Comics diary for MYX (2006).
Menno Kooistra is an online video editor and occasional cartoonist, responsible for the 2006 Dutch horror comics anthology 'Bloeddorst'. He also drew the webcomic 'Trui' (2005-2007).
Early life and work
Born in 1976, Menno Kooistra was raised in the north of The Netherlands, developing a keen passion for both comics and genre movies. As a teenager, he published his first monthly magazine containing work by himself and a friend. In 1993, he released Sédox, a comic fanzine with morbid alternative comics by different artists. Later that decade, he published comic stories with characters like Prins Dolalorus, Scot Scrotum and Wubbe Wind in the Groningen amateur comic magazines De Stripper, edited by Sven van der Hart, and Impuls, edited by Reinder Dijkhuis and Kilian Hekhuis. Kooistra has mentioned Peter Pontiac, Robert Crumb and Hanco Kolk as important graphic influences. In 1996, Kooistra moved to Amsterdam to study at the Netherlands Film Academy, followed between 1998 and 2003 by an education in Film and TV Sciences at the University of Amsterdam.
Comics and cartoons
Graduated as a Master of Arts in 2003, Kooistra began working in Amsterdam's cultural sector, while making comics and cartoons for clients like the Uitmarkt festival, the TKMST VMBO magazine for students and the free magazine Hallal, described as "a rough guide into etno society". On his own Mennomail website, he published the semi-autobiographical webcomic and cartoon series 'Over Gepeins' (2004-2007) and in 2006, one of Kooistra's comic diaries also appeared in the MYX comic magazine. Later webcomics with autobiographical content appeared under the title 'See My Life in a Comic'. With Aimée de Jongh and later Johan de Rooij as writers, he also created the sporadically appearing webcomic 'Trui' (2005-2007), about an old, stubborn woman. On occasion, Kooistra has self-published small press comic book collections with his webcomics.
'Trui'. The old lady wants to puts a stop to a bunch of football supporters by cutting the electric power.
Anthologies
In 2006, Menno Kooistra contributed stories to Margreet de Heer's anthology comic books 'Strips in Stereo - Bootleg' (2006) and 'Sprookjes in Strookjes' (2006). In March 2007, his passion for both comics and horror movies culminated in the release of the Dutch horror comics anthology 'Bloeddorst' ("Bloodthirst"), published by Bee Dee. Edited by Kooistra, the book contained work by 30 Dutch and Belgian comic creators, who all created an original comic on the horror theme, inspired by the 1970s magazines Creepy and Eerie. Besides his own contribution, the book contains stories by Mattt Baay, Stephan Brusche, Wouter Diesveld, Jeroen Funke, Koen Hottentot, Laser 3.14, Floris Oudshoorn, Sander Out, Willem Ritsier, Peter Schuite, Schwantz, Erik Snelleman, Paul Stellingwerf, Pieter van Oudheusden, Martijn van Santen, Hendrik J. Vos, Peter Weijenberg, Scott Wenmakers, Chris Evenhuis, Peter Pontiac, Maarten Gerritsen, Maarten Janssens, Marcel Ruijters, Fred de Heij, Minck Oosterveer, Lamelos, Alice Kok and Erik Wielaert.
In 2009, Menno Kooistra also contributed a story to Bee Dee's manga anthology comic 'Oost West'. In 2024, he paid homage to the late Dutch cartoonist Eric Schreurs in the tribute book 'Een Strip Hommage - Eric Schreurs' (Reboot Comics, 2024).
Video editor
In the late 2000s, Menno Kooistra gradually moved away from comics, shifting his focus to movies. Since 2008, he has been employed by broadcasting organization VPRO, working as web and video editor, camera operator and online content producer. As a video editor, his other clients have included the Imagine Film festival, the Nipkowschijf Foundation, the Dutch Directors Guild, VPRO Cinema, the Eye Filmmuseum and the National Theater Den Haag. Since 2014, he maintains the online film portal VoorDeFilm, for which he makes video essays and movie mash-ups. An avid fan of David Bowie, he and DJ Sandeman also made a mash-up of Bowie songs, which was widely picked up and even posted on Bowie's official website in 2012.
Since 2017, he is a member of the band Panama Paupers, together with fellow (former) comic artists Tonio van Vugt, Remco Lee Polman and Alex Wesselink.
From: 'Bloeddorst'.