Free Malaysian Comic Strip ‘Komik Ronyok’ Throws Shade Like No Other

COMIC artist Zainorazwan Zainal began releasing his own comics online less than a year ago on Instagram as azwanjjai. Today, he has a fanbase of over 12,800 followers.

His Komik Ronyok — told through pastel shades contrasting with its acerbic nature — started appearing on Facebook and Twitter soon after they went up on Instagram, garnering praise for its blunt commentary on contemporary Malaysian society.

You may have seen Day 1804: DJ Radio online recently. In his depiction of mainstream Malay radio’s veer off-course, he also takes a generous swipe at Era.fm.

Zainorazwan may have two years left before he gets his teaching degree, but his eloquence in conveying messages via comic strips suggests someone wiser and more experienced.

“Sindiran-sindiran yang saya selitkan dalam komik saya biasanya hasil daripada pemerhatian tentang tingkah laku kawan-kawan, masyarakat, dan pengguna internet,” he tells us during a chat on Instagram.

“Saya suka mengupas gaya hidup orang Malaysia — yang baik dan yang buruk. Kebanyakan sindiran tu adalah pendapat saya sendiri; kadang-kadang sindiran tu tidak begitu intelektual, sebab saya tidak pandai.”

The ravages of technology on contemporary Malaysian life pops up on occasion.

Day 1788: Orang Malaysia is an aggressive take on millenials who use issues to quench a thirst for validation instead of taking meaningful action, while Day 1713: Ali Yang Malang piles telco internet disconnection on top of heartbreak and presents this as the ultimate tragedy.

His more cynical take on Malaysian people are as surprising as they are rewarding.

Whether reminding viewers that some people really are capable of anything, or poking at the tudung as the ultimate symbol of repentance, Zainorazwan’s combination of message-driven humour and courage is to be lauded.

The young man however knows full well his limits, and will continue carefully treading the line while keeping his intentions in check.

“Walaupun saya nak jadi 100% jujur semasa proses melukis komik, saya sendiri tahu bahawa ada sesetengah perkara saya tak boleh buat, seperti perkara-perkara yang menyentuh sensitiviti kaum, politik dan agama,” he acknowledges.

“Kalau boleh, saya tak nak komik saya membawa pengaruh buruk kepada pembaca. Sebab itulah, saya banyak menggunakan unsur-unsur sarcasm dalam komik saya — supaya saya boleh selitkan pengajaran secara tersirat.”

It’s not all snide commentary and sneers however; Zainorazwan seems to have a clear idea of what he’s doing in a public arena like social media.

Day 1800: Orang Tua Pesan, Sediakan Payung Sebelum Hujan for instance paints a more optimistic picture of a child born out of wedlock, without compromising on any of his trademark sardony.

Like a silently-gleeful elder making witty remarks, there are layers to Zainorazwan’s commentary.

His nudges at male sexuality too radiates sincerity. The simply titled Day 173: Komik Gay gently stirs a difficult issue, leaving readers with an open-ended fourth panel. It yields an interesting reaction in the bustling comments section, littered with especially bashful textspeak.

 

“Pada asalnya, saya kongsi komik saya di instagram tanpa tanpa apa-apa niat lain,” he continues. “Waktu tu, saya pilih instagram sebab instagram senang nak digunakan.”

“Tetapi, saya juga bermatlamat untuk menjadi inspirasi kepada pelukis-pelukis komik yang lain untuk share komik mereka di internet. Dengan cara tu, industri webtoon di Malaysia boleh berkembang dengan mudah.”

Zainorazwan prepares Komik Ronyok the traditional way. Pen, pencil and paper is all he needs to come up with these sketches which he scans, then colours in Photoshop.

He aspires to buy a  drawing tablet someday soon.

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