Canto vol 3 by David M Booher

Vol 3: Lionhearted, illustrated by Drew Zucker, colored by Vittorio Astone 

The big battle is coming, and all inhabitants of the Unnamed World will be swept up by it. Canto and Aulaura set out to find the Vikus, the former slavers of Canto’s race, to hopefully win then to their side before The Shrouded Man can, but it’s an unpopular decision amongst Canto’s friends. Several of them set out to the Emerald Tower to try and take on The Shrouded Man in a surprise attack, but this ends poorly for them. Canto is forced to choose between saving his friends or protecting his people, but hopefully some of his new allies can be counted on.

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This next portion of the ongoing adventures of Canto has some pay-offs from earlier in the series. Canto revisits a lot of the characters we've seen throughout in an effort to rally everyone against the Shrouded Man. There's a little bit of reader frustration as his friends go off and do their own plan that we know isn't going to succeed. I like the steady build up to the end we know is coming, but still might be another six-issue trade away. The looming end might be sad for some readers (like me) who have enjoyed this fantastical journey.

Volume three continues to showcase the dynamite team of Zucker and Astone. The intricate illustrations and gorgeous coloring pulls me in to nearly every panel, and I continue to wish I could dive into the pages and be in this world. Hopefully, the upcoming animated movie captures the beautiful play between these two illustrators.

Sara's Rating: 10/10
Suitability Level: Grades 5-12

Reviews of previous volumes in this series: ​vol 1, vol 2

Publisher: IDW Publishing
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
ISBN: 9781684058983 (Paperback)

Tags: Rating: 10/10, Suitability: Elementary School, Suitability: Middle School, Suitability: High School, Comicbooks, Fantasy, IDW