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Colonia #1
Colonia: Islands and Anomolies
ISLANDS AND ANOMOLIES collects in one graphic novel the first five issues of Jeff Nicholson's critically-acclaimed comic book series under an all-new wrap around cover. An adventure story that is by turns fantastic but straightforward, familiar but strange, and real but surreal, COLONIA delivers true all-ages entertainment.
Jack and his two uncles wash ashore on an unfamiliar island, after escaping the hands of the pirate Cinnabar. Still unsure of where, or even when, he is, Jack encounters a man made of fish, Spanish Conquistadors, and a talking duck named Lucy, who is just as unfamiliar with the world Jack comes from as he is of hers. As they consider joining forces, they are shanghaied by yet another band of pirates.
Jack and his two uncles wash ashore on an unfamiliar island, after escaping the hands of the pirate Cinnabar. Still unsure of where, or even when, he is, Jack encounters a man made of fish, Spanish Conquistadors, and a talking duck named Lucy, who is just as unfamiliar with the world Jack comes from as he is of hers. As they consider joining forces, they are shanghaied by yet another band of pirates.
144 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 26, 2022
I realize Jeff Nicholson is not a great genius among graphic novelists, but I enjoy his work. It's too bad he didn't jump on the webcomic bandwagon fifteen or twenty years ago. His storytelling and drawing skills are about perfect for that medium.
March 22, 2011
I finished the first volume of Jeff Nicholson's Colonia, but I don't think I'll be going back for the second. In his Introduction, Nicholson compares what he's trying to do with Bone and I can see the similarities. As a concept, it works wonderfully: an innocent boy and a couple of companions enter a world filled with strange people and creatures, but instead of Bone's medieval-fantasy setting, Colonia's locale in based on the early days of New World colonization and piracy. That's a milieu I enjoy more than the Middle Ages, so it should have worked.
Unfortunately, though his story is interesting, Nicholson isn't as proficient as Jeff Smith at creating humor in his art. The dialog is funny enough, but the visual timing's all off and Nicholson lacks Smith's gift for expressive faces and slapstick. That also makes the characters rather flat, so while I really wanted Colonia to work, I kept thinking that I should be reading Bone instead, pirates or no pirates.
Unfortunately, though his story is interesting, Nicholson isn't as proficient as Jeff Smith at creating humor in his art. The dialog is funny enough, but the visual timing's all off and Nicholson lacks Smith's gift for expressive faces and slapstick. That also makes the characters rather flat, so while I really wanted Colonia to work, I kept thinking that I should be reading Bone instead, pirates or no pirates.
February 23, 2013
Utterly charming. Whimsical, in the best sense of the word. Like Jeff Smith’s Bone: simple art with a story that is harmless and wholesome but always smart. An epic (or, episodic?) daydream in black-and-white. There just aren't enough books like this around.
November 17, 2008
Meh. The guy made of fish on the cover is only in this book for about 5 panels. The rest was weak.
July 30, 2012
I liked Colonia. Some of you were too hard on it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews