Ding as Darna

If you are familiar with the original Pinoy Komiks character, you would know that Darna is the superpowered Narda, who gets her power by swallowing a small stone and shouting 'Darna!'. But what if Narda's brother Ding swallows the stone instead; what superhero will he transform into. This alternate story concept was fleshed out and magnificently executed in the book Trese by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. In the fourth chapter of the book, Alexandra Trese, the lead character, investigates a series of supernatural murders whose victims are the leaders of a certain gang in Manila. You may have guessed it; it was actually Ding in the form of a male Darna who has been killing these gangster honchos. The reason of his killing is revealed on the last pages of the chapter and it was dramatically and marvelously done to effect.

This sketch is based on one of the pages in that chapter. It was in one of the scenes where Darno (!) searched all of Darna's former enemies and went all out in them eventually putting an end to all the villains' lives. I colored the sketch using watercolor which is another new medium for me.

Anyway, if I may go back to the book, I can say that this is one of the best Filipino comic books to come in recent history. It includes a lot of urban legend, and Filipino culture seamlessly interwoven with a detective/crime story. If you have the time you should go to the bookstore and read it already. Now is the perfect time, since there will be a third and final (?) book coming soon to complete the series.

Wishlist: An Absolute Hardcover Edition Trese (Collected Book 1 - 3). Now that would be sweet.