By Jacob Cordas — In the interim between the releases of Canto and Canto II: The Hollow Men, they released the excellent one shot Canto & The Clockwork Fairies. I was supposed to review that as well but ended up not having time. Working with a few amazing people, I was unionizing my work place. We succeeded as much as we were able to, which, if I’m being frank, wasn’t enough. We fought hard but it only got us so far. 

I talked to one of my co-conspirators about it right afterwards. They were paranoid about the results and I cried. I was the one of us in the negotiating room. It was my fault. I hadn’t done enough. I still think I should’ve done more. And, for weeks, I couldn’t stop thinking how all I had done was show my coworkers that if you try hard enough, you get to fail. 

But yesterday, a new employee at my old job ended up canvassing my home. When she realized what I had done, she thanked me - immediately and without pause. We were the reason she had healthcare. We were the reason she was getting a pay raise. Her life was better because of the choices we had made. She said she felt comfortable fighting for her rights as a worker because of what we had done. 

And right after that exchange, I read Canto II: The Hollow Men #1. And I cried reading Canto II: The Hollow Men #1. When the absolutely perfectly  designed Falco says, “You worry too much. Our people are smart. They can decide if the hope they feel is false,” I bawled. 

There is a desire when talking about revolution to glorify it as a simple act. You hold up arms, stand for what you believe in and you win or lose. But that isn’t the case. Revolution is spurned by smaller and smaller failures. People fighting a losing battle so others know that fighting is worth it in the hopes that battle eventually won’t be a losing one.

Canto II: The Hollow Men understands this better than anything I’ve seen since Hadestown. This first issue excels in depicting the doubt of the semi-failed, the revolutionary act of enjoying life and the fear that all of that will be taken from you at a moment’s notice. This is a fairy tale for an era of rebellion written pitch perfectly by David M. Booher (Powerless, Alien Bounty Hunter).

The art team of Drew Zucker (Fubar: By The Sword) and Vittorio Astone (Maxwell’s Demons) do the best work they’ve ever done here. I loved Canto. I loved Canto & The Clockwork Fairies. But here, the world comes together somehow even better than before. Zucker's emotive and expressive line work imbues every moment with a soul that is brought so vividly to life by Astone’s coloring. 

Deron Bennett’s (The Necromancer’s Map) lettering work is provided numerous places to excel here. I didn’t think they’d be able to top their excellent work in the original series, but the variety of characters they now get to play with has brought out the best in them. They are provided such a range to voice and make every moment sing.  

This was the book I needed right now. I loved every second of it. Even the summary page is just gorgeous. Hell, one of the variant covers is so good it bears mentioning (George Caltsoudas’) and I do my best to never mention variant covers. I don’t know if every issue will hit the way this one did. But even if just the first issue is a masterpiece, that’s enough. However I feel confident my hope in this series isn’t false. 

Overall: Canto II: The Hollow Men #1 is a fairy tale for an era of rebellion. It is a story I needed and one we all need right now. 10/10

Review: Canto II - The Hollow Men #1

CANTO II: The Hollow Men #1
Writer: David M. Booher
Artist: Drew Zucker 
Color: Vittorio Astone
Letterer: Deron Bennett
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cost: $3.99
Book 2 of all-ages fan favorite Canto begins! Once, a little tin slave with a clock for a heart broke all the rules—he found love, he was given a name, and he escaped his masters to go on an epic journey to save his love’s heart. He met strange allies and terrifying enemies and, ultimately, though his adventure didn’t turn out as planned, he returned to his people and led them to freedom.That freedom is in jeopardy when Canto discovers his people’s clocks will stop unless they return to captivity. He and his friends Falco, Rikta, and Veratta embark on a new adventure to save the lives of all their people. Can they lift the curse before their time runs out.
Release Date: August 26, 2020
Buy It Digitally: Canto II - The Hollow Men #1

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My name is Jacob Cordas (@jacweasel) and I am not qualified to write this.