Visual Narratives on Instagram: Comic Strips Repackaging Popular Issues During Prabowo–Gibran Cabinet

Abstract

This research employed a descriptive qualitative approach. The objects of the study were comic strips uploaded on three Instagram accounts: Mice Cartoon, Paracomika, and Poliklitik, selected based on predetermined criteria. Data were collected through interviews and observations. Interviews with Paracomika explored topic selection, information gathering, repackaging processes, and comic production. Observations were conducted on 30 comic strips to examine themes, visual presentation, and audience engagement reflected in likes and comments. The findings show that comic artists primarily use information from online news portals and trending public discussions as the basis for content creation. Selected issues were transformed into comic strips through scripting, storyboarding, and visual narrative techniques. Socio-political issues generated the highest audience engagement. Satire, humor, symbolism, and simplified visual storytelling were commonly used to make complex issues easier to understand and more attractive to readers. Instagram comic strips function as an effective medium for repackaging information into accessible visual narratives. They not only attract high public engagement but also demonstrate the potential of digital comics as alternative channels for communicating contemporary social and political issues.