With Shadow Unit, Colonization arrives at its sixth volume. Denis-Pierre Filippi and Vincenzo Cucca build a vast universe that is constantly expanding. Forget the map, just read this column…
A new frontier
In thetwenty-first century, the Earthlings set out to conquer space thanks to the help of an extraterrestrial people, the Atils. Volume 3, The Matrix Tree was a real thunderclap bringing into play everything the reader knew about the Colonization saga. The very foundations of galactic conquest and the fate of all humanity are at stake. The Atils are not benefactors as they present themselves but they are divided in two: a truly altruistic group has joined the agency while others conduct experiments against humans. Their gifts to humanity are not devoid of dangers… The tensions to recover the wrecks of the Atils ships are at the heart of this sixth volume. An agency is tasked with finding the lost ships of this alien people to recover their technology. The first page shows the traces of a fight at the edge of a planet's atmosphere. Indeed, Commodore Illiatov's ship was attacked by smugglers, the Skimmers. One of the groups is led by Raylan wanted to recover information but he caused the death of all the passengers including the Commodore. The team of Milla, heroine of the Colonization series, goes after them but the Skimmers are very fast and reveal an unforeseen threat…
Two parallel actions
This volume of Colonization follows two parallel teams. The Commodore's daughter, Captain Iliatov takes up the torch to find those who killed her father as Milla discovers the secret base of Skimmers. The action is doubly gripping with an investigation on a multi-danger basis and the exploration of a planet with hostile fauna and flora. The situation is made more complex by Skimmers spies in the Agency so that paranoia sets in following the first attack. To learn more about these different groups, Milla joined Atil AG' and Daphne, a repentant Skimmer, into her group. As in every volume, heroes and heroines will not get away with it. This creates tension as the reader wonders who will be the next victim.
A New Beginning
This sixth volume editedby Glénat marks a new narrative arc. It can be a good starting point to enter the world written by Denis-Pierre Filippi. Colonization is a space opera series, like Star Trek, as the reader follows the exploration of unknown planets and mysteries of the universe. Colonization also raises the problem of multiculturalism. The coexistence between Humans and Atils has allowed a scientific leap but each must accept the differences of the other. Atils do not understand the subtext but are excellent in logical reasoning. There is also another modern reflection because women fight like men and are often team leaders like Milla. Colonization is also a magnificent picture book of space by the talent of the dessinateur Vincenzo Cucca. Following the two territories of the action, the reader takes the time to admire the splendid ships and then discovers an alien jungle. The interior of the base, the scientific spaces but also the alien fauna and flora are very immersive and help the reader to dive into the bushy narrative. In this sixth volume, Colonization continues its expansion. The screenwriter proposes new challenges on new planets. Indeed, the last words of AG' promise a follow-up to the planetary challenges. You can find the chronicle of volume 3 of Colonization and Federation another saga of space opera.
