Indonesian Superheroes

"COMPARISON OF VISUAL CONCEPT OF INDONESIAN AND AMERICAN SUPER HEROES" (by Andy D Dirgantara, Faculty of Arts and Design - Bandung Institute of Technology)
Superhero is a job that owned by the role character of a comic. The character almost always sees as a hero soldier with extraordinary powers and abilities, without any fear fighting another super villain in the war zone. When superheroes fight crimes, they always use costume in order to conceal their truly identity. Creation process of a superhero somehow affected by the creator them self. Thats why the situation and condition that could happen in an environment could affecting the background behind the superheroes character it self, it could be affecting the historical side, physical appearance, the way they thinking even further the philosophies that appear. At the end those values could affecting the basic thinking on how creative work of the inventor goes to creating visual concept of the character they created. Indonesian superheroes so far always judged as a duplicated form of American Superheroes. The background of the hypothesis coming from the visual appearance of Indonesian superheroes thats look like or even worse have the same ideas with American Superheroes. The judgment somehow build a low quality image and less affected to Indonesian culture. A better thought of local culture values hopefully could take Indonesian to appreciating local Superheroes concept more than just duplicated form of American Superheroes.

The result that can be taken from this research is that similarity, that occurs in the appearance of superhero character doesnt always came from the same visual concept. The visual appearance similarity intent only to make public acceptance of the Indonesian character a lot more easier, because Indonesian comics reader is already get used to the appearance of the American Superhero.
-Copyright (c) 2007 FSRD ITB-

Indonesian Superheroes. Mostly they’re created in 50's-70's. Some of them are: Pangeran Mlaar [Prince Elongated], Maza, Gundala [Lightning](created by Hasmi), Putri Bintang [Princess Star](created by Johnlo) Aquanus (created by Wid NS), Sri Dewi (created by RA Kosasih), Sembrani [Magnet](created by Hasmi), Nusantara (created by Mater), Godam [Hammer](created by Wid NS), Kalong [Flying Fox](created by Hasmi), Boga (created by Nono GM), Garuda Putih [White Garuda](created by Johnlo), Jin Kartubi [Kartubi The Genie](created by Hasmi), Herbintang (created by Banu), Tira (created by Nono GM), Kapten Halilintar [Captain Thunder](created by Jan Mintaraga), Merpati [The Dove](created by Hasmi), Gina (created by Gerdi WK).

These pictures were created by DeviantArt members: Filiberto Tobing, Wastukancono, Jei El, Nom, Iskandar Salim, Thoriq + Admira Wijayadi, Ichsan Wibawa (SketchBL Team), Berny Julianto, Ifansyah and Aan Budi Sulistyo...thank you guys!!

Laskar Pelangi (rainbow warriors)

This novel is a great reading for those who searching for the meaning of life itself. The story is focused on the life in Timah - Belitong, an island in Indonesia. IKAL, the main character that represents Andrea Hirata, the novel''s writer himself. His poor family condition doesn''t keep his father to give IKAL a proper education. IKAL was sent to the village school that far from the standard of education. The school only has 10 students. But fortunately, in this school, IKAL learned many important things in his life. More than learning how to read, count or even being a champion. With all member of Rainbow Warriors : MAHAR (an exentric artist), LINTANG (the genius one), TRAPANI (a mother complex), SAMSON (the bulk), SAHARA (the only girl), KUCAI (talkative), HARUN (who always trapped in his childhood life), SYAHDAN (the loser), and A KIONG (brother of IKAL''s first love), he lived his school life that full of surprised. Defeating another school in carnival contest, debating a professor in debate contest, until searching for FLO, child from the rich family, who finally join in Rainbow Warriors'' school. They did a lot of craziness, almost everyday. Even crossing the sea to find a shaman loved by MAHAR and FLO. But everything has an end. Economic condition became main forces that separated them