Pasukan X was a significant piece of work because of two factors; one was that Lubisan had taught himself how to draw it and the second was because he had never read a comic in his life before.
Every journey begins with a single step. Every child learns to crawl before it learns to walk. The same principles apply to Lubisan's work. His first work was called Pasukan X in 1985 (see picture left).
Penned and written by Lubisan, it wasn't a body of work designed to have the major league companies pounding at his door.
"With characters like Harito, Digger, Letrik Cafe - I can laugh now - and Professor Didi, Pasukan X could be considered a joke to some. It did crack the few odd smiles from friends but - on reflection - it had a tremendous impact on me. Unwittingly, I had created my first costume comic characters."
Pasukan X was a significant piece of work because of two factors; one was that Lubisan had taught himself how to draw it and the second was because he had never read a comic in his life before.
Born Mohamad Lubis bin Husain, in 1971, in the rural Malaysian town of Kuala Lipis, Lubisan had to teach himself his skills. It wasn't for want of trying or economic hardship, he just had no choice. A comic book - let alone an art teacher - couldn't be bought for love or money in his small town.
"Kuala Lipis isn't exactly 'Smallville' but it was impossible to find a Marvel or DC comic. All the local cornershop had was local Malay or Chinese comics. I didn't read a single Marvel or DC comic until I started working here in Kuala Lumpur in 1992."
Lubisan's influence until then was the TV. Specifically the anime cartoons, TV movies and shows like the classic Batman serial from the 60s.
"The biggest show to have an impact on me was the Macross (Robotech in the US) anime dubbed in Malay. It was such a great show! It had everything; love,courage, and sacifice. It changed not only what I started to draw but what I was to write."
Anime and manga - its print variation - continues to influence Lubisan's work. But it was his introduction to the world of comics that has changed how he draws his characters. He is inspired by the likes of Art Adams, Jim Lee, Frank Miller, Marc Silvestri, Bill Sienkiewicz and the legendary John Busema.
The heroes of Pasukan X emerged triumphant in their first battle against the evil Sakitan but it wasn't until 1989 that a sequel, Pasukan Angkasa, was released. In the intervining years, Lubisan was able to perfect both his art and his writing. In both scripting and outloon Pasukan Angkasa was a far superior body of work.
Since then the title has lasped and Lubisan has no plans to return to it. It did however inspire him to hone his craft and produce a whole series of superhero teams like Satria Bima Sakti & Inner Beings and provide the catalyst for his only published creation, Atomik Mat.