s alternate personality, Enteng, was played by Regine’s real life husband Ogie Alcasid. This was the top grossing entry of the 2003 Metro Manila Film Festival.