In 2007 Colden received a Xeric Grant to complete his graphic novel Fishtown (2008); the book was nominated for an Eisner Award in 2009.

[citation needed] Colden's career began in 2003, writing and illustrating short horror/humor stories for House of Twelve, Asylum Press and Media-Blasters.

In 2006, he co-founded The Chemistry Set webcomic collective, where he created the horror comic Todt Hill with writer Neil Kleid.

That year, he began illustrating covers for Sequart Research & Literacy Organization's non-fiction books.

In 2007, Colden's graphic novel Fishtown, based on the Murder of Jason Sweeney, was awarded a Xeric Grant, but he declined the money in order to serialize the book with the ACT-I-VATE webcomics collective.