Short and still ends of a huge cliffhanger which is frustrating. This is not a fun read, but it's an educational one, especially given it takes a very pessimistic view of human nature; no one in this story (Indonesian freedom fighters, Dutch military, those trying to stay out of the fray, and opportunists of all stripes) comes off as pure or even good. No one is safe, no one is in control, and colonization and revolution create the opportunity for lots of exploitation and misery.

I have been reading a lot of biographical or historical fiction graphic novels recently. When done well, they can be both entertaining and a fantastic way of learning about the past. They can be universal stories that remind us of what went before and how we must strive to be better today and tomorrow.

I wanted to like this book much more than I did. The history of the Dutch empire and its relationship with Indonesia is something I knew nothing about, and it seems to be potentially fertile ground for an engaging story. There is some good stuff here. The story explores how imperial ideals often produce hypocrites who commit barbaric, inhumane acts in the name of civilisation. It is its own way also explores what happens to generations of occupiers who love the country they live in being potentially forced back to a homeland that they have never lived in. Racism, corruption, incompetence are all themes that run through the story.

BUT, I felt it was all rather messy. For someone with no knowledge of this historical context, I felt that I was lost at the purpose of the political machinations of some of the characters. I struggled to read some of the pages due to the panel layout, which seemed to rely on the same structure repeatedly, which was rather frustrating. The pace of the story seemed odd; it never fell into a rhythm.

The art was serviceable. Van Dongen does a masterful job of creating a sense of place, that characters melt under the heat of the sun and colour palette sublime. That said he does things better than people. I genuinely struggled to tell some of the characters apart. There is a case of mistaken identity that occurs over in the story that did not work for me. Our protagonist Johan Knevel is a character I struggled to care about. I neither wanted him to succeed or fail. Which I think is where the book floundered. It is pleasant enough to look at, and action was good enough for me to keep turning the pages. However, without a character or set of characters that you can engage with I didn’t finish the book with much enthusiasm. There is some interesting stuff here, but it wasn’t as engrossing as it should have been.

There is a good story to be told about colonial powers seeking to hold onto their lands in Asia. This is average stuff that doesn’t do enough with historical material. One to borrow from your local library if they have it.

I was so thoroughly confused by the story going on here. Could be the translation was not well done, since it was originally in Dutch, but the story just seems to jump all over the place with no rhyme or reason.

Before I started reading Rampokan: Java, I did a little research on the historical background in which the plot is developed. That was, for me, the first positive point about this read, the fact that is set in a moment that was really important to Indonesia's independence, an episode in history I didn't know before and with which I got to be a bit more acquainted, thanks to this comic.

The story itself is also interesting, all the relationships between the characters and their different nationalities, the fact that Knevel is dutch, but was born and raised at the colonies, his search for his loving nanny, everything shows that there are always many sides to a story, and no person is only good or bad. At the same time, we are introduced to cultural and political aspects.

The art has simple lines and a color scheme that goes from green to orange and all the shades in between plus black detailing and outlining, that worked beautifuly with the scenery.

I only felt that sometimes the story runs a little, and some scene cuts are a bit sudden, but it didn't harm the whole experience, that was mainly positive.

I want to thank the editors and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For once here is what appears a complete episode although it is only the first instalment.
Europe Comics brings talented graphic novels from across Europe and beyond to an English audience. Making the traditions, techniques and stories of those communities to a wider audience.
For the non-Dutch reader the fate of countries like Indonesia post World War II is less familiar but I didn’t feel this was a disadvantage to my enjoyment. I would go elsewhere for a more detailed history for the countries independence but the basic facts and turmoil is evidenced here. The result is a comic series that is full of action, intrigue and jeopardy which sets up future books to take up the story.
I loved the traditional belief system that points to the country gaining sovereignty with the escape of a tiger. These plays out within the context of the story; for good or ill someone seems to have let the cat out of the bag.
The Dutch soldiers trying to keep the piece in their former colony contain young men who lived there before the war. This is one plot line as is the rise of insurgency and political factions like communist activists seeking to undermine the rule of law.
The sense of location is beautifully established with the rich drawings and the use of indigenous language and customs.
Although slow to grip me. The story gathers pace and the individual characters become clear in terms of who’s who and where the plot is going. In the end I was completely hooked and disappointed at the end of this first instalment.
I care about these characters and I want to learn more of their life moving forward. The central young soldier is also place in a predicament where his survival is dependent on events in his past which is a fascinating link into future episodes.

Rampokan has so many layers. It’s adventurous and intriguing, with detailed art, multiple panels, and strong dialogue. It’s also historical and filled with cultural reflection. A most enjoyable and well-done book.

Rampokan, or 1. Java by Peter Van Dongen, is an adult graphic novel detailing the colonial, political, and military conflicts in Indonesia between Indonesia, Japan, and the Dutch in 1946. The Dutch had established colonies in Indonesia, but Japanese occupation in World War II complicated the political field. The Japanese encouraged Indonesian nationalism, encouraging self-government while hoping to make ties and gain support from the people for their cause.

This graphic novel focuses on a Dutch soldier amid a company of volunteers. It highlights their paranoia about each other, about military enemies, and their leaders. It highlights the conflict of home and alliance when you belong to two places and call it home, even though you are not 100% native to the area. It is about walking a fine heritage line in a time of violent, wartime turmoil.

As I mentioned, this is an adult graphic novel. There are phallic images shown in a couple instances, which may not sit well with all readers. It is violent, but not overly gory, though there are a couple instances where there could definitely be discomfort regarding the treatment of enemy bodies. There is clear disgust regarding the native people in the view of some of the soldiers in the story, particularly those who are higher up in the chain of command. Derogatory terms are used on occasion. There is a lot of focus on betrayal and fear regarding Communism. These are very political and social themes, so they won't be for every reader. If you want sunshine and roses, this is not the book you want.

The artwork is pretty clear. It is subdued in terms of color, while still being smooth in line and texture, which allows a clear visual to be provided. There are lots of earthy and yellow tones. The narrative text from one soldier is routinely done in cursive, which for the most part was not a problem for me. There were around 2 instances where it was slightly difficult to make out a letter, but I figured it out after taking a closer look. The script in those sections might take a small bit of getting used to, but it isn't an insurmountable issue for a reader familiar with cursive.

This kind of graphic novel isn't typically my cup of tea, but I can see where it would definitely be someone else's. I won't be purchasing this particular book, but I do encourage those with interest in colonial/military/political/social issues and history to have a look at it. It highlights a conflict that I, as an American, am not very familiar with. After reading, I did a few internet searches to find out more, so I would understand what I just read, better. This is definitely a good self-education tool for learning more about global conflicts, from an author who has experience with the culture and has the appropriate heritage to discuss these issues from their perspective, knowledge, and experiences. It is a well thought out and interesting story, even if it isn't my typically enjoyed subject and visual material.