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Indonesia's 'Nusa V' superhero comic to enter Southeast Asian market

Nusa V tells the story of diversity in Indonesia as represented by five young protagonists.

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sun, January 6, 2019

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Indonesia's 'Nusa V' superhero comic to enter Southeast Asian market The cover art for the first volume of 'Nusa V' (Nusa V/File)

N

em>Nusa V (Nusa Five), an Indonesian superhero comic book, is to be translated into English and released in bookstores across Southeast Asia this year, as announced during the comic book’s official release on Dec. 16 in Jakarta.

A preview of a page from 'Nusa V'
A preview of a page from 'Nusa V' (Nusa V/File)

Created and written by Sweta Kartika, Nusa V follows the story of five youths from the five major Indonesian Islands fighting against an evil force that wants to destroy the archipelago. 

The comic is a collaboration between local creative company Padma Pusaka Nusantara and publisher Shogakukan Asia Pte Ltd, the Singapore subsidiary of Japanese publisher Shogakukan that is known for publishing popular manga series, including Detective Conan and Inuyasha.

Shogakukan Asia director Bunsho Kajiya praised the Nusa V project. “Hopefully it will be accepted well by Indonesian as well as Asian readers,” Kajiya said in a statement.

Read also: Calling all superheroes of the Archipelago

Previously published as a series in the monthly comic anthology magazine re:ON, the first volume of Nusa V is 248 pages long and comprises seven chapters, one bonus chapter and special illustrations.

Sweta Kartika (second left), the writer and creator of 'Nusa V', and Bunsho Kajiya (second right), director of Shogakukan Asia Pte Ltd., appear during the launch of the comic book on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, at the Kinokuniya bookstore in Plaza Senayan, Central Jakarta.
Sweta Kartika (second left), the writer and creator of 'Nusa V', and Bunsho Kajiya (second right), director of Shogakukan Asia Pte Ltd., appear during the launch of the comic book on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, at the Kinokuniya bookstore in Plaza Senayan, Central Jakarta. (Nusa V/File)

The five members of Nusa V – Rangga Wira Prakoso from Java, Kanaya Meuthia from Sumatra, Rimba Kala Manthana from Kalimantan, Renata Mokoginta from Sulawesi and George Saa from Papua – must use their cultural diversity as a weapon to protect the Earth. The story mixes action, humor and drama.

“Indonesia is rich with cultures and traditions in various forms, and this is something that we should always be proud of,” said Sweta. “Through Nusa V, I’d like us to respect [our] differences and remember that true power emerges when we can celebrate our differences.”

Nusa V is available for purchase online as well as offline at Gramedia and Kinokuniya bookstores. (wir/kes)

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