Who we are

Christian Jongeneel stopped drawing comics when he found out he was better at writing. He published two novels, a book on the philosophy of science and thousands of articles in newspapers and magazines.

He returned to the world of comics as the managing director of Cross Comix. Together with Gwen Stok he published a poetic graphic novel about the Dutch colonial past in Indonesia, called In iedere vezel. He also runs two other cultural organizations, International Story Station Rotterdam and Letterhaven.

He can be reached at christian@crosscomix.nl

Dasha Starostin is a passionate advocate for independent publishing and experimental visual storytelling. She curates a zine kiosk, scouting for emerging talent at international festivals during her travels. As a co-founder of the risograph Studio Vlinderboom, she fosters creativity and collaboration in printmaking.

Additionally, she teaches in the Publication Station at Willem de Kooning Academy, sharing her expertise with the next generation of artists. As an illustrator, Dasha both creates and publishes her own zines as well as those of others, championing diverse voices in the publishing landscape.

She can be reached at dasha@crosscomix.nl

Jeff Poerstamper is a freelance producer and project manager. He has been with Cross Comix since 2022. Next to this he pursues his own artwork.

He can be reached at jeff@crosscomix.nl

Marijn van der Waa is a (comic) artist, freelance illustrator, and social media expert. Her comic featuring the somewhat grumpy owl “Hibou” has been running in Zone 5300 magazine for years. She manages marketing and communication for Cross Comix.

She can be reached at marijn@crosscomix.nl

Diede van Ommen makes personal comics, usually inspired by mental stress. She feels the need to draw – drawings depict her thought process which often includes some kind of shameful self-reflection that is meme-like and relatable.

She combines these personal struggles with an overseeing eye to the mechanics of power in late modernity (for which she laid the foundation in her studies in social sciences). She works with scrap paper to create panels and love creative/alternative publishing – playing with shapes, folds, etc.

Roos Huijskes is a freelance multi-tool within the creative sector. She’s most happy working on projects where she assumes different roles; illustrator, writer, narrative designer, project manager or producer. With a passion for art and the role it can play in a healthy society she has found her match with the Cross Comix production team!

Saskia van Amstel is an illustrator and independed publisher based in Rotterdam, making works about life and humans under the name Burning Desk. Ever since she lived and worked in Berlin for three years (where Burning Desk was born), she travels back and forth to Berlin to work from there, for inspiration, projects & friends.

Burning Desk’s works are inspired on sensitive social subjects like human behaviour/interaction, equality, climate change, mass production/consumption and animal cruelty. She is highly fascinated by how we as humans are affecting our surroundings and how this affects our earth, mental health and the way we treat each other. Her main goals are to spread more awareness about the subjects above to start an open conversation.

In cooperation with Cross Comix she organized the Berlin Comic Exchange in collaboration with Renate Comics in Berlin, where comic artists have the chance to learn from each other and expand their International network. Making up and trying out new concepts together with others is something Saskia really likes, cause together you can do more than alone.

My colour doesn’t define me

In 2024 she published her first book ‘My colour doesn’t define me’, which is a book full with illustrations & comics about her personal experiences with racism and unconscious bias. With a love for (visual) books and as an indie publisher under the name: Burning Desk Books, she is trying to build an inclusive network for artists from minority groups, with a focus on makers of colour who (want to) publish books.

As an artist of colour herself, she would love to see more diversity and representation in her workfield. By organizing multiple events (in Berlin and The Netherlands) she hopes to make some small changes by offering a safe space, where publishers of colour can present their works and share their knowledge.