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Book worm: Is Yuniarto ‘Reviving Indonesian comics’
Facebook/Popcon AsiaComic artist Is Yuniarto, 36, has made some of his childhood dreams materialize
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Facebook/Popcon Asia
Comic artist Is Yuniarto, 36, has made some of his childhood dreams materialize.
He is known as a wayang (puppet) comic maker, crossing paths with the three legends whose works he admired.
“I have read the works of RA Kosasih, Saleh Ardisoma and Teguh Santosa. They are my favorite artists.”
Isyun, as he is fondly called, created the modern-day, Japanese manga-styled wayang comic series Garudayana Saga and Grand Legend Ramayana that gained him hordes of fans.
The titles have also been released by a Japanese comic publisher, the first Indonesian works to get such treatment.
Since last year, the Surabaya-based artist and lecturer was made the general manager for comic division of Bumi Langit Komik that secured the intellectual property (IP) rights of the comic characters.
The first IP made into multi-paneled comics for release in social media that is currently gaining young readers is Si Buta dari Gua Hantu (The Blind Man from the Ghost Cave) of Ganes TH.
“I’ve aspired to re-release the comic characters popular in the past but with a modern style and better script. The company makes it possible,” he said.
An avid comic reader with collections from United States, European and even Hong Kong titles, the following are a partial list of his favorites.
Dragon Ball
by Akira Toriyama (1984-1995)
It’s the Japanese manga series that inspired me to create Garudayana, a classical tale that is adapted to modern days, appealing to younger readers.
Understanding Comics
by Scott McCloud (1993)
It’s actually a textbook on the history of comics, why people need comics, but presented in comic panels. It’s informative and gives scientific explanations about comics. It comes with two other books: Reinventing Comics (2000) and Making Comics (2006), but someone borrowed them and have not yet returned them.
Valérian
by writer Pierre Christin and artist Jean-Claude Mézières (1967-2010)
It’s one of the most popular Franco-Belgian comics. I like how the sci-fi story is told in the European style that is so different from the American.
Superman: Red Son
by Mark Miller (2003)
It’s a miniseries published by DC Comics as an alternative universe for Superman. Instead of being transported to the United States, Kal-El arrives and is raised in the Soviet Union. It is set during the Cold War. It’s interesting and it’s one of the titles I often read all over again.
XIII (Thirteen)
by writer Jean van Hamme and artist William Vance (1984-current)
It’s a Belgian graphic novel series about an amnesiac’s wish to discover past events.
The story has been made to a computer game and a TV series, too.
