Gempak Malaysia's Comic!

Guess what? A compilation of 63 local comic artist works by Mandarin Comic Society. There will be artworks, comic mandarin history and many more! This book will be available during Mines Book Fair on 20-29 November 2009.

What are you waiting for? Just go ahead and get it. Stay tune for updates about this compilation. You can check here if there is any futher notices.

Calv out!

Here's a review request made by Z.



>Title: Wasabi
>Price: RM6.50, RM7.50 SB/SWK
>Created by: Keith
>Cover Page by: Keith
>Published by: Gala Unggul Resources Sdn Bhd, June 2007
>Main characters: Wasabi, Chiro
>Main language: Bahasa Malaysia

Keith finally released his first comic series. The genre for it is obviously comedy. Set in a schooling environment, this graphic novel will show everyone the life and times of all the students there. Every scene and every story is continuous, no longer the four-panel comedy Keith used to do. Here's the layout of this graphic novel: Chiro newly moved to a town trying to adjust to it met one of the most mischievous student, Wasabi. Follow their story throughout this comic.



One of the best thing in this comic is that it is indeed funny. The quality of this comic did not reduce a bit from Keith's transition from four-panel to series. Each chapter passed with laughter because there will be at least one funny scene to make the readers laugh. The storyline is simple to understand as there were no real goal to begin with. All this comic featured was funny and comical violence that are sure to steal readers' heart.

The characters design for this graphic novel is, as always, cute and this time mature a little. This is because there are teenage physique involved in this comic. The character development is good because Keith manage to retain their personality throughout the comic. The panelling for this graphic novel is easy to follow because Keith manage to arrange it nicely. Another thing to praise is that the characters expression were priceless. He manage to capture all emotions available when readers look at the facial expressions.



One of the common problems in this comic is that, it looked like a Japanese influenced manga product. The stroke for this comic seems very similar with how a Japanese artist would do it. If Keith could show another type of unique stroke, it might contribute more to the comic from the creative aspect. As a series, there is not much focus on the side characters such as Diego or Tobi as they too add extra boost to the comic.

Not all effects for this comic is great either. Only certain chapters have good effects. Other than that, the rest of the chapters looked plain without the effect that will add more atmosphere to the whole comic. There is nothing more to complain about this comic actually.



A very funny and exciting comic, this will surely get your funny bone laughing out loud. A fresh look at school life injected with weird and cute characters added extra charm to this comic. Readers should just fork out their money and get this book. Prepare for an exciting journey with every flip of the page.

Pros: Every chapter funny, simple storyline, improved character design, memorable scenes.
Cons: Similar with Japanese manga, same stroke, dull effect.

Rating: 8/10

Calv out!

>Title: Wanna Dance With You
>Price: RM7.50, RM8.50 SB/SWK
>Created by: Leoz
>Cover Page by: Leoz
>Published by: Gala Unggul Resources Sdn Bhd, November 2008
>Main characters: None
>Main language: Bahasa Malaysia + Rojak

Leoz, finalist of Pencarian Bakat Baru 2005, presents his first graphic novel to the readers. The genre in this comic is mainly romance and slice of life. The main story for this comic is Wanna Dance With You that consists of five chapters. Each of the other short stories is presented differently, some using fantasy as an explanation.



Readers can really appreciate this comic as the stroke is very original, creating a different type of feeling when they open this book. Leoz’s sense of style in this graphic novel is great as well. Each of the clothing is fresh and unique showing that he is indeed versatile when it comes to fashion. Especially the fashion drawn by him in Wanna Dance With You. Other than that, readers will be able to see that he did not even leave the background of the comic untouched. Everything is there creating a sense of wholeness in a panel.

The character designs were nice and alive with personality. Within a few chapters or a short story, readers will find it easy to adjust to the different type of characters available in the comic. The storyline for each of the short stories were presented well: not great but not bad either. One thing’s for sure, his fantasy concept can’t be found in any other comics.



One of the major problems with this comic is that the transition of drawings from one panel to another is confusing for a few of his stories, especially the ones with fighting scene. Other than that, the characters’ faces are not alive with emotion. The way Leoz drew their eyes made them looked dead. Not only that, when it comes to the dance move in this comic, it is all messy as readers can’t see what is going on.

There are some stories in this graphic novel that made no sense at all despite the great theme. There was no beginning and ending causing it to start out of nowhere. Another factor that will cause a pain to the readers is that the short stories are really short. This will indeed frustrated readers as there is too little information being disclose to them. It made connecting to the readers harder.



Leoz has a way with illustration in his work and that what makes it worth the reader’s money. They will definitely be entertained by the main story of this comic and the creatively drawn scenes.

Pros: Original stroke, great fashion, detailed, good character design.
Cons: Transition of drawings, character’s face, too short.

Ratings: 6/10

Calv out!

Radioactive X Comic Book Artist T-shirt collection "Creative Chaos" is out for sales now. Check out Radioactive outlets in Malaysia to get your one of a kind T-shirt for a limited print only!

Here are two design:



By Zint



By Sau Lim (Slaium)


There are designs from Michael Chuah (C2V), Lefty, Sau Lim (Slaium), Redcode, Tan Eng Huat, Zint, Leong Wan Kok (Puyuh) and Kidchan. What are you ready for? Go get your wallet and run to the nearest store to get it!

For more information, head to Michael Chuah's blog.

Calv out!

>Title: When Fusion Met Pop
>Price: RM6.50, RM7.50 SB/SWK
>Created by: Nizam Bachok
>Cover Page by: Nizam Bachok
>Published by: Gala Unggul Resources Sdn Bhd, January 2008
>Main characters:
1)Fusion Pop: Chiko, Elle, Yeop, Lins, Low
2)When Sherly Met Donkey: Sherly, Donkey, Benny, Lil'z, Blacky, Ester
>Main language: Bahasa Malaysia + Rojak

A funny and also weird graphic novel produced by Nizam. Looks like this comic brings in a type of slice of life genre as it shows how things going on when a situation arises. He included two stories into one book which is:
Fusion Pop - A story about luxuries that caused the main character to be hunted in the process almost damaging friendships.
When Sherly Met Donkey - When looks become the source of happiness, two person will learn how to work when thing's are reverse for them.



The stroke for this comic is very unique as it really portray a different look on charcters' design. The way he drew the graphic novel really interesting as he try a new spin on the story line, which shows creativity on his part. The character designs here are memorable as each of them is really different from each other with specific designs and very visible personality.



That all being said, there are a lot more that can be done to really save this graphic novel. One of the biggest setback for this comic is that the graphic novel is really dry. The storyline is really dry as the jokes are not funny, scenes are very boring and basically the effects are dull. Each and every element in this comic did not combine well causing it to be a drag when readers are reading it.

Nizam looks like he is not trying at all as there is nothing worth reading despite it all being different and unique. The expression of the characters here are exaggerated (not in a good way) will cause readers to lose interest in them as there is no emotion at all. The panelling for this comic is too close together which causes too many things happening on one page that will be frustrating for the readers. It is definitely very hard to find any good aspect story line wise and effects for this comic.



There is no doubt that readers should just save their money and borrow it from a friend if they really got no other comic to read. This is one of the least favourites comics and don't think readers should bother going through it. It is poor in all aspect and there is not to say about it. Everything is very dull and dry. Let's hope that the next work he does will be much better than this. i am sure he can do it.

Pros: Creative spin on storyline.
Cons: Dry scenes, dull effects, panelling too close, ridiculous jokes, no emotion, no atmosphere.

Rating: 2/10

Calv out!