Balancing on the “Clear Line”: Between Selecting and Being Selected: Independent Comics Publishing in the Netherlands: the Case of Joost Swarte and Oog & Blik

Taking its cue from selection systems theory, this paper discusses the capabilities of innovative comics artists and publishers to influence their environment in such a way that a certain level of artistic independence can be achieved or sustained. Increased chances of artistic autonomy depend on the artist and/or publisher’s awareness of the different contexts in which s/he can operate. In fact, in endorsing several roles and adapting to their environment, artists and/or publishers can force a change in selection systems (market selection, peer selection, and expert selection) and therefore improve their survival chances. This is illustrated by means of a case study of Joost Swarte and the Dutch publishing company Oog & Blik.