- Bandits of Batavia #1
- Beyondtopia
- Creator/Co-writer/Color Artist: Bryan Valenza
- Co-writer: Henry Barajas
- Artist: Ario Murti
- Letters: Troy Peteri
- Editor: Ray Chou
Inspired by Indonesian folklore, our story begins in 1865 when a massive WILDFIRE burns down the Rawa Belong Village, causing many residents to lose family, friends, and homes. The police enact a large-scale manhunt for those responsible: a group of supernatural bandits – the BANDITS OF BATAVIA.
A lot of attention is given to Japanese manga and the manga style of comics in general. Someone is always looking to pit manga against American comics, insisting that one has to better than the other. My thought is usually that there just aren’t enough comics floating around outside of the mainstream. Read what you like, ignore what you don’t, and be happy that there’s something out there for everyone.
I’m a fan of anyone trying to create something different. Different themes, such as historical fiction set in distant periods and based on actual people and events, make me happy. Another thing that makes me happy is a story steeped in cultural legends and lore, especially when it gives readers a look into a mythology outside of western tales. Let’s face it, as much as I love stories about dragons, werewolves, and elves, they’ve been done to death.
When I heard from creator Bryan Valenza (color artist on Wolverine, Red Hulk, Hellverine, and more), it was to clue me on his indie comic venture, Beyondtopia and flagship title, Bandits of Batavia. So, without further ado, I’m gonna break this Indonesian gem down!
Without wasting any time, writers Valenza and Henry Barajas hit the ground at a full sprint and trust their readers to keep up. The year is 1875, and the city of Batavia is ruled by gangs, with none more feared than the bandit known as the Blackbull. Valenza and Barajas establish his bonafides right away as he strikes from the shadows and his enemies scatter, crying his name in panic. Points scored for “show, don’t tell”, getting straight to the action instead of wasting time explaining why Blackbull is a total badass. The story gets even more interesting when we’re pulled into a side serving of mysticism to go with the Silat-driven melee.
The action in Bandits of Batavia is beautifully rendered by artist Ario Murti. His figures are dynamic, never seeming to be still or at rest as he uses angles and perspective to build anticipation, and when the action kicks off, it is relentless. Fans of movies like The Night Comes for Us or The Raid: Redemption should have an idea of what to expect in this comic. Each panel sets up the next in a rolling series of snapshots that pull the eyes along… but don’t let yourself gloss over any of the great background detail like I did. On my second reading, I realized how much I’d missed. Murti works in beautiful background detail to serve up the sights of Batavia, the town of 1870s that was destined to become the capital city of Jakarta. Valenza, pulling double duty as the story’s color artist, adds the final touches and brings depth to the story’s setting.
I spent my teen years watching, and trying (tragically) to emulate the action of classic Shaw Brothers movies. Bruce Lee was a staple, and Jackie Chan came along to our shores a few years later. These are exactly the kinds of stories that grab my attention, and when they’re done as well as Bandits of Batavia they leave me wanting more.
Fans of intense martial arts action, mysticism based on cultural lore, and characters & settings taken out of the history books, please give this comic a shot. Their Kickstarter is live as of this writing, with 17 days to go. Even if none of my words have moved you to pulling the trigger, just hop over to the campaign and see if the creators can convince you.
Final Score: 11/13
