Kadokawa Gempak Starz (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

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

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:

List of Gempak comics Cartoonist