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successful novel or comic is usually made into film. Indonesian action blockbuster The Raid has it the other way around — its story now transformed into a comic book.

The film, titled Serbuan Maut in Indonesian, won the heart of Indonesian publishers Mizan Pustaka and CV Curhat Anak Bangsa.

Soon, the idea for the comic book was born.

The comic-version — adapted by R. Amdani and inked by John. G. Reinhart — was warmly welcomed by youngsters during its official launch recently at Blitz Megaplex in the Grand Indonesia shopping center.

Many of them patiently waited in a long line for several hours just to get their books signed by the film’s actors Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian

“I am impressed by The Raid. It was a film first, and now it’s a comic book. It’s cool. This face is now also a comic character. I feel our hard work really paid off,” Iko said.

The 29-year-old action star said the comics’ characters fit well with the characters in the movie.

Most characters in the black-and-white comic, a full 117-page, resemble the film’s characters, including Mad Dog, Jaka, Tama and Wahyu. The comic’s realist style is a departure from the popular Japanese manga or Korean manhwa.

The film is rated as 18-plus film in cinemas, but this comic book is quite harmless for younger readers as the black-and-white illustrations do not expose as much blood as in the film.

The comic also captures the action, although the blurring of some action moves makes it difficult for some readers to capture vivid levels of detail.

Directed by Indonesian-based British filmmaker Gareth Huw Evans, the film has received rave reviews and won several awards, including “The Cadillac People’s Choice Award” in the Midnight Madness category at the 36th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2011, as well as “The Best Film” and “Audience Award 2012”, both at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.

The Raid also became the first Indonesian film to be screened at the 2012 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival in Texas.

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisition (SPWA) has tapped Mike Shinoda from rock band Linkin Park and arranger/producer Joseph Trapanese to compose the score for the film’s release in the US.

Major American production company Screen Gems has nabbed the rights to a remake, with the original film’s actors-cum-choreographers Iko and Yayan set to choreograph the American version.

Film producer Ario Sagantoro said he enthusiastically welcomed the comic book plan when it was first put on the table. “It’s very interesting to see our work inspire other art forms, in this case, comics,” he says.

— JP/Indah Setiawati