Fighting in the midst of Japanese and American comic boom.
Sketched stories or known more as “comic” has always been a favorite for the enthusiasts. The comic that is identical to childhood turn to have enthusiasts of various ages, old and young. Comic itself is included in the form of artwork that combines elements of drawing, story, and completed with texts.
Speaking of comics, we cannot escape the presence of foreign comics; such as the Japanese comics called “manga” or American published comics, Marvel, with his legendary superhero icons. So then, where does Indonesian local comic stands? Rizqi Rinaldy M, the Head of Indonesian comic Community explained that for now the local comics are still making their best effort to attract local readers.
“For now Indonesian comics already have an industry, but not local comics. How can our comics improve when we are already beaten from the quantity aspect? With that, not many people realize the existence of local comics, and turning that around requires promotion that is hard to do,” he said as met in his comic studio.
It’s not that Indonesian comic has disappeared or does not exist. The sketched story that is categorized to strip comic and comic book has already been in Indonesia since the time of colonialism, proven by the finding of a sketched story on a Holland media; that opened the birth of several national comics with their works published on paper. Looking back, Ecky admitted that ten years ago the local comic was arose by the “Carok” comic, and it was from that moment that the Indonesian Comic Community (MKI) was established. Carok seemed to resurrect the comic lovers that eventually put together the National Comic Week.
“MKI stood from the ideas of Indonesian University students that pioneered National Comic Week in 1997. The event had agendas such as exhibitions, competitions, and workshops. After successful in holding the event, they agreed to make it periodically through MKI. One of the founders of MKI who is still active to date is Wahyu Sugianto,” explained the man who loves drawing since his early age.
He also added that comics do not rely only on the power of sketches, but should be supported with a good story. Even though people’s first impression as they open a comic is the drawing, but what keep the readers reading is the story. And one of the weaknesses that Indonesian comics have is that there is yet any good story span. Sometimes there are those with good concept, but when applied, it only lasted for one edition.
Sustaining comic artists and keeping them stable in producing their works can be a hard thing to realize, remembering there are still those who perceive making comics as just a hobby and a private work, when it is time that comics be done by studio or team concept. Even in foreign countries, comics are no longer private property, but to be done in a group or in mass.
But Ecky remains big-hearted to keep on introducing comics in a more expansive way. The exhibitions that MKI often hold become one of the ways to invite and gather comic enthusiasts from various regions. “As the name is, MKI does belong to every comic lovers of Indonesia, and we have the goal that MKI be in all the regions, though it is still not realized to date. For now we have a project to produce comics by involving 33 comic artists from every province and lift Indonesian culture in the production,” aspired the man that has philosophy educational background.
To share a story, the emergence of pop comics such as Benny & Mice gives a breath of fresh air to the Indonesian comic world. Started off from newspaper comic or as it is called strip comic, Benny & Mice was then made a comic book and was successful in getting people’s attention. According to Ecky, strip comic often times plays the role of pioneering for the improvement of the comic industry, doe it uses the media of newspaper that many people in various region have access to. The producing process is also faster, making plenty of big stories those are born from strip comics.
Widi, one of the members of MKI then explained that comics in Indonesia do exist though not in the spotlight. His involvement in the organization is based with the hope to meet fellow comic enthusiasts and through the workshops and exhibition, he became more confident.
“MKI always asks its member to produce works and be responsible for it. This is because exhibitions become the evaluation event for comic artists, how their work be appreciated by exhibition visitors,” said the man who is a teacher for comic extra curricular program in Lab School Rawamangun.
Sketched stories or known more as “comic” has always been a favorite for the enthusiasts. The comic that is identical to childhood turn to have enthusiasts of various ages, old and young. Comic itself is included in the form of artwork that combines elements of drawing, story, and completed with texts.
Speaking of comics, we cannot escape the presence of foreign comics; such as the Japanese comics called “manga” or American published comics, Marvel, with his legendary superhero icons. So then, where does Indonesian local comic stands? Rizqi Rinaldy M, the Head of Indonesian comic Community explained that for now the local comics are still making their best effort to attract local readers.
“For now Indonesian comics already have an industry, but not local comics. How can our comics improve when we are already beaten from the quantity aspect? With that, not many people realize the existence of local comics, and turning that around requires promotion that is hard to do,” he said as met in his comic studio.
It’s not that Indonesian comic has disappeared or does not exist. The sketched story that is categorized to strip comic and comic book has already been in Indonesia since the time of colonialism, proven by the finding of a sketched story on a Holland media; that opened the birth of several national comics with their works published on paper. Looking back, Ecky admitted that ten years ago the local comic was arose by the “Carok” comic, and it was from that moment that the Indonesian Comic Community (MKI) was established. Carok seemed to resurrect the comic lovers that eventually put together the National Comic Week.
“MKI stood from the ideas of Indonesian University students that pioneered National Comic Week in 1997. The event had agendas such as exhibitions, competitions, and workshops. After successful in holding the event, they agreed to make it periodically through MKI. One of the founders of MKI who is still active to date is Wahyu Sugianto,” explained the man who loves drawing since his early age.
He also added that comics do not rely only on the power of sketches, but should be supported with a good story. Even though people’s first impression as they open a comic is the drawing, but what keep the readers reading is the story. And one of the weaknesses that Indonesian comics have is that there is yet any good story span. Sometimes there are those with good concept, but when applied, it only lasted for one edition.
Sustaining comic artists and keeping them stable in producing their works can be a hard thing to realize, remembering there are still those who perceive making comics as just a hobby and a private work, when it is time that comics be done by studio or team concept. Even in foreign countries, comics are no longer private property, but to be done in a group or in mass.
But Ecky remains big-hearted to keep on introducing comics in a more expansive way. The exhibitions that MKI often hold become one of the ways to invite and gather comic enthusiasts from various regions. “As the name is, MKI does belong to every comic lovers of Indonesia, and we have the goal that MKI be in all the regions, though it is still not realized to date. For now we have a project to produce comics by involving 33 comic artists from every province and lift Indonesian culture in the production,” aspired the man that has philosophy educational background.
To share a story, the emergence of pop comics such as Benny & Mice gives a breath of fresh air to the Indonesian comic world. Started off from newspaper comic or as it is called strip comic, Benny & Mice was then made a comic book and was successful in getting people’s attention. According to Ecky, strip comic often times plays the role of pioneering for the improvement of the comic industry, doe it uses the media of newspaper that many people in various region have access to. The producing process is also faster, making plenty of big stories those are born from strip comics.
Widi, one of the members of MKI then explained that comics in Indonesia do exist though not in the spotlight. His involvement in the organization is based with the hope to meet fellow comic enthusiasts and through the workshops and exhibition, he became more confident.
“MKI always asks its member to produce works and be responsible for it. This is because exhibitions become the evaluation event for comic artists, how their work be appreciated by exhibition visitors,” said the man who is a teacher for comic extra curricular program in Lab School Rawamangun.
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