Saturday Oct 7th 2006 was a special day. First it was Kalista’s 6th birthday. Second it was the annual event of International 24 Hour Comics Day (http://www.24hourcomics.com). People everywhere (well, cartoonists of course) as individuals or collective, tried to make a 24-pages comics in 24 hours. It sounded easy, but actually it was very hard. You must start from scratch, with no storyboards or outline. At a precise time (you choose) you started the journey, with the story in your head and A4 papers with all those pencils etc on your desk. Completed 24-pages will be submitted to the committee via email. Pictures and news were updated frequently in their blog (http://www.24hourcomics.com/blog) as well as each group’s blog. The committee will choose best 24 titles and all will be compiled in one book, then get published. 
This 2006 was the first year for Indonesia’s participation, with three locations at once! Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung were listed in among the 17 countries. I was very excited with this event, and very eager to contribute anything I could. Unfortuna
tely it was the day my daughter’s birthday. There was no way I could joined them. I was planning to help them scan, upload the comics, or maintain our blog. Well, guess it had to wait for next year.
So I decided to visit them at the workshop, and bring some apple pies. As you may or may not know, most of us are Moslems and we’re in the middle of Ramadan. That means we’re fasting from 4 a.m till almost 6 p.m. I intended the snacks for fasting break in the evening. At least that would be my contribution. The Jakarta workshop started at 7 a.m with 11 cartoonists. Located in a house’s annex, the event should be much comfortable compared with Surabaya and Bandung. In those places, the event took place inside ITB and ITS campus. 
I arrived with my family around 3 p.m and soon Lulu (the host) greeted us. Her husband, Beng Rahadian, was among the 11 cartoonists. Since Kalista was sleeping in the car, my wife decided to accompanied her. Ratnadya and me entered the workshop, while Lulu was aiming her handycam to take pictures of us. She’s making a movie documentary of this event. At the terrace there was a guest book to be filled, with a decoration of 24 Hour Comics Day: Jakarta backdrop. Very simple but lovely.
The guys inside (yes, all cartoonists here were boys) looked very busy drawing their papers. I said a short hi and most of them greeted me with smiles. Took a short peek at what they were doing, as I didn’t want to disturb their work. Soon Ratnadya and me joined Lulu and the officials (and roadies =) on the floor. Most of them were the supporting team. They’d scan and upload the finished pictures, updated the blog, and also taking pictures. The room itself was very cozy and comfortable. I bet the people in Surabaya and Bandung didn’t have this luxury. Pillows and comicbooks were everywhere!
Among all avaliable books, I took the chance to read 24 Hour Comics 2005 compilation book. Most comics inside were good and unique. I even loved some of them. The book itself was very thick. At least I got the picture of the 2006 edition. I also got a tshirt with a-24 Hourc Comics 2006: Jakarta illustration. Getting this tshirt was very lucky, as it was the only one left and it was originally meant for my friend who apparently couldn’t visit the workshop. I took the liberty to ask for all cartoonists signatures to be signed on the tshirt. It was just like old days when you ran through the hall only to get the artist’s sign on your CD sleeve. Only 10 cartoonists signed, as one had to go home urgently. While I was walking around with the tshirt on hand, Lulu took a movie of this cute happening.
Not long after that, Idah sent an sms asking us to dismissed. I really apologized to my friends, as I couldn’t stay much longer. I promised to visit their blog, to kept in touch with the progress. Before I returned to the car, Ratnadya took a picture of me with the 24 Hour Comic day 2006: Jakarta backdrop.
Later that night, it was heavy rain in Bogor. As usual the electricity went down. I couldn’t access the internet. Around 10 p.m the lights were on and I instantly access the blog (http://komik24jam.multiply.com). It was fun watching and reading the completed pages. Since it was still 10 p.m nobody completed their work yet. At least I got the chance to read several early pages. Some of them were quite good actually. As usual I loved Beng’s work most.
Then I visited the 24 Hour Comics website. Apparently all participants worldwide had started and I read most of their blog or behind-the scenes stories. It was fun! I also wrote the committee an email telling them my experience with the Jakarta team earlier that day. They thanked me for updating them and uploaded my mail to their blog (http://www.24hourcomics.com/blog). Cool! I also told them the Jakarta team’s blog and in no time I saw the link listed in their blog as well. Hoorayy!!!!!
Then I went to sleep, after sending some sms to Beng.
Early in the morning, after having breakfast for fasting (around 4.30 a.m I think) I visited the blog again. Beng had submitted 23 pages and I really enjoyed his work. Idah also saw his work and enjoyed it as well. The remaining cartoonists either almost completed the 24-pages, far from completing the work, or decided to gave up. Beng told me that 10 participants in Surabaya gave up. No news from Bandung.
I also paid a visit to 24 Hour Comics website and realized that my friend Tita in Netherlands were also joining the event. I always admired her work and her pictures in her blog was truly awesome (http://esduren.multiply.com). Tita told me once that she’s returning to Indonesia for good early next year, so this event might be her last time in Netherlands. The scene in Lambiek, Netherlands (http://www.lambiek.net/24hourcomics/index.htm) , where she and all participants gathered for the event was also fun. The pictures were so many and I could see everybody was having fun. I’d like to visit Lambiek someday. As for Tita’s drawings…as usual I love it! Even my wife said her drawings were beautiful.
Don’t know the results yet (haven’t checked Jakarta blog), including who actually finalized the task and who didn’t.. Although the guys couldn’t make it, still it didn’t matter. The main objective was having fun and introduced Indonesia to the international comic scene. Next year we’ll prepare better!
