The Story of Mars Ravelo

Mars Ravelo was one of the most prolific Filipino graphic novelist who was well
known to be the creator of the characters 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.

Mars Ravelo was born on October 9, 1916 in Tanza, Cavite when the Philippines
was still an American Territory.

He started out as a cartoonist, then as a writer, and later on as editor -in- chief for
two publications houses and for several film companies. He wrote and illustrated
the superheroine Varga which was published in Bulaklak Magazine Vol.4,
Number 17 (Cover dated July 23, 1947). He later established his own company,
RAR.

Ravelo created the characters of Darna the super heroine, Dyesebel the love-lorn
mermaid, and Captain Barbel the super hero, Facifica Falayfay, and the duo of
Jack & Jill. He also created the drama about a young orphaned girl named
Roberta for Sampaguita Pictures. Ravelo wrote the movie adaptation of Alicia
Vergel's Basahang Ginto. Ravelo is known to be the "Father of Philippine
Comics."

During his stay at Ace Publications, Ravelo proved that he was among the best
komiks writers in the Philippines. All his serials were loved by komiks readers,
such as "Buhay Pilipino" in Liwayway, and serial novels like Darna, Bondying,
Roberta, Jack and Jill, and later, Captain Barbell, Maruja, Lastikman, Goomboo
Roomboo, and hundreds of others.

Between 1950s to 1970s, he earned the unofficial title "the King of Komiks," a
feat oftentimes only contested by fans of his contemporaries, Francisco V.
Coching and Clodualdo del Mundo. In later years, Mars formed his own komiks
publishing company, RAR publications. He eventually retired from the komiks
industry due to illness.

In 1984, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Komiks Operation

Brotherhood KOMOPEB in recognition of his immense contribution to the
komiks industry. His co-awardees were Tony Velasquez, Francisco V. Coching,
Jose Zabala-Santos, Larry Alcala, Francisco Reyes, and J.M. Perez.

A scrawny mambobote, a shy young girl in crutches, children orphaned by chance

or some crude laboratory accident, all suddenly discovering feats they can only
accomplish in another form, in an ideal form this is what Ravelos Universe is
made of and the comics that came before him and, to some extent, influenced his
stories and drawings. It thrives, one might suggest, in the simplest of dualities
(good and evil, the underdog and the privileged).
But what of transformation? One doesnt merely wear a costume and become
extraordinary in Ravelos hyper-naturalistic panels, one has to change fully, to be
something or somebody else instead.

This creates tension rather than continuity, a projection of what one might
become when one perseveres against all strenuous everyday odds, thus going
beyond the enlarged superhuman self. For Mars Ravelos stories and
characters to be told and retold in print, television, film, and now in this
exhibition reinterpreted by artists from different fields, it is not the storytellers
skill, importance, and influence that make his graphic novels a work of literature
and art, but his commitment to his readers and followers; and that, even if told a
hundred times before, never gets old.

In the mid-1980s, Mars returned to the komiks scene with a remake of his
successful Goomboo Roomboo. In 1987 he suffered a stroke, he died on
September 12, 1988. He was buried in his native town of Tanza, Cavite. His
legacy was more than 500 works of popular komiks novels, a true monument of
his immense achievement.

His life story was featured in Magpakailanman on May 26, 2005 and Dennis
Trillo portrayed the role of Ravelo

Published Works : Akoy Nauuhaw, Akoy TaoMay Dugo at Laman, Alicia

Alonzo Alipin ng Busabos, Alyas James Bond-ying, Dyesebel, Ang Biyenan Kong,
Amerikana, Ang Pinasulabi, Angelito, Baby Bubut, Balahibong, Nangangalisag,
Bartola, Basahang Ginto, Bata Batuta, Berdugo ng mga Anghel, Bitter Sweet,
Biyenang Hindi Tumawa, Bobby, Boksingera, Bondying ,Booma, Boyoyoi, Buhay
Pilipino, Bwana Hai, Captain Barbell, Cumbanchera, Dalaginding na si
Tessie, Darna, Devil Pig, Diyosa, Queen of the Dancing Waters, Dobol Trobol,
Dragonna, Dugo sa Mukha ng Buwan, Dyangga, Dyesebel, Elepanta, Eternally,
Facifica Falayfay, Flash Bomba, Galo Gimbal, Ganid, The Last Man on Earth,
Ging, Gog, Goomba, Goro, Goyo, Gringgo, Gumuhong Daigdig, Haydee,
Higantina, Da Big Byuti, Hootsy-Kootsy, Hudas sa Hudas, I Believe, Iniluha Koy
Dugo, Inspirasyon, Isang Lakas, Ito Ba Ang Aking Ina?, Jack and Jill, Jesus
Iscariote, Jinkee, Jungle Boy, Kamay ni Bruldo, Kapitan Boom, Kiko, Kitikiti,
Kontra Partido, Kwatang, Lastikman, Little Lucy, Magic Guitar, Magic Makinilya,
Mambo-Dyambo, Mariposa, Maruja, Miss Tilapia, Mowmoo, Nakangiting,
Halimaw, Ngitnit ng Pitong Whistle Bomb, Pomposa, Prinsesa Gusgusin, Raul
Roldan, Rita, Rebecca, Roberta, Rodora, Rosa Rossini, Rowena, Rubi-Rosa,
Selosang-Selosa, Si Gorio at si Tekla, Silveria, Ang Kabayong Daldalera, Sindak!,
Suicide Susy, Taong Tuod, Teksas, Ang Manok na Nagsasalita, Three Sisters,
Thunderstar, Tiny Tony, Torpe, Trudis Liit, Tubog sa Ginto, Tumbando
Cana, Varga, Via Dolorosa, Vicky, Zorina.

http://lifestyle.mb.com.ph/2016/11/11/100-years-of-mars-ravelo/
http://www.philippinecomics.net/creators/marsravelo/marsravelo.htm
 Project
in English
The Story of
Mars Ravelo

Ipinasa ni:
Mojix
VI - Crystal

Ipinasa kay:
Mr. Lawrence Corpuz