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COLONIA: ISLANDS & ANOMALIES trade paperback
Recommended (8/10)
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AiT/PlanetLar
Writer/Artist: Jeff Nicholson
Price: $12.95 US |
Aside from a single issue of The Dreaming from DC/Vertigo, I hadn't read any of Jeff Nicholson's work before reading this collection. I'd heard some buzz about Colonia, and saw the solicitations in Previews. Somehow, the image of a bizarre humanoid creature with fish as a head, hands and feet didn't... ahem... reel me in.
But then the buzz grew, and grew. People had great things to say about the book, and I became curious. When AiT/PlanetLar -- a publisher I trust to offer up unconventional but entertaining stories -- announced it was publishing a collected edition of the first five issues of the series, I knew the time had come for me to sample it. I'm pleased that I did. Nicholson's story and characters boast an impressive balance of innocence, wonder and intelligence. Colonia reminds me of such titles as Scott McCloud's classic Zot series and Jay Hosler's new mini-series, The Sandwalk Adventures.
After getting caught in a fierce and sudden storm off the coast of Massachusetts, teenage Jack and his two uncles are astounded to be picked up by an honest-to-goodness pirate ship. They soon come to realize that they've ended up in a different world, with similarities to their own, but it an alternate history, and some strange residents... like a talking duck, a man-of-fish and mermaids. They only talk and meet with Jack, though. Life gets even more interesting when Jack and his uncles join the crew of a pirate ship run by two women.
One cannot deny the clear influence that Scott McCloud has had on Jeff Nicholson's art. It boasts a charming simplicity but provides a complete and seemingly contrasting detailed picture of the adventurous world in which Jack and company find themselves. There are a lot of characters floating about this story, yet it's not hard to keep everyone straight. The designs for the more unusual figures -- like Adarro, the Man-of-Fish, or the sirens -- help to blend their surreal nature in with the odd reality of the other characters.
There's a definite sense of intellect behind the rather serene narrative. Kelsey and Jack's exchanges about the histories of their worlds -- specifically focused on the different fates of noted explorers -- bring a smart quality to the book. I also love how the writer eases Jack and the reader into the realization of what's really happened to the three characters who originate from "our" world.
What really makes this book worth reading, though, is its dedication to... well, fun. Talking ducks and a female pirate captain are just the tip of the iceberg of diverse storytelling elements that make for an unpredictable but delightful read. Jack's innocence and sense of wonder is infectious. He's a normal figure, but eminently likeable, and it's easy to see why the characters -- weird or otherwise -- are drawn to him.
Though it's advice of a universal nature, this is a perfect -- and quite literal -- example of why one shouldn't judge a book by its cover. The image of Adarro emphasizes the surreal and mysterious aspects of the story, but it's the adventure and inventive characters that truly serve as the greatest strengths of this volume.
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
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