Gemalai / Afidah Usaimah Mohd Affan

• Main Author: Mohd Affan, Afidah Usaimah
• Format: Book Section
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kedah 2024
• Subjects: NC Drawing. Design. IIlustration; Graphic art materials
• Online Access: https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/102471/1/102471.pdf; https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/102471/

CoPlace 2, a bustling location on Jalan Usahawan Cyberjaya, Selangor, is home to Boneybone Studio. It has become a by word for creativity in horror comics. With a vision of going beyond storytelling norms, Boneybone Studios, under the MISI brand, has earned its name for creating edgy tales and unique artwork. It instantly captured a global readership with loads of comics that explore psychological terror, supernatural phenomena, and existential dread. The journey started with the aim of mixing traditional horrors with innovative methods of storytelling. All their creations are diverse in terms of messages, thus inviting controversy among them about which is better. Each comic produced under MISI print exhibits extreme delicacy, as evidenced by careful attention to details that stimulate art and deeply suspenseful plot lines. Besides, there is an ongoing wait for the new episodes of “Gemalai: The Evil of Gawai” to add to its splendid portfolio. With this ambitious project, we go deep into Sarawakian folklore, drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of myths and legends that have given shape to that region’s cultural landscape. It has at its core Keiro and Haira, twin siblings who come back home to Sarawak Country with the aim of fully participating in the Gawai festival, a period characterized by happy events and paying homage to one’s ancestors. However, when Haira unsuspectingly stumbles upon Gemalai near a lonely riverbank, the calmness associated with their return home gets disrupted. With its craftiness and wickedness, the Gemalai becomes obsessed with Haira, with whom it unleashes a set of traumatic clashes that test the twins' bravery and tenacity. The story unfolds, presenting readers with a tale of ancient myths confronting contemporary fears as they grapple with issues like identity, family relationships, and the innate desire to confront darkness. “Gemalai: The Evil of Gawai” has a fresh take on Sarawak folklore by interweaving cultural authenticity with suspense through its exquisite plotting and evocative pictures. Boneybone Studio masterfully directs this series, creating a narrative substance that extends beyond the book covers. Each episode builds upon the suspense from its predecessors, weaving together one suspenseful piece after another, leaving readers eagerly anticipating new plot twists. The studio depicts Sarawakian traditions and beliefs, immersing readers in a Gawai atmosphere where supernatural events unfold. Gemalai: “The Evil of Gawai” continues to delight its viewers. Boneybone Studios combines creative excellence with storytelling maturity, resulting in MISI books that are not just narratives, but also memories that stay with the reader long after one has read the last page. Boneybone Studios is continually pushing boundaries with each new project it takes on, and this makes them a pioneer in their genre. Their stories are about dark fantasies that come from rich cultural sources but extend too much into symbolism and surrealism.