We don’t post at the weekends so this is a day late but back on February 23rd, 2015 the very first Broken Frontier ‘Six Small Press Creators to Watch’ line-up was announced. At the time it wasn’t intended to be the initiative it later became. It was simply a one-off exercise in pushing the work of newer voices, or artists returning to comics after a hiatus, whose small press comics had really impressed me. Somewhere along the way though it organically evolved into something more far-reaching; a programme of support and mentoring that probably redefined Broken Frontier forever.
The launch of the first Broken Frontier Small Press Yearbook at Gosh! Comics in 2016
Last year we promoted ’10 Years of the BF Six to Watch’ to mark the tenth actual intake of artists. But this week marks that official anniversary. In that time we have seen 66 artists get dedicated spotlight time on BF; published three anthologies of their work; curated two London exhibitions of their art; provided countless opportunities on panels, talks, events and Broken Frontier tables at festivals; and celebrated with a huge ’10 Years of the Broken Frontier Six to Watch’ party and signing at Gosh! Comics last year.
A host of Six to Watch artists at 2024’s summer party at Gosh! Comics
Not every featured artist has gone on to carve a career in comics. Some have sidestepped into children’s illustration, video games, editorial illustration, and other areas of the arts. But we told you well in advance about creators who later went onto be picked up for projects by 2000 AD/Rebellion, Avery Hill Publishing, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, DSTLRY, Faber, Fantagraphics, Graphic Universe/Lerner, Icon Books, Image Comics, Jonathan Cape, Koguchi Press, kus! comics, Myriad Editions, Oni Press, SelfMadeHero, Seven Stories Press, Street Noise Books, Titan Books, Unbound and Z2 Comics. Not to mention an uncountable number of micropublishers.
I’d say that was a pretty good indication that at Broken Frontier we’re rather good at predicting tomorrow’s comics stars today.
From the Breaking Frontiers exhibition at JAM in 2023
It is very easy when looking at what we do at BF to think about how much more we could be doing if only we had the time and resources. But I think with the Six to Watch initiative we have done something very tangible that has made a real difference to some of the creators involved. And what a joy it has been to see these artists devleoping and flourishing as their work becomes ever more accomplished and confident. From Anna Readman on 2000 AD and Scream! to Sabba Khan’s powerful graphic memoir The Roles We Play from Myriad, through to Mollie Ray’s acclaimed Giant from Faber and Dominique Duong’s upcoming Patchwork from Jonathan Cape, they never stop amazing us with their astonishing command of the form.
You can look back on all eleven ‘Six to Watch’ line-ups in one place here. We’ll also have a Six to Watch special Gosh Comics and Broken Frontier Drink and Draw Online on Bluesky on February 27th if you want to join in the drawing fun then. As for the future? Well if I am still around in 2035 let’s hope we will be celebrating 20 years of BF proactively supporting artists then. In the meantime look out for a number of Six to Watch-related panels and events through 2025…
