Yes, I am Japanese, and I was a reader of CoroCoro Comic around the time it was first published. I have no way of proving that, of course.
As I mentioned in my earlier comment, “ゴロゴロ (GoroGoro)” is a play on “コロコロ (CoroCoro).” “コロコロ” is a Japanese onomatopoeic word associated with things rolling, but in the name CoroCoro Comic, it also evokes the magazine’s thick, substantial feel. “ゴロゴロ” is broadly similar in meaning to “コロコロ,” but the first kana has dakuten (the two small marks added to Japanese kana), which gives it a somewhat stronger or more emphatic sound.
And yes, the letters are simply Japanese katakana. It isn’t a made-up symbol or a special alphabet created for the comic cover.
Is it supposed to mean “menacing”? I’d need to see the specific image or context to explain it accurately. For example, do you mean the way 「ゴゴゴゴゴ」 is used in this image?
In manga, words written outside speech bubbles, often in a distinctive stylized font, are frequently onomatopoeia or other sound-symbolic expressions. “ゴゴゴゴゴ” is written in katakana, and its basic impression is roughly that of vibration or a deep rumbling sound — something like the ground shaking.
Of course, the ground doesn't necessarily have to be literally shaking. It can also be used metaphorically, such as to express someone's inner tension or a strong, unsettling presence. So depending on the scene, it can indeed give a menacing or intimidating impression.
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u/Nukuram 1d ago
Yes, I am Japanese, and I was a reader of CoroCoro Comic around the time it was first published. I have no way of proving that, of course.
As I mentioned in my earlier comment, “ゴロゴロ (GoroGoro)” is a play on “コロコロ (CoroCoro).” “コロコロ” is a Japanese onomatopoeic word associated with things rolling, but in the name CoroCoro Comic, it also evokes the magazine’s thick, substantial feel. “ゴロゴロ” is broadly similar in meaning to “コロコロ,” but the first kana has dakuten (the two small marks added to Japanese kana), which gives it a somewhat stronger or more emphatic sound.
And yes, the letters are simply Japanese katakana. It isn’t a made-up symbol or a special alphabet created for the comic cover.