On Thursday, July 7, ABS-CBN released the much-awaited trailer of “Mars Ravelo’s Darna”, on the Kapamilya channel’s Youtube account, which then hit on the number one spot in the Twitter local trends, hours before, until after its upload.

In the three-minute video, Jane De Leon (Darna) is being trained by her mother, Iza Calzado, in preparation for the passing of stone to her, as she is destined to be the next superheroine.

In the teaser, other comics-based characters are also present, such as Ding (Zaijan Jaranilla), Brian (Joshua Garcia) and Darna’s popular villain, Valentina (Janella Salvador).

Valentina is as iconic as Darna herself. Even considered as one of the most prominent super-villainess in the Filipino comics. If Superman has Lex Luthor, Spiderman has Green Goblin, Valentina is the arch-enemy of Darna.

For heroes to be iconic, they must have nemeses with abilities and personalities that match their winning reputation. Great juxtaposition between the two main characters is also important, like how dark and serious Batman is compared to Joker’s comical and sinister characteristics, as well as Dorina and Lavinia in the classic Filipino movie “Bituing Walang Ningning.” And for one of the timeless gems of Philippines Comics, Darna, you could never think of her without having to consider her rival, Valentina.

Local comics heroes in the likes of Lastikman, Panday, or Volta, may have met a lot of enemies in their worlds — from the pages of comics to our television and huge cinema screens, but none of them has achieved the pop culture reputation of Valentina, created by Filipino comics legends Mars Ravelo and Nestor Redondo in the 1950s.

Who, What is Valentina?

Valentina was originally a deformed woman born from with venomous snakes on her head that appears to be like hair (hence, has a same likeness to the Gorgon Medusa of the Greek mythology), from ordinary human parents. When she grew up, her parents were killed by a crowd of superstitious villagers, she escaped and was adopted by a serpent creature named “Kobra.” Kobra guided her into becoming “The Serpent Queen.

Valentina is commonly depicted as a bitter woman who always seeks revenge.

Valentina's Powers and Abilities

Aside from having venomous snakes as her hair which she use to bite people with similar effect to a deadly viper, Valentina also has her own fangs (which assumably also contain venom) As the Serpent Queen, Valentina also has the ability to control all types of snake as well as communicate with them. With this, the snake goddess also has an army of snakes that she uses to execute her plan to attack the humankind. Aside from these powers, Valentina can also change in many forms.

Aside from Jane De Leon flying as Darna, Netizens are also looking forward to Janella Salvador’s portrayal of Valentina. In the new Darna franchise, directed by Chito Rono.

"Mars Ravelo's Darna" is set to premiere on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5, Jeepney TV, A2Z, and iWantTFC this August.