Role-playing notes:
In all but the most recent versions, Narda’s brother Ding also acted as Darna’s sidekick. He is the classic kid brother sidekick who gets captured often but displays deadly accuracy with his slingshot.

Darna is a classic hero. Much like Superman, she is a true example of someone seeking to defend the weak and whose values can seem somewhat nave at times; particularly in the face of the corruption the Philippines’ legal system. Like many Golden/Silver Age heroes she has an almost constant internal monologue (though in earlier versions she shared these dialogues with Ding).

Darna has always been a representative of Filipino values and in some versions was sent literally by an angel (as the Philippines is predominantly Catholic). She values freedom in what could be said to be a more classic fashion compared modern America. She is a defender of the ’small.‘ She is very outspoken to help the people who can’t help themselves: the weak, poor and downtrodden masses.

One interesting thing about Darna is the telenovela aspects of her subplots (especially in the live-action versions). As in Mexico and other countries with Spanish influence, telenovelas are very popular in the Philippines and the GMA series could be descried as one. Narda usually has a love triangle going and usually at least one of her suitors is torn between his interest in Narda and Darna (of course not realizing they share a body).

Darna is prone to making righteous speeches and expecting to be taken seriously. With her beauty, powerful personality and mental capabilities, she almost always is. She’s a shining example of someone who fights for those who no one else will.

A recounting of Darna’s origin taken from http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/d/darna.htm:
“When young Narda witnessed a falling star late one night and went to investigate where it landed, she found a strange little stone (revealed to be from the planet Marte, and containing the mystical essence of the Andranika inhabitants of same) with the word `Darna‘ written on it. Hearing others approaching, she popped it in her mouth and in a moment of impetuousness, swallowed it. Instantly, she was overtaken by the sensation of traveling through space, and collapsed.She was found by her guardian, her grandmother [and her younger brother, Ding], who took her home and put her to bed. Later she asked Narda what had happened, and the young girl recounted the story of her find. But when she said the word that had been inscribed on the stone, she was instantly transformed in a flash of lightning into a tall, Amazonian woman. This was Darna, a mighty warrior of Marte, named after the mythological Adarna bird. Narda was channeling the alien woman. Luckily Darna meant no harm and by saying Narda, she was able to change back.

“Since then Darna has been a constant protector of the innocent and helpless from a variety of threats and villains.”

NOTE: The Adarna Bird is a mythological creature of Filipino mythology. Much like the grail myth, a King asks his sons to retrieve the bird when he is mortally ill since he is told only the curative properties of the bird’s song can save him.

Variants:
The versions of Darna can be separated into 3 distinct periods.

The “Golden Age” Darna:
This is the original Darna. In this version, Darna’s powers are magical in nature and Darna is likely extra-dimensional in addition to being extraterrestrial. In this version, Narda is a separate entity from Darna, a little girl who transforms into an alien woman.Also, once she swallows the stone, it is a part of her and all she has to do to transform is shout Darna’s name.

You can download a PowerPoint of her first origin story (the bubbles are reprinted to be translated into English) at the naritako site listed above in the secondary sources.

From what strips I’ve seen of Darna in this age, she seems very similar to a Golden Age Superman or Captain Marvel with very pulpy enemies. It is this version that first appears in the movies (carrying her sidekick/brother on her back). The list of villains from these movies could just as easily appear in the Flash Gordon serials (including Hawk people) as a Darna comic.

The snake queen Valentina appears this early and remains Darna’s nemesis in every incarnation. Valentina seems based on both the Greek gorgon, Medusa and the Asian myths of Naga. Valentina’s origin was originally that of a deformed woman who had snakes for hair. When her parents were killed, she was adopted by a mysterious entity known as Kobra who guided her into becoming “The Serpent Queen.”

Equipment - While she has the skullcap tiara, bracers and disk covered belt from her creation, all of her powers were internalized with this version. If you are trying to emulate a more `classic‘ Darna, her Flight and Invulnerability should be internalized rather than be a part of her Tiara. She may or may not even have the Power Reserve boosting her abilities, but if not, she should likely have a higher Body, perhaps 16.

The “Silver Age” Darna:
This is primarily seen in movies and has many variations to the other versions. For one, whenever she transforms back into Narda (a teen in this version), the stone reappears in her mouth and she must swallow it again in order to transform into Darna (which is just an idealized version of Narda, not an alien entity). This began with the Vilma Santos movie, “Fly Darna, Fly!” in 1973. A common plot device is the stone being taken/lost and Ding recovering it. Hence the well known quote: “Ding! Ang bato!” which means “Ding! The stone!”

One of the most significant differences of this age is the origins of the stone and the types of opponents she faces. The stone is said to come from an angel and her super-powered opponents are even more mystical in nature, including Filipino legendary creatures that basically equate to Vampires, Werewolves and Zombies. This version could have a higher Occultist by a couple of APs.

Valentina also appears here, often disguised as a model or religious leader (of course of a cult of victims who don’t realize what they’re serving). She can shape shift into a snake and usually has demonic henchmen (who also can transform into snakes).

Added Equpment — The Viva films of the 90s have Darna deflecting bullets with her bracelets (despite the fact she is bullet-proof) as well using her tiara as a thrown weapon. These are the most “Wonder Woman inspired” aspects ever tied to Darna (and they seem to be almost exclusive to this version).

The “Modern Age” Darna (the source for this write-up):
Here, Darna returns her to her Goden Age origins with a few modern twists. Again, she is from another planet (and perhaps dimension), Nibiru (also known as Marte). Darna’s powers are said to be psionic in nature . This is the version defined in the 2003 Mango Comics 3- issue series and picked up and continued in the 2005 GMA TV series.In this version, Narda acquired the stone (and swallowed it) while a girl, but is now in college studying medicine. She does not cough up the stone (in the comic) and Darna is again a separate entity, though the two seem to be aware of the other’s actions and can communicate telepathically.

The background origins of Darna’s race of “Adarna Warriors” (again, named for the Adarna bird of Filipino legend) and Valentina’s race of “Serpent Queens” (still resembling Medusa and/or Naga) is revealed in this version. The two races shared the planet of Tiamat and became embroiled in a fierce war which ravaged the planet. The Adarna Warriors then sought a new planet, Nibiru (also known as Marte possibly to consolidate earlier retcons).

In this version, Valentina can entrance her victims to become her willing slaves. She also uses snakes and their venom to increase her slaves’ physical prowess, particularly strength. Similar to previous versions, she has a pair of accomplices in the comic who in this case are also Snake Queens from Tiamat.

Added equipment — According to the writers of the comic, her psionic abilities are boosted by her tiara and according to Valentina, seems to be the source of her indestructibility and her flight. 

Mango Comic Synopsis:
As stated above, the origins of Darna’s people are revealed in the Mango comic series. According to The Matriarchs, Darna was their greatest warrior. She was their greatest hero and champion but fell in battle. Rather than accept her loss, The Matriarchs used powerful magic to take her essence and distill it into a stone. The stone was The White Stone that sought a soul as pure and as valiant as Darna’s.It sought out Narda on Earth and this is why Narda was the one who saw the star fall from the heavens.

Darna, using Narda as a vessel, became a champion of `The Light‘ on Earth. For many years she fought crime and injustice. Even as Narda left the “Village of M” and moved to Manila to attend medical school at Mabuhay Univeristy (a fictional University based on University of the Philippines). She maintained her duel identity.

One day she encountered terrorists who had taken hostages. The police negotiations had failed and the situation was starting to escalate.Naturally, Darna intervened and captured the terrorists, but noticed they were much stronger than normal humans in doing so. At the same time, she was asked by some local officials to investigate some mysterious deaths at nearby Tagaytay. The bodies found were horribly disfigured and had a large amount of venom in their system. Darna found a snakeskin that would belong to a snake the size of a large tree.

With these events still in mind, Darna assumed Narda’s form to attend a concert by the huge star, Amor. Through a series of events, Darna discovers that Amor is tied to the bodies and the `enhanced‘ terrorists. She also soon realizes that Amor knows her identity as well. It is only when the terrorists are killed in their cells by a horde of snakes and one scrawls a final warning on a scrap that reveals the truth: Amor is secretly the Serpent Queen, Valentina! She has enchanted the men to be her slaves.

Darna flies to Amor’s next concert to discover that she has taken Narda’s friends hostage and that she has two other gorgonic henchmen.She fights the henchmen but Valentina poisons her hostages and escapes. Darna rushes the two to the hospital, and Narda questions her mission.

After communing with The Matriarchs; Narda and Darna unify more fully, becoming `one‘. They seek out Valentina at her secret temple and have a final battle. In the course of the battle, Darna is thrown through the columns supporting the temple, causing it to fall in on Valentina. While Darna tries to save her, she finds the collar she grabbed to pull Valentina out as the temple collapsed upon them has come off and is empty. 

Darna as the “Filipina Wonder Woman:”
Darna is often called “The Filipina Wonder Woman,” and many might consider her a copy of Wonder Woman. She is actually far more inspired by Superman and Captain Marvel. It’s important to note that especially when both characters were created, just about the only super power they had in common was Super Strength. Darna has always been able to fly, possessed superior strength and speed. These were not uncommon powers amongst Golden Age heroes.

It wasn’t until the 1987 update to Wonder Woman that Diana gained many of the powers that make them look similar on the surface.Originally, Wonder Woman could not fly, nor possessed any special speed. In this way is can be said that Wonder Woman might be more inspired by Darna than the other way around.

There is one variant of Darna that does seem to be directly inspired by Wonder Woman, however. The Viva films versions of Darna used her bracelets to reflect bullets (since bullets might not harm but would sting her). She also reportedly used her Tiara as a throwing weapon.Both of these tactics are associated with Wonder Woman.

I’ve also heard it said that their costumes are somewhat similar.There are similarities, including the tiara, bracers and boots. They both wear revealing `swimsuit‘ inspired outfits. However these elements are about as common amongst golden age heroes as capes.Also, when both heroes were created, Wonder Woman was mostly reliant on her costume and equipment (her plane, lasso, tiara, bracelets, etc.) while Darna’s powers were purely internalized. Interestingly, Wonder Woman has grown less reliant on equipment over the years where Darna has grown more so.

In short the resemblance may be a little more than passing, but they are different characters with a similar source of inspiration. They are both created as strong female heroines. Mars Revelo was the son of a strong single mother and it is said Darna was created based on her, with Ding based on Mars as a boy. While Wonder Woman was designed to be a ’strong female role-model,‘ Darna was inspired and based on a real-world ’strong female role-model‘ that had some of the same traits.