Rampokan

Published from 2003 to 2005 by Vertige Graphic, Rampokan is a two-issue miniseries that explores the twilight of Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia through a tense, atmospheric narrative. The story follows a young Dutch soldier stationed in the East Indies as he confronts the moral ambiguities of empire, with the title referencing a traditional Javanese tiger ritual that symbolizes the clash between civilization and wildness. Best known for the work of writer/artist Peter van Dongen, this series matters for its nuanced, historically grounded perspective on a rarely depicted chapter of colonial history, rendered in a lush, cinematic style that prioritizes character over action.