Mars Ravelo

Marcial "Mars" Custodio Ravelo (October 9, 1916 – September 12, 1988) was a Filipino comic book cartoonist and graphic novelist. Dubbed as the "King of Philippine Komiks", he is notable for creating 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.

Early life
Mars Ravelo was born on October 9, 1916, when America still occupied the Philippines.

Career
Ravelo 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 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 "King of Philippine Komiks."

Death
Mars Ravelo died on September 12, 1988, due to heart attack.

List of Mars Ravelo's comic books

 * Bondying
 * Buhay Pilipino
 * Captain Barbell
 * Darna
 * Dragonna
 * Flash Bomba
 * Hiwaga
 * Jack and Jill
 * Kapitan Boom
 * Lastikman
 * Mariposa
 * Maruja
 * Rita
 * Roberta
 * Tiny Tony
 * Varga
 * Wanted: Perfect Mother

In popular culture
The life story of Mars Ravelo was featured in the anthology series Magpakailanman on May 26, 2005, actor Dennis Trillo portrayed Ravelo.