Kadokawa Gempak Starz (Chinese: 角川平方; pinyin: Jiǎochuān píngfāng; lit. 'Kadokawa Square'[1]) (trading as Gempak Starz, formerly Malaysian Art Square Group (Chinese: 平方集团; pinyin: Píngfāng jítuán; lit. 'Square Group')) is a Malaysian graphic novel, comics and manga publisher owned by Kadokawa Corporation. Originally established as Komik Lawak Atau Lawak Creation in 1971, the company previously produced Gempak, a magazine dedicated to showcasing local comic artists from Malaysia to wider audiences. Gempak has the distinction of being the first Malaysian info-comic magazine, offering news and articles about the ACG (Animation, Comics & Games) world in and outside of the country. Gempak magazine aims to encourage the local development of such industries, facilitating the global spread of Malaysian talent.[2]

Kadokawa Gempak Starz
角川平方
Logo of Gempak Starz
Parent companyKadokawa Corporation
StatusActive
Founded1971 But Lawak Atau Lawak 1994-Present
Country of originMalaysia
Headquarters locationKuala Lumpur
Publication typesGraphic novels, novels, magazines, manga, light novels
Owner(s)Kadokawa Holdings Asia Ltd. (80%)
Official websitegempakstarz.com

History

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Komik-1 Debuted On Komik Lawak Atau Lawak Publish on July 9 1971.

Gempak debuted on 1 June 1998, at a time when Malaysia was attempting to recover from the 1997 economic crisis. The economic crisis brought a hard impact on the Malaysian comic industry.

To gain a place in the Malaysian comic market, Art Square Creation incorporated the "info-comic" approach, which became the main formula of Gempak's success, and the new standard format for many Malaysian comics. It took 18 months for their success to take off without any help from other media advertisements. Starting as a monthly issue for the first three years, it has come to be published bi-monthly (since June 2001), with many demands that the magazine should go for weekly issue.

Their concept of an info-comic magazine has become a trend followed by many recent comic magazines, including one of Malaysia's biggest publishers, Karangkraf Sdn. Bhd., who began releasing a new info-comic magazine titled Jom (later ceased publication). The success of Gempak also resulted in the success of its publisher, Art Square Creation Sdn. Bhd., who expanded to become Art Square Group with three subsidiaries: Art Square Creation Sdn. Bhd, Anjung Taipan Sdn. Bhd., and Gala Unggul Sdn. Bhd. All Art Square Group products are now labelled under their own brand "GEMPAK STARZ."

Gempak, under Art Square Creation, won the Persatuan Penerbit-Penerbit Majalah Malaysia (MPA) award under other category special Malay magazine ("majalah pengkhususan" (Bahasa Malaysia)) 2007.[3]

In December 2015, Kadokawa Corporation through its Hong Kong subsidiary Kadokawa Holdings Asia Ltd (KHA), acquired an 80% stake in Malaysian Art Square Group (MSG).[1]

Kadokawa Gempak Starz era

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Following Kadokawa Corporation's acquisition, MSG was renamed to Kadokawa Gempak Starz in January 2016.

Subsidiaries

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  • SPARKS: An online store.
  • Gempak Starz store: An online store.
  • KADOKAWA GEMPAK STARZ SDN BHD: Malaysia division.
  • KADOKAWA GEMPAK STARZ (S) PTE LTD: Singapore division.

Gempak Starz products

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Besides magazines, Art Square Group publishes more than 200 products under the brand of GEMPAK STARZ. The products include graphic novels (including acquired foreign comics), T-shirts, caps, mugs, toys, posters, illustration books, stationery, and collection items.

Publishing labels

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  • Gempak Starz:
  • Learn More (Chinese: 浩学堂; pinyin: Hào xué táng; lit. 'Great/Grand School'): Educational comic series.
  • Magic Bean (Chinese: 魔豆; pinyin: Mó dòu): Pop literature series.
  • Gempack 360°/CK 360°/Learn More 360°: Publisher's YouTube channels, features various comics and ACG-related content, including artist interviews and more.

Komik Seram

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Komik Seram (lit. Horror Comic) is the name for their horror comics. They are most popular and best-selling in the company, although, minimum comics are sometimes sold out because of popularity.

Below is the list of horror comics sold by Gempak:

  • Dari Alam Angker (by various artists)
  • Warisan Puaka by Nizam Bachok
  • Seringai Malam by Nizam Bachok
  • Dajal Berbisik by KF
  • Lawang Penamat by Maita Nao

List of Gempak comics Cartoonist

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  • Keith
  1. Lawak Kampus
  2. Lawak Kampus Connection
  3. Lawak Kampus Friends Edition
  4. Lawak Kampus League
  5. Lawak Kampus Move On
  6. Lawak Kampus Rebound
  7. Encore! Lawak Kampus Artbook
  8. Kuso High School
  9. Kuso High School Log In
  10. Kuso High School Teamwork
  11. Wasabi
  • Zint
  1. 2 Dudes For Life
  2. Bodyguard.com
  3. Boy's Scout
  4. GoGo ChaCha Street
  5. Hero
  6. K.O King Conquest
  7. Cheap Shot
  8. Eli
  9. Rapsodi 18
  10. Zenith 4
  11. Boy’s Scout
  12. Kaleidoscope Collection 01: Our Blue Sky
  13. Kaleidoscope Collection 03: The Journey
  14. Kaleidoscope Collection 04: Great Day
  15. Kaleidoscope Collection 05: Woo Hoo!
  16. Kisah Pengembaraan Kroit
  17. Kijiya 1 - 15
  18. Lawak Under 18
  19. MFEO (Meant For Each Other)
  20. Raiden
  21. Scarbot & Monky
  22. Sharkman The Hitman
  23. Si Penjual Aiskrim
  24. Under 18 Elite 1 - 15
  25. User
  26. Xpresi Tempur
  27. Under 18 Attitude 1 - 12
  28. Speeder
  29. Fistlogic
  30. MISI GOG (Guardian Of Green)
  31. Under 18 Spirit
  • Kaoru
  1. Kaoru's Cake House
  2. 143 Kaoru's Cake House (Novel)
  3. Daisuki
  4. 143
  5. Colours
  6. Meet Cupid
  7. After School With You
  8. Candy Series
  9. Cinta Untuk Dijual
  10. Cuma Kucing Yang Tahu
  11. Helios Eclipse oleh Kaoru[4]
  12. Lawak Valentine
  13. LOVE DRAMA
  14. Love For Sale
  15. Love Triangle
  16. Lost Diary
  17. Maid Maiden – Monday
  18. Maid Maiden – Wednesday
  19. Maid Maiden – Friday
  20. Maid Maiden – Saturday
  21. Maid Maiden – Sunday
  22. My Secret Bodyguard
  23. My Secret Boyfriend
  24. My Secret Buddy
  25. Nonetheless, I love You
  26. Only The Cats Know
  27. Strawberry Vampire
  28. Tell Me Your Name (New)
  29. Voice of An Angel
  • Ben
  1. Fatal Chaos Turbo Ex
  2. Fatal Chaos
  3. Te@mare
  4. Le Gardenie
  5. Naive
  6. The Fishes
  7. Innocent
  • Juice/Norman Noh
  1. Juice
  2. Caramel Theater
  3. Primavera
  • Slaium
  1. Utopia High
  2. Utopia High Revisited
  3. Utopia High Revisited- Hunting High & Low
  4. Lawak Utopia High Reunion
  5. Drak
  • Fakhrul Anour
  1. Cinta Tunggal (Novel)
  2. 143 Kaoru's Cake House (Novel)
  3. Pentas Realiti: Aspirasi Seni (Novel)
  4. Siri Maskeret Cinta: Hanya...
  5. Hanya...Cinta
  6. Mencintai Dia
  • Tadatada / Lee Kok Chen
  1. Good Morning Teacher!
  2. Hello Mei Mei
  3. Jejak Libasan Jaguh
  4. Monster Girl
  5. Paper Labyrinth
  6. Selamat Pagi Cikgu!
  7. The Prince and I
  8. X-VENTURE: The Golden Age Of Adventure
  • Daniyal Aiman
  1. Komik Fatdream
  2. Demam Cinta
  • Oga
  1. 5th Dimension
  2. Brother X3
  3. Brother X3 Presto
  4. Crazy Family
  5. Mamai
  6. Oxer
  7. Stories After Dark Don't Turn Off the Light Korea (New)
  8. Taiko and Little Peach
  9. X-VENTURE: Titanoboa
  10. X-VENTURE: Ancaman Boa Purba
  11. X-VENTURE: Titanoboa Coils of Doom
  12. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Perilous Peak
  13. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Kembara Puncak Maut
  14. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Drifting Dead
  15. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Kebangkitan Mayat Hidup
  16. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Skyfallen Safari
  17. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Kerajaan Langit
  18. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Ferogious Fauna
  19. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Jerat Berbisa Flora
  20. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Meteoroid Mayhem
  21. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Zombie Meteorit
  22. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Mammoth Monstrosity
  23. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Ledakan Epidemik
  24. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Robot Rebellion
  25. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Kebangkitan Robotik
  26. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Robot Retaliation
  27. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Tentangan Robot
  28. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Nuclear Nemesis
  29. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Angkara Misil
  30. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Graveyard Gorge
  31. X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Azure Abyss
  • Jo
  1. Showtime!
  2. Donkey High School
  3. Chicky & Chucky Mercury
  • Bob
  1. Faces
  • Xanseviera
  1. Lawak Fairy Godbrother
  2. Snap!
  3. Next Station
  4. Love Boat
  5. Love Track
  6. Love Band
  7. Love Terminal
  8. Neko Online.com
  • Michael Chuah / C2V
  1. 3 Hour to Master: How To Build Memory and Focus
  2. 3 Hour to Master: How To Control Your Finances
  3. 3 Hour to Master: How To Expand Your Creativity
  4. 3 Hour to Master: How To Get Perfect Marks
  5. 3 Hour to Master: How To Manage Your Mood
  6. 3 Hour to Master: How To Maintain Good Friendships
  7. 3 Hour to Master: How To Reduce Stress
  8. 3 Hour to Master: How To Strengthen Self-Discipline
  9. 3 Hour to Master: How To Stay Healthy
  10. 3 Hour to Master: How To Surf Safely
  11. Gengkey
  12. Gengkey (Remake)
  13. Lawak OK-KO
  14. X-VENTURE: Kappa
  15. X-VENTURE: Misi Menyelamat Kappa
  16. X-VENTURE: Kappa Chaos
  17. Monster Chaos
  • Kenny Chua
  1. Jinggo Concluded
  2. Jinggo Replay
  3. Pop! Bang! Boom!
  • Other
  1. Glock 17 oleh Ageha
  2. Mat Gempak (Remake) oleh Apoh
  3. Mat Gempak oleh Apoh and Botak
  4. Kishiro Budak Sihir oleh Bear
  5. Shadow Quest oleh Clay
  6. Falcon oleh Clay
  7. Jangka Attribut oleh Clay
  8. Jejak Neraka oleh Cicak
  9. Zaman Gemilang oleh Hang Sembilan
  10. 5 Elemen oleh Kash
  11. Dunia Cahaya oleh Kash
  12. Gol Kraziee 2000 oleh Kash
  13. Red Fox oleh King Kong
  14. Dewi Remaja (Manhwa) oleh Lee Ju
  15. IT Ekspress oleh Neko (komik pengiklanan)
  16. Go Notty oleh Nizam Bachok
  17. Velocity oleh Puppeteer
  18. Evolusi Identiti oleh Puppeteer
  19. Jinggo (Remake) oleh Puppeteer
  20. Twisted Mind of Puyuh oleh Puyuh@Leong Wan Kok
  21. Student King oleh Stanley G
  22. Hotlink Warrior oleh Slaium (komik pengiklanan)
  23. Jackie Perang Pit oleh Taufan
  24. Fear Factor oleh Taufan
  25. Pahlawan Raja Alam oleh Taufan
  26. Experiment 105 oleh Totoro
  27. Detektif Hantu oleh Totoro
  28. Detektif Hantu (Remake) oleh Totoro
  29. G.R.A.V.E. oleh Totoro
  30. Journey to the West/Raja Monyet oleh Totoro
  31. Pelayan Rahasia
  32. Segi TiGA Rahsia
  33. Siri Maskaret Cinta oleh kartunis berbeza (bahagian kekal)
  34. Dari Alam Angker/Komik Angker oleh kartunis berbeza (bahagian kekal)
  35. Komik Eksklusif oleh kartunis berbeza (bahagian kekal)
  36. X-Pax Channel Comic oleh kartunis berbeza (komik pengiklanan)
  37. Komik Antarabangsa oleh artis antarabangsa (Usang)
  38. Zoology oleh Stanley G, Neko, Jo, and Keith
  39. Taufan Pesaka, bahagian 1, 2, dan 3 oleh Hang Sembilan (parts 1, 2) and Kash (part 3)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Kadokawa buys into Gempak Starz, eyes KL as creative hub - Industry & Relevant News - Newsroom - Resource Centre - InvestKL". InvestKL. Archived from the original on 13 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Kakiseni – Gempak Starz Exhibition".[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Al Islam, URTV raih Anugerah Majalah Terbaik 2007". Utusan Online.
  4. ^ (in Malay) Warisi bakat melukis bapa, oleh Faten Saphilla Mohamed Isa, Kosmo Archived 28 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
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