Duo Hippo Dinamis (Two Dynamic Hippos)

Supposedly, Indonesian’s first graphic travelogue, but honestly I will not claim it that way. Perhaps, it is Indonesian’s first comic about traveling done in around 165 pages. To finish this 165 pages comic is the actual point to be proud of, while others do not really have the stamina to do so. This is possible due the great artist, Sheila Rooswitha. She has an incredible eye for details, though she was not with us when we traveled. Her imagination and her ability in research are her greatest gift. I imagined she was just like Albrecht Durer when he drew the rhinoceros image even when he did not actually see it.

But, then again I must say I am not really happy with the book. We went through quite an ardous journey (worth another travelogue!) to have it published. First, the censorhip (I promise, I will dwell lengthy about this subject in another post). Second, the launching event (this, I decided not to say anything). Third and most important, the end result.

This might be the crappiest graphic novel I have ever seen, quality wise due to carelessness and ignorance in production. Pages are not numbered. Forget margins (above-below-right-left), the pages are all screaming at you and caused the worst kind of sensory overload. Bubbles are placed as if done by a person sans logic, causing them to cover face or other important pictures. Cover is printed on the wrong kind of paper, in the wrong kind of red. Colofon is missing. All in the name of hasty production to reach certain sales number.

Well, perhaps I should just shut up because at least and at last it is published. Check out the Duo Hippo Dinamis‘ blog, if you happen to be very fluent in Bahasa Indonesia.

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