Recognized as one of Indonesia’s legendary comic strips, Panji Koming marked its debut in Kompas in 1979 and continued to grace the pages of the print media until the creator, Dwi Koendoro “Dwi Koen” Brotoatmojo, passed away in August.

Set during the Majapahit era around 500 years ago, the series caught readers’ attention through its subtle jokes and criticism of the authorities.

The comic strip depicts the interactions of its characters, namely the naïve Panji Koming; the witty Pailul; the patient Ni Woro Ciblon, who’s also Panji Koming’s love interest; and the bold Ni Dyah Gembili, who’s also Pailul’s girlfriend.

Little did people know that these characters were actually inspired by Dwi Koen’s friends at Kompas Gramedia’s production house, PT Gramedia Film.

One of his friends at the company, Wiediantoro, is said have inspired Dwi Koen in creating the Panji Koming character.

Dwi Koen revealed that bit of information to his friends during a trip to Yogyakarta after the comic strip got published.

“During the filming of an [ad] for the Suzuki Jimny in Parang Tritis, Yogyakarta, he told us, ‘the idea came from you all’,” said Wiediantoro during the opening of the Komedi Priyayi Panji Koming exhibition on Nov. 19 at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Central Jakarta. 

Meanwhile, Dwi Koen’s friends, Didit Aditya and Ace Amir, reportedly had inspired the comic artist in creating Pailul and Ni Woro Ciblon, respectively. The characters’ names have since become their nicknames. 

Putu Fajar Arcana, the curator of the Komedi Priyayi Panji Koming exhibition, said Dwi Koen had always been up-to-date with current issues. 

“He’d find the gap [in an issue] through the characters. His framing always contained unbalanced relationships between people and their leaders,” Fajar said, adding that such unbalanced relationships would generate conflict that became Dwi Koen’s source of criticism.

One of Dwi Koen’s most memorable Panji Koming series for Fajar was the first edition. The comic displayed a royal family member and his three servants; two of whom are carrying him on a litter, while the other one sits behind him holding an umbrella to protect him. These servants keep doing their job even when they cross a river and almost drown. At the end of the comic, there’s a character who salutes him and says, “Maintaining influence indeed has its consequences.”

Fajar said the comic contained various criticisms. “They can be about loyalty, blind loyalty, the arrogance of an official who doesn’t want to — he could’ve got on any boats [to cross the river], but he sits still because he enjoys his power,” he said.

He recalled Dwi Koen as an artist who kept learning and performing self-censorship in his works. 

“If he thought there’s something he needed to fix about his work, he’d call [Kompas daily newspaper editorial] — even if it had already reached the editorial desk,” Fajar said. “He’d contact us through his wife [Cik Dewasih].”

Following Dwi Koen’s passing, Panji Koming readers may wonder whether the comic strip will still be gracing the newspaper.

Kompas chief editor Ninuk Mardiana Pambudy said the matter was still being discussed.  

“It’s because Panji Koming is related to Dwi Koen and everyone knows that he already passed away, so this is where we have to find a way,” Ninuk said. “I don’t want to promise anything, but I don’t want to shut down any possibilities. Hopefully we can find the best solution that can answer everybody’s wishes.”

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