Those wanting to explore the world of Indonesian comics may be at a loss at how to start. A quick visit to Plaza Semanggi, however, can get you on your way. Tucked away behind the cell phone stores on the mall's second floor is a cluster of small shops specializing in local titles. Look for the bins of ancient Marvel and DC comics in translation out front. Inside the stores, readers can find reprint compilations of Oey Kim Tiang alias OKT, and Gan Kok Liang alias Gan K, Chinese-Indonesians who originally translated Chinese comics into Indonesian and later created their own titles.

The shop owners and staff are knowledgeable and happy to make recommendations. One of the stores, Pluz+, is owned by Gienardy S, the son of Ganes Thiar Santosa alias Ganes TH, the comic titan active from the days of the early New Order until the late 1980s. The most famous creation of Ganes TH was Mandrawata Barda, better known as Si Buta, the warrior blinded after seeking revenge against the man he thought killed his family and his true love and who then roamed the archipelago righting wrongs. Si Buta's story was also adapted for the silver screen in 1970.

Another must-have from the Semanggi shops is the hardcover compilation of local comic maestro RA Kosasih's interpretation of the Ramayana, available in Indonesian and English language editions. The comics, originally published in 1955, lack the style of contemporary manga but bring the Javanese-Hindu cultural epic to life in an exciting ' and accessible ' way. Other noteworthy epic comic compilations include Wayang Purwa by S. Ardisoma and Riwayat Pandawa by Teguh Santosa.

Other good titles with which to start exploring include Benny and Mice's 100 'Tokoh' Yang Mewarnai Jakarta (100 Characters that Color Jakarta) and Benny's solo work 100 Peristiwa yang Bisa Menimpa Anda (100 Incidents that Plague You in Jakarta). Both books, available at most Indonesian-language bookstores, will bring knowing laughs from long-term residents and go a long way in explaining the city's unique nature to the recently arrived. The works also offer those learning the language an amusing short cut in learning how to speak bahasa gaul, or street language.

People interested in meeting local and international comic artists should hop on the train to Bandung. The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) is teaming up with the International Manga Research Center (imrc) of Kyoto, Japan, to present the fifth International Scholarly Conference on comics from June 14 to 16. Things will kick-off with a 3-day workshop for 15 selected local artists led by German illustrator Carolyn Walch that starts on June 10 and a pre-launch panel discussion on the Indonesian comic scene on June 13.

Eight artist talks have been scheduled at ITB, including discussions with Nguyen Thanh Phong from Vietnam, Elbert Or from the Philippines, Akru from Taiwan and est em from Japan. Singaporean comic critic Lim Cheng Tju, who co-edited two anthologies of Southeast Asian comics titled Liquid Sky, will moderate a talk with Koh Hong Teng, a master illustrator of life behind the scenes in the Lion City.

Also scheduled for Bandung are presentations of illustrations from the Goethe Institute's Comiconnexions Exhibition on Indonesian comics as well as artwork from the illustrators on hand for the conference.

' Christian Razukas

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