International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS)
Comic as Poetic Mirror: A Study of Malay Imagery in the Comic Mat Gila and the Verse of Usman Awang
Published January 3, 2026 • Vol. 9, Issue 12, pp. 1797–1803Open Access
DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS.2025.91200134
Abstract
Rejabhad, famously known as the Penghulu Kartun Malaysia (Chief of Malaysian Cartoons), is well known for his distinctive cartoon style that portrays everyday life and dramas reflecting Malay-Nusantara cultural imagery. This study aims to explore and identify the representation of Malay culture as depicted in the classic comic Periwira Mat Gila Vol. 2 by the late Rejabhad, referencing the famous poem Melayu written by National Laureate, the late Usman Awang. The study adopts a qualitative methodology based on the Four-Level Framing Theory introduced by Dimitrova & Rodriguez (2011), encompassing description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation as a guide in examining the work. The findings reveal that the imagery conveyed in Periwira Mat Gila serves as a symbolic representation of Malayness, resonating with both the explicit and implicit expressions found in Usman Awang’s poem.
Keywords: Malay culture, Rejabhad, Usman Awang, comic representation, framing theory
| Journal | International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |
|---|---|
| ISSN | 2454-6186 |
| Volume / Issue | Volume 9, Issue 12 |
| Pages | 1797–1803 |
| Publication date | January 3, 2026 |
| DOI | 10.47772/IJRISS.2025.91200134 |
| Publisher | RSIS International |
| License | Open Access |
How to cite this article
Fazlina Mohd Radzi, Liza Marziana Mohammad Noh, Shaliza Dasuki, Nadya Ahmad Kamal, & Shahariah Mohamed Roshdi (2026). Comic as Poetic Mirror: A Study of Malay Imagery in the Comic Mat Gila and the Verse of Usman Awang. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 9(12), 1797-1803. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.91200134
BibTeX
@article{Fazlina2026,
title = {Comic as Poetic Mirror: A Study of Malay Imagery in the Comic Mat Gila and the Verse of Usman Awang},
author = {Fazlina Mohd Radzi and Liza Marziana Mohammad Noh and Shaliza Dasuki and Nadya Ahmad Kamal and Shahariah Mohamed Roshdi},
journal = {International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS)},
volume = {9},
number = {12},
pages = {1797--1803},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.47772/IJRISS.2025.91200134},
publisher = {RSIS International}
}