By Jacob Cordas — Why is Canto this good? It’s a question I keep coming back to with this comic. I’ve read it numerous times over, every series and one-shot. I’ve interviewed the creators. And I definitely read the latest number one, Canto And The City Of Giants, which is just as good as every number one to come before it.

Here we explore, if not apparent by the title, the giants more. First introduced as guards of destination of the original comic, now they have fallen on hard times. After losing their legs, their own people have turned their back on them - “There is no room in Brob for little giants. The term itself is preposterous."

It's a deeply silly drama that resets itself in the core truth the series has carved out for itself: the world is cold and unforgiving for as long as you let it be. It’s a deeply sympathetic and compassionate story, one that embraces the finests parts of the American fantasy canon and remixes it into a modern tale that can be read by the whole family.

David M. Booher writes this series as well as he has written all the others. This comment feels backhanded until you read all of it and realize there hasn’t been a misstep this whole time. Throwing compliments at a person eventually feels insincere and I am worried I have hit my limit for this series but I’ll still try. The characterization here is on point, with small lines characterization is instantly established. Everyone feels real and lived in with few moments on the panel. The drama is multifaceted throughout even as characters are focused on goals. The thematic thru-line of power creating monsters (here seen as slaves becoming slave masters) is fascinating, serving as a perfect place to expand the overarching narrative between series.

New to this book is Sebastian Piriz, taking over art duties for this miniseries. His style is a bit more ethereal than Zucker’s was lending itself to the size and scope of this story. He is easily able to maintain strong characterization and posturing, with every character no matter how similar still being distinct. Emotions come across clearly and easily.

The panel layouts are the one place I would have hoped for a bit more. Zucker’s work was pristine in its use of panels. Here they feel a bit obligatory, more a requirement of the form than an extension of the story told. Occasionally characters burst out of the bounds of the panels, a nice breaking up of the pattern but still leaving me wishing for more.

But at the end of the day this is still Canto and Canto And The City Of Giants #1 is still a delight to read. It is still the best book IDW is publishing. It's still what I want out of a modern fantasy. Even a stumble here and there cannot shake the crown from this king.

Overall: Unsurprising to anyone following this series, Canto And The City Of Giants #1 is excellent, a delightful continuation of the story we’ve so far experienced. 9/10

REVIEW: Canto And The City of Giants #1

Canto & The City of Giants #1
Writer: David M. Booher
Artist: Sebastian Piriz
Letterer: Andworld Design
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Price: $3.99
Canto has surprised, delighted, and moved readers with tales of the clockwork hero—fighting for love, his people, and hope! In this special Canto series, our titular hero reunites with the Giant Guardians of Dis, Fra and Ba, as well as other friends and foes, to recruit the kingdom of Giants to his quest to defeat the Shrouded Man. Canto co-creator and writer David M. Booher teams up with special guest artist Sebastian Piriz (Headspace, Disaster Inc.) in this 3-issue follow up to Canto II: The Hollow Men, with Booher and artist Drew Zucker set to return to Canto's world in the upcoming Canto III: Lionhearted!
Release Date: April 14, 2021
Buy It Here: Canto And The City of Giants #1

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My name is Jacob Cordas (@jacweasel) and I am starting to think I may in fact be qualified to write this.