Gempak Starz

Kadokawa Gempak Starz (角川平方 ) (trading as Gempak Starz, formerly Malaysian Art Square Group) is a Malaysian graphic novel, comics and manga publisher owned by Kadokawa Corporation. Originally established as Komik Lawak Atau Lawak Creation in 1971, the company previously produced Gempak, a magazine dedicated to showcasing local comic artists from Malaysia to wider audiences. Gempak has the distinction of being the first Malaysian info-comic magazine, offering news and articles about the ACG (Animation, Comics & Games) world in and outside of the country. Gempak magazine aims to encourage the local development of such industries, facilitating the global spread of Malaysian talent.

History
Komik-1 Debuted On Komik Lawak Atau Lawak Publish on July 9 1971.

Gempak debuted on 1 June 1998, at a time when Malaysia was attempting to recover from the 1997 economic crisis. The economic crisis brought a hard impact on the Malaysian comic industry.

To gain a place in the Malaysian comic market, Art Square Creation incorporated the "info-comic" approach, which became the main formula of Gempak's success, and the new standard format for many Malaysian comics. It took 18 months for their success to take off without any help from other media advertisements. Starting as a monthly issue for the first three years, it has come to be published bi-monthly (since June 2001), with many demands that the magazine should go for weekly issue.

Their concept of an info-comic magazine has become a trend followed by many recent comic magazines, including one of Malaysia's biggest publishers, Karangkraf Sdn. Bhd., who began releasing a new info-comic magazine titled Jom (later ceased publication). The success of Gempak also resulted in the success of its publisher, Art Square Creation Sdn. Bhd., who expanded to become Art Square Group with three subsidiaries: Art Square Creation Sdn. Bhd, Anjung Taipan Sdn. Bhd., and Gala Unggul Sdn. Bhd. All Art Square Group products are now labelled under their own brand "GEMPAK STARZ."

Gempak, under Art Square Creation, won the Persatuan Penerbit-Penerbit Majalah Malaysia (MPA) award under other category special Malay magazine ("majalah pengkhususan" (Bahasa Malaysia)) 2007.

In December 2015, Kadokawa Corporation through its Hong Kong subsidiary Kadokawa Holdings Asia Ltd (KHA), acquired an 80% stake in Malaysian Art Square Group (MSG).

Kadokawa Gempak Starz era
Following Kadokawa Corporation's acquisition, MSG was renamed to Kadokawa Gempak Starz in January 2016.

Subsidiaries

 * SPARKS: An online store.
 * Gempak Starz store: An online store.
 * KADOKAWA GEMPAK STARZ SDN BHD: Malaysia division.
 * KADOKAWA GEMPAK STARZ (S) PTE LTD: Singapore division.

Gempak Starz products
Besides magazines, Art Square Group publishes more than 200 products under the brand of GEMPAK STARZ. The products include graphic novels (including acquired foreign comics), T-shirts, caps, mugs, toys, posters, illustration books, stationery, and collection items.

Publishing labels

 * Gempak Starz:
 * Learn More (活學堂): Educational comic series.
 * Magic Bean (魔豆): Pop literature series.
 * Gempack 360°/CK 360°/Learn More 360°: Publisher's YouTube channels, features various comics and ACG-related content, including artist interviews and more.

Komik Seram
Komik Seram (lit. Horror Comic) is the name for their horror comics. They are most popular and best-selling in the company, although, minimum comics are sometimes sold out because of popularity.

Below is the list of horror comics sold by Gempak:
 * Dari Alam Angker (by various artists)
 * Warisan Puaka by Nizam Bachok
 * Seringai Malam by Nizam Bachok
 * Dajal Berbisik by KF
 * Lawang Penamat by Maita Nao

List of Gempak comics Cartoonist

 * Keith
 * 1) Lawak Kampus
 * 2) Lawak Kampus Connection
 * 3) Lawak Kampus Friends Edition
 * 4) Lawak Kampus League
 * 5) Lawak Kampus Move On
 * 6) Lawak Kampus Rebound
 * 7) Encore! Lawak Kampus Artbook
 * 8) Kuso High School
 * 9) Kuso High School Log In
 * 10) Kuso High School Teamwork
 * 11) Wasabi


 * Zint
 * 1) 2 Dudes
 * 2) Bodyguard.com
 * 3) Boy's Scout
 * 4) GoGo Chacha Street
 * 5) Hero
 * 6) K.O King Conquest
 * 7) Kaleidoscoope Collection 01: Our Blue Sky
 * 8) Kaleidoscoope Collection 03: The Journey
 * 9) Kaleidoscoope Collection 04: Great Day
 * 10) Kaleidoscoope Collection 05: Woo Hoo!
 * 11) Kisah Pengembaraan Kroit
 * 12) Kijiya  1 - 15
 * 13) Lawak Under 18
 * 14) MFEO (Meant For Each Other)
 * 15) Raiden
 * 16) Scarbot & Monky
 * 17) Sharkman the Hitman
 * 18) Si Penjual Aiskrim
 * 19) Under 18: Elite
 * 20) User
 * 21) Xpresi Tempur
 * 22) Under 18 Attitude
 * 23) Speeder
 * 24) Fistlogic
 * 25) MISI : GOG (Guardian Of Green)
 * 26) Under 18 Spirit


 * Kaoru
 * 1) Kaoru's Cake House
 * 2) 143 Kaoru's Cake House (Novel)
 * 3) Daisuki
 * 4) 143
 * 5) Colours
 * 6) Meet Cupid
 * 7) After School With You
 * 8) Candy Series
 * 9) Cinta Untuk Dijual
 * 10) Cuma Kucing Yang Tahu
 * 11) Helios Eclipse oleh Kaoru
 * 12) Lawak Valentine
 * 13) LOVE DRAMA
 * 14) Love For Sale
 * 15) Love Triangle
 * 16) Lost Diary
 * 17) Maid Maiden – Monday
 * 18) Maid Maiden – Wednesday
 * 19) Maid Maiden – Friday
 * 20) Maid Maiden – Saturday
 * 21) Maid Maiden – Sunday
 * 22) My Secret Bodyguard
 * 23) My Secret Boyfriend
 * 24) My Secret Buddy
 * 25) Nonetheless, I love You
 * 26) Only The Cats Know
 * 27) Strawberry Vampire
 * 28) Tell Me Your Name (New)
 * 29) Voice of An Angel


 * Ben
 * 1) Fatal Chaos Turbo Ex
 * 2) Fatal Chaos
 * 3) Te@mare
 * 4) Le Gardenie
 * 5) Naive
 * 6) The Fishes
 * 7) Innocent


 * Juice/Norman Noh
 * 1) Juice
 * 2) Caramel Theater
 * 3) Primavera


 * Slaium
 * 1) Utopia High
 * 2) Utopia High Revisited
 * 3) Utopia High Revisited- Hunting High & Low
 * 4) Lawak Utopia High Reunion
 * 5) Drak


 * Fakhrul Anour
 * 1) Cinta Tunggal (Novel)
 * 2) 143 Kaoru's Cake House (Novel)
 * 3) Pentas Realiti: Aspirasi Seni (Novel)
 * 4) Siri Maskeret Cinta: Hanya...
 * 5) Hanya...Cinta
 * 6) Mencintai Dia


 * Tadatada / Lee Kok Chen
 * 1) Good Morning Teacher!
 * 2) Hello Mei Mei
 * 3) Jejak Libasan Jaguh
 * 4) Monster Girl
 * 5) Paper Labyrinth
 * 6) Selamat Pagi Cikgu!
 * 7) The Prince and I
 * 8) X-VENTURE: The Golden Age Of Adventure


 * Daniyal Aiman
 * 1) Komik Fatdream
 * 2) Demam Cinta


 * Oga
 * 1) 5th Dimension
 * 2) Brother X3
 * 3) Brother X3 Presto
 * 4) Crazy Family
 * 5) Mamai
 * 6) Oxer
 * 7) Stories After Dark Don't Turn Off the Light Korea (New)
 * 8) Taiko and Little Peach
 * 9) X-VENTURE: Titanoboa
 * 10) X-VENTURE: Ancaman Boa Purba
 * 11) X-VENTURE: Titanoboa Coils of Doom
 * 12) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Perilous Peak
 * 13) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Kembara Puncak Maut
 * 14) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Drifting Dead
 * 15) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Kebangkitan Mayat Hidup
 * 16) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Skyfallen Safari
 * 17) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Kerajaan Langit
 * 18) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Ferogious Fauna
 * 19) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Jerat Berbisa Flora
 * 20) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Meteoroid Mayhem
 * 21) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Zombie Meteorit
 * 22) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Mammoth Monstrosity
 * 23) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Ledakan Epidemik
 * 24) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Robot Rebellion
 * 25) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Kebangkitan Robotik
 * 26) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Robot Retaliation
 * 27) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Tentangan Robot
 * 28) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Nuclear Nemesis
 * 29) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Angkara Misil
 * 30) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Graveyard Gorge
 * 31) X-VENTURE Extreme Xploration: Azure Abyss


 * Jo
 * 1) Showtime!
 * 2) Donkey High School
 * 3) Chicky & Chucky Mercury


 * Bob
 * 1) Faces


 * Xanseviera
 * 1) Lawak Fairy Godbrother
 * 2) Snap!
 * 3) Next Station
 * 4) Love Boat
 * 5) Love Track
 * 6) Love Band
 * 7) Love Terminal
 * 8) Neko Online.com


 * Michael Chuah / C2V
 * 1) 3 Hour to Master: How To Build Memory and Focus
 * 2) 3 Hour to Master: How To Control Your Finances
 * 3) 3 Hour to Master: How To Expand Your Creativity
 * 4) 3 Hour to Master: How To Get Perfect Marks
 * 5) 3 Hour to Master: How To Manage Your Mood
 * 6) 3 Hour to Master: How To Maintain Good Friendships
 * 7) 3 Hour to Master: How To Reduce Stress
 * 8) 3 Hour to Master: How To Strengthen Self-Discipline
 * 9) 3 Hour to Master: How To Stay Healthy
 * 10) 3 Hour to Master: How To Surf Safely
 * 11) Gengkey
 * 12) Gengkey (Remake)
 * 13) Lawak OK-KO
 * 14) X-VENTURE: Kappa
 * 15) X-VENTURE: Misi Menyelamat Kappa
 * 16) X-VENTURE: Kappa Chaos
 * 17) Monster Chaos


 * Kenny Chua
 * 1) Jinggo Concluded
 * 2) Jinggo Replay
 * 3) Pop! Bang! Boom!


 * Other
 * 1) Glock 17 oleh Ageha
 * 2) Mat Gempak (Remake) oleh Apoh
 * 3) Mat Gempak oleh Apoh and Botak
 * 4) Kishiro Budak Sihir oleh Bear
 * 5) Shadow Quest oleh Clay
 * 6) Falcon oleh Clay
 * 7) Jangka Attribut oleh Clay
 * 8) Jejak Neraka oleh Cicak
 * 9) Zaman Gemilang oleh Hang Sembilan
 * 10) 5 Elemen oleh Kash
 * 11) Dunia Cahaya oleh Kash
 * 12) Gol Kraziee 2000 oleh Kash
 * 13) Red Fox oleh King Kong
 * 14) Dewi Remaja (Manhwa) oleh Lee Ju
 * 15) IT Ekspress oleh Neko (komik pengiklanan)
 * 16) Go Notty oleh Nizam Bachok
 * 17) Velocity oleh Puppeteer
 * 18) Evolusi Identiti oleh Puppeteer
 * 19) Jinggo (Remake) oleh Puppeteer
 * 20) Twisted Mind of Puyuh oleh Puyuh@Leong Wan Kok
 * 21) Student King oleh Stanley G
 * 22) Hotlink Warrior oleh Slaium (komik pengiklanan)
 * 23) Jackie Perang Pit oleh Taufan
 * 24) Fear Factor oleh Taufan
 * 25) Pahlawan Raja Alam oleh Taufan
 * 26) Experiment 105 oleh Totoro
 * 27) Detektif Hantu oleh Totoro
 * 28) Detektif Hantu (Remake) oleh Totoro
 * 29) G.R.A.V.E. oleh Totoro
 * 30) Journey to the West/Raja Monyet oleh Totoro
 * 31) Pelayan Rahasia
 * 32) Segi TiGA Rahsia
 * 33) Siri Maskaret Cinta oleh kartunis berbeza (bahagian kekal)
 * 34) Dari Alam Angker/Komik Angker oleh kartunis berbeza (bahagian kekal)
 * 35) Komik Eksklusif oleh kartunis berbeza (bahagian kekal)
 * 36) X-Pax Channel Comic oleh kartunis berbeza (komik pengiklanan)
 * 37) Komik Antarabangsa oleh artis antarabangsa (Usang)
 * 38) Zoology oleh Stanley G, Neko, Jo, and Keith
 * 39) Taufan Pesaka, bahagian 1, 2, dan  3 oleh Hang Sembilan (parts 1, 2) and Kash (part 3)