Gundala

Indonesian Superhero in Picture

Saras 008

Indonesia's comic formula has been found. That is why, when the children's TV series SARAS 008 is shown on TV at prime time, comics and reading books with the same theme and story also sell well. SARAS 008 is locally made. It isn't based on a historic epic, but is a visionary epic story, set far in the future. SARAS 008 can shoot laser beams from her eyes to destroy her enemies. Like her motto, SARAS 008 is "the heroine of righteousness, defender of truth, friend of all who love peace". Nowadays in Indonesia, SARAS 008 is the children's idol. This character is very real to children, not abstract. Again, the closeness factor becomes the key to success for a children's movie. It is maintained in the SARAS 008 comic, aside from drawings and motions which still "mimic" the Japanese comic style-already popular among Indonesian children.

Villains:
Mr. Blek
Bil & Bul

Mlaar

Prince Mlaar is a figure comic created by Hasmi in 1969. The idea maybe from Mr. Fantastic (marvel comics) because he have same power. He have an elasticity from his body. First appearance in Gundala comic with title “Perhitungan di Planet Covox”

The Story

Mlaar is a prince in a kingdom in Covox Planet. After his father killed by Prime Minister Telern and Silver Head Princess, Mlaar gone into exile by his uncle. One day Gundala come to Covox to catch the kidnapped from his father (Kronz). But Telern wants to use Kronz as a giant power plant to build Meteor Rocket Factory. Gundala meet Mlaar and together they join to fight this regime. After that they become a friend and in several episode, Mlaar go to adventure in earth with other Superheroes.

Indonesian Super Heroes

From Left to Right : Kalong, Maza, Gundala, Sembrani, Mlaar

First Row : Tira, Godam, Mlaar, Maza, Aquanus, Gundala, Sembrani
Second Row : Kapten Halilintar, Kapten Mar, Kawa Hijau, Laba-laba Mirah, Laba-laba Merah
Third Row: Lamaut, Putri Bintang, Nusantara

Sembrani

When Tangguh in Mt. Dieng. He found a spaceship. After he come in to this spaceship, he finds Otohrb which speaking to him from projector. Otohrb is a one warlord from Ristuty Galaxy. He gives Tangguh a necklace which can change him to Sembrani. Sembrani have a poiwer to neutralize Magnet or poison or electricity and also can fly. But he have a weakness wth Gold. The costume for Sembrani make me remember, one of the Leader from X-Men (marvel Comics) : Cyclops. This character created by Hasmi.

Maza

When in dream, Kanigara feels become Maza. A snake name Schobin wants his help to find a blue pearl and Vatienc. The thief is a black mage Rahczor. He lives in Pulau Tengkorak Hitam. When Maza meet him, he wants a ransom in the form tengkorak harimau putih bertanduk tiga. So Maza get helps from the Galar to find this ransom. After Maza get the ransom, he betray the promise and attack Maza. At that time Jin Kartubi help Maza to kill Rahcsor. After this black mage die, Schobin & his daughter become a normal human. Kartubi give Maza a ring for memorize him. One day when Maza hike a hill, he falls and Kanigara wake up from the dream. But he found a paintbrush with a ring which can spoke to him. Maza realize the sound is from Kartubi. If he knocked the paintbrush, he will become Maza and the paintbrush become a blade.

Until now Indonesian Superhero still influence by Mistic and American tales. The idea for Maza maybe from Tarzan and Aladdin. This figure is created by Wid N.S.

Aquanus

Aquanus is other Indonesian Superhero created by Wid N.S. First appearance in 1968 on title “Aquanus at Vibhy Planet”. Aquanus maybe the parody from Aquaman (DC comics) because main power is relative same.

Background

When The Burbur attack Zyba Planet, King Sving send his baby to earth by rocket. The rocket fall in the sea and found by Whale hunter. This guy take this baby as their son and named him Dhanus. The Zyba have an ability to live in land or water, so Dhanus can swim to anywhere in sea. Someday he meet other Zyba people who give him rainbow belt. This belt become main weapon Aquanus.

Go To Zyba

When he become a guy, Aquanus comeback to Zyba. That period in Zyba break a war between The Burbur and The Quantra. Without knowing historical background Aquanus help the Burbur which is the original enemy from his father. But after meet Queen Zerhami, the daughter of King Sving which born in Quantra, he change side. So he go infiltrate on Zyba and help the Quantra win this conflict.

Berhala Coast

The other Indonesian Superheroes use Aquanus Submarine in Teluk Berhala as a homebase for their meeting and operation. So if American Superheroes in Justice League of America meet in outspace, the Indonesian Superheroes meet deep in the sea.

The Enemy

.When fight with Bocah Atlantis, Aquanus was imprisoned by his enemy and being replaced by Atlantic Agent named Vedhus. Later Vedhus & Atlantic Boy was melted with magic mirror used by Godam

Gundala

Gundala is one of fiction superhero created by Hasmi. His first appearance on 1969 at “Gundala Son of Thunder”. The genre of this comic is fantasy. The idea maybe come from Thor(marvel comics) and Flash (DC comics). The background setting are in Yogyakarta & Jakarta. This figure once go to the movie at 1982 with the same title.

Background

As a genius researcher, Sancaka found anti thunder serum. Sink in his ambition to study this in the depth, he forget Minarti birthday (his girlfriend). After that, they broke up. Sancaka with guilty feeling run in the rainy days. Suddenly a thunder hit him which cause him in coma condition. At this situation, his spirit is go to another planet and being adopt by Kaisar Kronz from the Thunder Kindom. He was blessed with superhero power with lightning from his hand and speed like wind from King Taifun from Bayu Kingdom.

Since this time, where he awake from his coma condition, he become a crimefighter with codename Gundala

The enemy

Gundala find his tricky enemy named Ghazul in the story “Dokumen Candi Hantu” at first time in 1969. The other enemy is Pengkor which can create a fake Gundala. This fake Gundala go into the robbery and other crime, so the real Gundala hunted by other Superhero.

The woman

In the adventure with other superhero named Kalong at Pangkalan Pemunah Bumi (1977), Gundala meet with a beautiful reporter. Her name is Sedhah Esti Wulan which later become his wife. This woman have a secret also. In the other story, Sedhah become a superheroine too with codename Merpati. (Indonesian word for pigeon).

Godam

Godam are created by Wid NS. One of Indonesian popular author on period 1970-1980. First apperaring in comic with title “Memburu Doktor Setan” on 1969 with Fantasy genre. In this comic, we can see influence of America Superhero comic. The different is only at background setting in Yogyakarta and plot story. Godam are Indonesian word means hammer, so the inspiration for this figure maybe combination of Thor and Superman.

The Story

Godam come from other dimension. In this dimension, one of the country which Govern by Queen Candalani. The name of this country are “Godam”. Godam himself are son of one landlord of this country which being rebel to the government. The parents go exile by Queen Candalani, so they send Godam to earth. The story at beginning are same with Superman, but in the future are different. The source from his power is Mighty clothed which give him extra power like flying and immunity.

In his adventure Godam meet with Dewi Pengasuh Sukma which give him other magnify power to fight the crime. But Godam must vow to care about human life, doesn’t kill anybody. But in the fight with son of Queen Candalani, this vow has pass the line. With dead from son of Queen Candalani son make Godam imprison in the ring. This ring is given to Awang by Bapa Kebenaran. Awang is a freelance driver which become Godam if he use the ring.

The Enemy

The senile enemy is Roh Doktor Setan which have shape form a diamond necklace. Everyone who wears this necklace will be possess by Roh doktor setan. The hatred begin a long time before Awang be chosen by Godam. At least three time Roh doctor setan appear in Godam Comics between 1970-1976. The other enemy is Ztulos, Atlantic boy and Gerombolan Kucing Merah, Solsoldola, The Collector, and GAS Leader Empu Semalawa

The Team

In Sang Kolektor (1978), Godam meet Pangeran Mlaar and Maza (two other superhero which also created by Wid NS). After that Godam will join to fight other crime with most of other Indonesian Superhero by different author like Gundala, Aquanus, Tira, Sembrani, Merpati. This period is a golden age for Indonesian Comics.

The Woman

There one super woman from Thalezer Planet (name Shundra) which fall in love with Godam. In the several Godam comics, she is hunt & search for Godam love. She become Godam Admirer.