History ComicBook / Darna

** Not counting parodies and [[{{Crossover}} cameo or guest]] appearances, there have been ''12'' Darna theatrical films since 1951, with the latest coming in 2018, with different actresses in the role - many playing the role multiple times in presumably their own continuities, with NegativeContinuity sometimes affecting films starring the same lead actress. As for television, there have been Darna shows in 1977, 2005 and 2009, all on different networks with each having a different lead actress as well.

* AdaptationExpansion: The Darna movies introduced the [[RetCanon now-standard elements]] of Narda being as old as Darna, Narda actually becoming Darna, and the magic stone not staying in Narda's body once she changes back.

* {{Homage}}: Basically {{Wonder Woman}} meets [[{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]].

** The 1979 film ''Darna, Kuno?'' starred the comedian Dolphy as a male substitute Darna when the real one went on maternity leave.

** In the 1991 movie, the adult Narda is employed as a reporter, is courted by another reporter, and has a comedy-relief photographer friend. [[{{Superman}} Um...]]

** Not counting parodies and [[{{Crossover}} cameo or guest]] appearances, there have been ''12'' Darna theatrical films since 1951, with the latest coming in 2017, with different actresses in the role - many playing the role multiple times in presumably their own continuities, with NegativeContinuity sometimes affecting films starring the same lead actress. As for television, there have been Darna shows in 1977, 2005 and 2009, all on different networks with each having a different lead actress as well.

** Not counting parodies and [[{{Crossover}} cameo or guest]] appearances, there have been ''12'' Darna theatrical films since 1951 with different actresses in the role - many playing the role multiple times in presumably their own continuities, with NegativeContinuity sometimes affecting films starring the same lead actress. As for television, there have been Darna shows in 1977, 2005 and 2009, with the latest coming in 2017, most on different networks with each having a different lead actress as well.

* AdaptationExpansion: The Darna movies introduced the now-standard elements of Narda being as old as Darna, Narda actually becoming Darna, and the magic stone not staying in Narda's body once she changes back.

** Not counting parodies and [[{{Crossover}} cameo or guest]] appearances, there have been ''12'' Darna theatrical films since 1951 with different actresses in the role - many playing the role multiple times in presumably their own continuities, with NegativeContinuity sometimes affecting films starring the same lead actress. As for television, there have been Darna shows in 1977, 2005 and 2009, all on different networks.

* ArchEnemy: Valentina, the Queen of Snakes.

* {{Homage}}: Basically {{Wonder Woman}} meets {{Superman}} meets [[{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]].

'''Darna''' is a {{superhero}} from [[UsefulNotes/{{Philippines}} Philippine]] comic books, created in 1950 for ''Pilipino Komiks'' by writer Mars Ravelo and illustrator Nestor Redondo. One of the most popular Filipino superheroes, she has appeared in many movies and several television series through the decades [[AdaptationDisplacement which have far overshadowed]] her actual comics tenure.

* InkstainAdaptation: The Darna movies introduced the now-standard elements of Narda being as old as Darna, Narda actually becoming Darna, and the magic stone not staying in Narda's body once she changes back.

Darna has inspired ''Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni ZsazsaZaturnnah'' (The Spectacular Adventures of Zsazsa Zaturnnah), a transsexual superhero.

!!Tropes associated with {{Darna}} include:

* HumanAliens: Darna's race in the original comics and some versions; in other versions she is just called a "warrior of light". In the original story, her planet was called Marte, which is just the Spanish name for {{Mars}}. Later versions have kept the name Marte but clearly established it as another planet.

** Valentina, the snake woman (''Valentina, ang babaing ahas'')
** The tree (stump) woman (''Ang babaing tuod'')
** The hawk woman (''Ang babaing lawin'')
** The ghoul woman (''Ang babaing impakta'')

* RoguesGallery

* TomHanksSyndrome: Vilma Santos, who portrayed Darna in a series of movies in the 1970s, is much better known among later generations of Filipinos for her serious drama films in the 1980s and beyond. (Also for entering into politics.)

!Tropes associated with {{Darna}} include:

* InkstainAdaptation: The Darna movies introduced the now-standard elements of Narda being as old as Darna and the magic stone not staying in Narda's body once she changes back.

* Ravelo wrote Darna from the 1950s to the 1960s and other writers took over for later stories. After the once-flourishing Filipino comic book industry had all but died out in the 1990s, Darna received a short-lived revival in 2003 (the source of the page image).

The late Filipino komiks legend Mars Ravelo created Asia's first superheroine in 1947 named "Varga." She first appeared in Bulaklak Magazine, Volume 4, #17 on July 23, 1947 and quickly became popular amongst its readers. Mars Ravelo wrote and illustrated the stories, and his artistic style were comprable to Max Fleischer Studios cartoons from the early 20th Century. As a human, Varga was known as the little girl named "Narda" (Mars Ravelo based this on the name of a boyhood playmate). In her superhuman form, she fought against common criminals, as well as greater forces of evil. Like the Darna of today, Varga stood up for those who could not fend for themselves.

Having differences with the the editors of Bulaklak Magazine in 1949, Mars Ravelo decided to take his creation elsewhere. Unfortunately, the superheroine's name, "Varga," belonged to Bulaklak Magazine. His creation's name was simply renamed to "Darna," which is simply "Narda" spelled backwards. (Many Darna fans mistakenly believe that the second name is based "Ibong Adarna," a bird of Philippine folklore.) "Darna" relaunched under this name on May 13, 1950.

Since then, she has not only appeared as a comic book character, but also as a heroine on both television and film, the most recent of which is a 2009 TV series.

Her alter-ego is a girl named Narda, who was a child in her earlier incarnations, but eventually was Retconned to be an adult. In the earlier versions Narda found a stone, which she swallowed to become Darna. Later versions kept this, minus the "keeping the stone in the body" part.

''Darna'' has inspired ''Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni ZsazsaZaturnnah'', a transsexual superhero.
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!Some tropes associated with {{Darna}} include:

* AuthorAvatar: Ding
* BareYourMidriff

* ByThePowerOfGreyskull: "'''DARNA!'''"

* HenshinHero: in the more recent series.
* KidSidekick: Ding

* MagicalGirlWarrior: [[OlderThanTheyThink Predates the Japanese troper namers by about 30 years]].

* ParentalSubstitute

* TagalongKid: Narda's brother Ding.
* TransformationTrinket

* XmeetsY: Darna is [[{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] meets WonderWoman. In fact, many non Filipino fans often call her the "Filipino Wonder Woman".

Having differences with the the editors of Bulaklak Magazine in 1949, Mars Ravelo decided to take his creation elsewhere. Unfortunately, the superheroine's name, "Varga," belonged to Bulaklak Magazine. His creation's name was simply renamed to "Darna," which is simply "Narda" spelled backwards. (Many Darna fans mistakenly believe that the second name is based "Ibong Adarna," a bird of Philippine folklore) "Darna" relaunched under this name on May 13, 1950.

* MagicalGirlWarrior: [[OlderThanTheyThink Predates the Japanese troper namers by about 30 years, and pre-dates ]].

* MagicalGirlWarrior: [[OlderThanTheyThink Predates the Japanese troper namers by about 30 years]].
* MostCommonSuperpower: Given that she's based on [[WonderWoman American heroines]]...

* XmeetsY: Darna is [[{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] meets WonderWoman. In fact, many non Filipino fans often call her the "Filipino Wonder Woman".

* XmeetsY: Darna is CaptainMarvel meets WonderWoman. In fact, many non Filipino fans often call her the "Filipino Wonder Woman".