Henk van der Spoel, who uses the pseudonym Wasco, is a representative of the Pseudo-Naïve comics school. He studied at the AKI in Enschede and the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam. Since the late 1980s, he self-publishes and prints his own magazines and books. His 'Wasco's Weekblad' was launched in 1989, and in this irregular appearing "weekly" he printed the first episodes of his 'Apenootjes' strip.

He self-publishes new books on a regular base through his mini-publishing firm Microbe, including 'Apenootjes', 'Wasco's Comics and Stories' and the sketchbook 'De Wasco Lijn'. His main characters are the dog 'Phiwi' and its boss 'Tuitel'. Other creations are 'Zomer' and 'De Vier Verdedigers'. He has contributed to the alternative comics magazine Zone 5300 since its first issue in 1994, and his illustrations have also appeared in Vrij Nederland, MUG magazine and VPRO-Gids. A showcase of Wasco's graphic talents called 'Het Tuitel Complex' was published by Scratch in 2015.

As Wanda Scott, he has published erotic work like 'Dotty Wervelwind', the 'Fantoma' series, 'Wanda's X-Rated Drawings' and 'Jungle Meisje en de Geheime Grot'. Discovered by Joost Swarte, Wasco can be called an "artist's artist". He has a large fanbase among Dutch comic artist, especially for his uncompromising, personal and abstract style.

In July 2006, Wasco opened an exposition in Galerie Lambiek, with many original drawings, paintings and sculptures. Apart from comics and art, Wasco also sings in the bands Heveg and De MoMa's (the 'Mothers of Modern Art'). In March 2010, Wasco was hosting a new exposition in Galerie Lambiek.

Text: website Lambiek