A research team from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), led by Nur Endah Januarti — a Sociology Education lecturer — conducted a public test of Komik Watak Kesatria on October 22 and 28, 2025. The test involved three schools: SMK Negeri 1 Pandak, SMP Negeri 1 Yogyakarta, and SMA Negeri 7 Yogyakarta. The activity is part of a research-harvesting program (“hilirisasi penelitian”) funded by BIMA, under the title “Komik Watak Kesatria: Media Edukasi dan Strategi Kultural Menangani Problematika Remaja.”

The core values of “Watak Kesatria” come from the philosophy of life of Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat. These values — nyawiji, greget, sengguh, and ora mingkuh — had been studied by the research team together with the Keraton, then translated into a comic with modern illustrations, relatable stories, and characters adjusted to teenage life.

This initiative aligns with the broader program Diktisaintek Berdampak — an effort to strengthen university-based research and innovation that provide real solutions for society. The program is designed as a preventive measure to address issues among youth in the Yogyakarta region (DIY), such as juvenile delinquency, street crimes, and cultural shifts — by integrating local cultural education with scientific, sustainable approaches. The aim is also to support targets of sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially in promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions.

The public test began with an initial assessment to measure how well the students understood the four main “Watak Kesatria” values — nyawiji, greget, sengguh, and ora mingkuh — before reading the comic. Then the students read four issues of the comic which highlight Yogyakarta’s cultural values through light stories, inspiring characters, and modern illustrations. After reading, they took part in interactive discussions about their favorite characters, the moral messages that resonated most, and how to apply the “watak kesatria” values in their everyday life — for example responsibility in class, courage in decision-making, cooperation in groups, and self-restraint when facing conflict. Throughout the activity, the students appeared very enthusiastic; many described the comic as “funny,” “entertaining,” and “close to teenage life,” which made it easier for them to grasp cultural messages that are usually perceived as heavy or distant from their daily life. At the end of the activity, the team carried out a final assessment to measure how much students’ understanding had improved, and collected feedback on the story, visuals, and language used. This feedback will be used to refine the comic before a wider distribution.

According to Nur Endah Januarti, using comics as a medium is a creative strategy to bridge local culture with the current needs of character education. She said the comic is an effective medium to instill the values of “kesatria,” strengthen peace, and foster inclusive social behavior among youth.

With the public test carried out in these three schools, the research team hopes Komik Watak Kesatria can become a model for cultural-based educational media — one that resonates with modern adolescents, strengthens their character, helps prevent deviant behavior, and revives noble Yogyakarta cultural values in a format relevant and liked by today’s youth. They also note that similar activities have been carried out among youth in the community.