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Ang kagilagilalas na pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah

Length: 143 black and white comics pages
Author and illustrator: Carlo Vergara
Printer and publisher: Visual Print Enterprises

Imagine a gay Darna… still stunningly good-looking and in the similar superheroine suit worn by Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, and Anjanette Abayari among others but, yeah, with the muscles and the swardspeak.

I agree with Culture Crash when it acclaimed this work by grafictionist Carlo Vergara as “simply phenomenal”, the first to come out in the country this 21st century. It brings homage to Pinoy superheroes in the tradition of Darna but, believe it, in a gender-bending twist.

Korek mga kafatid! Bading hanggang buto si Zsazsa Zaturnnah!

The serious Ada and his frilly-mouthed bestfriend Didi are gay parloristas in a barrio so backward that it has not been reached by internet yet. Ada’s object of affection is Dodong, na lagi naman niyang dinedeadma but in the end becomes his lover. Their seemingly monotonous life has changed when a weird-looking rock engraved with the name “Zaturnnah” falls on Ada. Upon Didi’s suggestion, Ada swallowed the rock (kahit pa kasinlaki ng kamao niya ang bato) and Zsazsa Zaturnnah came to life.

The hero

The portrayal of the superhero as gay in his human life provided most of the color in the black and white pages of this comic book. In fact, this is the culprit that made it interesting but Ada’s transformation into a woman whenever he swallows the rock somehow disappointed me. Of course, kering-keri naman ang women empowerment but in the context of the gay Ada as the star this time, may karapatan naman ang kabadingan na itaas ang kanilang bandera at iligtas ang mundo, dava?

Buti na lang, Zsazsa was even much bading in words and action… parang bakla na nasa katawan ng isang babae. That made up.

Social statement

On the other hand, the book was successful in depicting the social ills in Philippine society, particularly the Pinoy macho culture shown when the men in the town lust for Zsazsa’s body and those of the alien invaders who, like him/her, are seductive women.

Also, the said alien invaders are English-speaking – which somehow reflected the kind of invaders we have in the country.

However, the nature of the five antagonist Amazonistas from the Planet XXxx was overdone. Depicting them as radical feminists, led by Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux, who castrated every male-form in their planet was overacting. Ano ‘to, battle of the sexes? Sorry, I did not appreciate this part much but, hey, their bitchy diva image made them really kontrabida.

Proudly Pinoy

The presence of the giant frog and the Mumus (zombies) that Zsazsa and the townspeople faced, the names of the alien invaders (Nora A., Sharon C., Dina B., and Vilma S.), the lines from local commercials, and the use of Filipino as the main language were very Pinoy. Even the usually corny line “Ngayon, pasan mo ang daigdig pero bukas luluhod ang mga tala” when delivered by Didi was surprisingly inspiring and proudly ours.

Language use was reader-friendly. You need not be a hardcore gay to fully understand swardspeak, nor be a street bum to comprehend kanto language. Basta Pinoy ka! Just one warning: this contains strong language not suited for conservative readers.

And just like any popular Pinoy story, it ended in a just-don’t-ask-coz-they-lived-happily-ever-after effect. Whooolah! Kamusta naman?

Lastly, I loved the people power wadever. Gayahin natin sila. Mega support sila ever kay Zsazsa with matching barikada and banners that read “Tsupi!”, “ET go home” and “Mabuhay Kami! Mamatay Kayo!” It was the ultimate message of the story: a town’s fight for independence from the bigot foreign-germs who knew nothing but showcase their high-tech equipment and costumes na flopchina cojuangco naman pala.

Hephep, di ko naman muntik ikwento lahat! I just really adored Zsazsa, at siya ang naging favorite character ko these past few days. Truly, reading this book gave a good reason to laugh on a bad day. Overall, winner ka pa rin Carlo! Tambling tayo! # Milena E. Roque for NORDIS

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