The phenomenon of reading old Indonesian comics (known as komik jadul ) online is more than just a nostalgic pastime; it is a vital movement to preserve Indonesia's rich visual storytelling heritage. From the superhero epics of the 1950s to the gritty martial arts ( silat ) tales of the 70s, these digital archives bridge the gap between past generations and modern digital readers. The Golden Era of Indonesian Comics Indonesian comics evolved through several distinct phases:
“Baca Komik Jadul Indonesia Online: Digital Preservation, Cultural Memory, and Reader Engagement with Classic Indonesian Comics” 1. Introduction Classic Indonesian comics, or komik jadul (from the 1950s–1990s), such as Si Buta dari Gua Hantu , Gundala , Panji Tengkorak , Mahabharata , Ramayana , and works by R.A. Kosasih, Jan Mintaraga, Ganes TH., and Teguh Santosa, represent a significant yet under-preserved part of Indonesian popular culture. With physical copies deteriorating and out of print, online platforms have emerged as informal archives. This paper investigates the role, accessibility, legality, and cultural impact of reading komik jadul online. 2. Problem Statement Despite growing interest from nostalgia-driven adults and new young readers, most komik jadul are not officially digitized. Fans rely on scanned uploads on blogs, fan sites, and social media (e.g., Facebook groups, Pinterest, Archive.org). There is little academic research on how this unofficial digital circulation affects preservation, copyright ethics, and intergenerational transmission of values. 3. Research Questions
RQ1: What online platforms currently host komik jadul Indonesia , and how do they organize access? RQ2: How do readers perceive the authenticity, completeness, and reading experience of digital scans compared to physical comics? RQ3: What are the legal and ethical tensions between fan preservation and copyright holders (e.g., Penerbit Gramedia, Maranatha, Mekar Jaya)? RQ4: How does reading komik jadul online shape collective memory and national identity?
4. Methodology
Digital Ethnography: Observation of 5–10 active komik jadul blogs, Telegram channels, and Facebook groups. Content Analysis: Sample 50 scanned comics (1970–1995) to assess metadata quality, missing pages, and restoration efforts. Semi-structured Interviews: 15–20 participants including:
Fan archivists (uploaders) Casual readers (ages 25–50) 2 comic historians or collectors 1 publisher representative (if available)
Online Survey (n=100): Likert-scale questions on nostalgia, willingness to pay for legal digital editions, and concerns about cultural loss. Baca Komik Jadul Indonesia Online
5. Literature Review
Preservation studies: Mendoza (2018) on DIY digitization in Southeast Asia. Comics studies: Lent (2014) on Indonesian comic history; Berselli (2020) on fan-led preservation in Brazil. Copyright in Indonesia: Law No. 28 of 2014 on Copyright – Article 43 (limitations for preservation and non-commercial use). Digital memory: Van Dijck (2007) on user-generated memory archives.
6. Expected Findings (Hypotheses)
Most online komik jadul are low-resolution scans, often missing covers or pages. Readers prioritize accessibility over legality but express guilt or desire for official reprints. Fan communities act as de facto preservationists, filling a gap left by commercial publishers. Nostalgia-driven reading reinforces local hero mythology and 1970s–80s moral frameworks.
7. Ethical Considerations