Zsazsa Zaturnnah

Zsazsa Zaturnnah
Zsazsa Zaturnnah
Publication information
Publisher	Visprint[1]
First appearance	Ang Kagilagilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah (The Amazing Adventures of Zsazsa Zaturnnah), Alamat Comics #1 (2002)
Created by	Carlo Vergara
In-story information
Alter ego	Ada or Adrian
Species	Zendarian
Place of origin	Zendar (Zatur Galaxy)
Team affiliations	Didi (assistant to Ada) Dodong (friend; object of Ada's affection)
Abilities	Invulnerability Super strength Super reflexes Unlimited stamina Longevity Super agility Super speed and reaction time Skilled in hand-to-hand combat Indestructible chest energy projection energy manipulation energy absorption

Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah
Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah
Date	2003
Main characters	Zsazsa Zaturnnah, Ada, Didi
Series	Zsazsa Zaturnnah
Publisher	Visprint
Original publication
Published in	self-published
Date of publication	2002
Language	Tagalog
ISBN	9789719234227 (Paperback published by Visprint) 9789710545841 (15th Anniversary Edition, Hardcover, 190 pages)

Zsazsa Zaturnnah is a fictional comic book superheroine created by Filipino illustrator and graphic designer Carlo Vergara. The character first appeared in the Filipino graphic novel, Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah (Tagalog for The Amazing Adventures of Zsazsa Zaturnnah), originally a self-published work in December 2002 consisting of two parts. It was later distributed and merged in a single volume by Visprint Inc. (Visual Print Enterprises). The graphic novel won a National Book Award in 2003 given by the Manila Critics Circle. It was the 12th bestselling fiction book among Philippine publications in 2005 based on the records of National Book Store.

Having a cult following, Zsazsa Zaturnnah is a red-haired curvaceous superheroine whose alter-ego, Ada, is a gay beautician from a Philippine province. Ada turns into the superheroine upon swallowing a melon-sized magical stone and shouting "Zaturnnah!" The plot of the graphic novel is laid like a parody of Darna and Vergara paid tribute to Mars Ravelo's creation but Zsazsa Zaturnnah is a character on its own as the story deals with issues encountered by the LGBT community. She is also used as reference and subject in gender studies courses in some universities, including the government-run University of the Philippines. The first book was followed up by the Zsazsa Zaturnnah sa Kalakkhang Maynila' series. It is a three-part series with the first part released in 2012 while the second part was released in 2016. Vergara is still working on the third part as of April 2019.

Beyond comics and other literature, Zsazsa Zaturnnah appeared in other media including film and theater. Zsa Zsa Padilla who is the inspiration for the character's first name portrayed Zsazsa Zaturnnah in the 2006 film Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh with her alter-ego Ada played by BB Gandanghari. From 2006 to 2011, a musical theater entitled Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal was staged by Tanghalang Pilipino at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as well as in different places with different actors playing Zsazsa Zaturnnah (including Eula Valdez and K Brosas) and Ada (including Tuxqs Rutaquio and Vincent de Jesus). In 2019, Rocketsheep Studio released a teaser for Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, an animated film featuring Vergara's character.