Elsje

Gerben Valkema began his artistic career in 1996 with contributions to fanzines like Impuls, that was edited by Reinder Dijkhuis and Kilian Hekhuis, and De Stripper. He self-published two small books called 'Grappen en Grollen' in 1996 and 1997 and was a member of Studio Jan Kruis from its creation in 1999 until its demise in 2007. In 2012, Valkema joined forces with his former Studio Kruis colleague Michiel van de Vijver to set up Kijk en Lees, a label through which they publish their educational children's comics (Valkema's 'Kik' and Van de Vijver's 'Joep') in book format. In 2012 it was also announced that Valkema would become the artist in the case of a revival of Marten Toonder's 'Tom Poes en Heer Bommel' strip.