Comic writer R.A. Kosasih dies aged 93
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Tue, July 24 2012, 11:20 AM
Raden Ahmad Kosasih: (tribunnews.com)
One of Indonesia's first comic writers, Raden Ahmad Kosasih, better known as R.A. Kosasih, passed away at his house in Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten, early on Tuesday at the age of 93.
“My father died after falling because of a sudden heart attack,” Kosasih’s daughter, Yudowati said.
Kosasih is survived by his daughter, son-in-law and grandchild.
Kosasih’s remains are to be laid out at his residence at Jl. Cempaka Putih III No 2, Rempoa, Ciputat, before being buried at the Tanah Kusir public cemetery in South Jakarta, next to his wife’s grave, at 12:30 p.m., according to Antara news agency.
Kosasih was a senior Indonesian comic artist. He was considered by local comic writers as the father of the art in Indonesia for his groundbreaking work. He was deemed as Indonesia’s Jerry Seigel or Joe Shuster.
His books span many genres, from children, romance, martial arts and superhero comics, to traditional Indonesian wooden puppets (wayang golek).
His masterpieces fell into the latter genre. He made comics whose stories are taken from the Mahabarata and Ramayana epics.
Kosasih wrote comic books following his interest in English comic books.
His first work, published in 1953, was about female superhero Sri Asih and Siti Gahara, both of whom could fly like Superman. (riz/iwa)
