Comics diary for MYX (2006).
Menno Kooistra is an online video editor and occasional cartoonist, responsible for the 2006 Dutch horror comics anthology 'Bloeddorst' and its long-awaited 2025 follow-up. 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.
'Trui'. The old lady wants to puts a stop to a bunch of football supporters by cutting the electric power.
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.
From: 'Bloeddorst' (2007).
Bloeddorst
In March 2007, Kooistra's 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 contained 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. On 16 March 2007, the launch party was held at Gallery Lambiek in Amsterdam, where the book was officially presented to movie director Jan Doense, AKA "Mr. Horror".
A second volume of 'Bloeddorst' was planned, but family life and different career moves came in the way, and the pans were shelved. However, in January 2021, the 19th edition of Stripglossy magazine had TV host Carlo Boszhard as guest editor. Since he was a fan of the 'Bloeddorst' project, the magazine reprinted two stories from the first volume, the ones by Maarten Gerritsen and Menno Kooistra himself.
Try-out version for the cover of 'Bloeddorst #2' (left) and the final version (right), both painted by Menno Kooistra (2025).
In 2024, it was the Dutch film director Martin Koolhoven who urged Kooistra to begin working on the long-awaited second volume of 'Bloeddorst'. Teaming up with former 'Bloeddorst' co-worker Maarten Janssens and graphic designer Nynke Landman, Kooistra decided that this volume should become more serious and less cartoony than the first one. To create the 25 stories, the team approached movie screenwriters and directors, and paired them with comic creators. As such, the list of contributors was long and varied, including the movie makers Ate de Jong, Bodil Matheeuwsen, David-Jan Bronsgeest, Jan Doense, Martin Koolhoven, Nina Noël Raaijmakers, Peet Gelderblom and Reint Schölvinck. The participating comic artists and writers were Alice Kok, Bart Sparnaaij, Bas Schuddeboom, Bobby de Groot, Dido Drachman, Edwin Hagendoorn, Erik Wielaert, Floor de Goede, Fred de Heij, Gerrit Willemse, Jasper Rietman, Johan Neefjes, Ludwin Schouten, Maarten Gerritsen, Maarten Janssens, Michiel Offerman, Milan Hulsing, Peter Moerenhout, Ralf van der Hoeven, Remco Schoppert, Roelof Wijtsma, Serge Baeken, Sterric, Stephan Louwes and Stedho. Additional illustrations were provided by Erik Kriek, Marcel Ruijters, Romano Molenaar and the veteran illustrator Thé Tjong-Khing. Kooistra himself provided the cover illustration. On Friday 3 October 2025, 'Bloeddorst #2' was festively presented in De Nieuwe Anita in Amsterdam, with speeches Martin Koolhoven and Menno Kooistra, and entertainment by DJ Club Dubbe.
Graphic contributions
In 2006, Kooistra contributed stories to Margreet de Heer's anthology comic books 'Strips in Stereo - Bootleg' (2006) and 'Sprookjes in Strookjes' (2006). 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, 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 has been a member of the band Panama Paupers, together with fellow (former) comic artists Tonio van Vugt, Remco Lee Polman and Alex Wesselink.
Still from the promo video of 'Bloeddorst #2' (2025).