 Vol 1: If I only had a Heart, co-created and illustrated by Drew Zucker, colored by Vittorio Astone, lettered by AndWorld Design
In 2024, Dark Horse began a publication of Canto, the story by David M. Booher and Drew Zucker. This story was originally published with IDW, so to find the synopses, check out my original reviews of the paperbacks below: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 2.5-3.5 This review is of the new hardcovers specifically and how I believe this format will best serve library patrons. Note: 2.5-3.5 will be re-release as Vol 3, while Vol 3 will be re-release as Vol 4 under Dark Horse.
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On the remote island of Mesa's Boon, Bandit and Thatcher run an underground kitchen providing fresh meals to locals using recipes their dad taught them. But, if only they had more ingredients, which are usually hoarded by a greedy company that squanders resources on the island. In an ill-conceived attempt to sneak in and stockpile fresh foods, the siblings find much more -- Zawa, a creature of myth, but also of cookies? She's been trapped below the surface, feeding on garbage and industrial waste, but she also could be the Spirit of the Mountain, and she also loves Bandit's cookies he fashioned to look like the Spirit. After an escape and some helpings of fresh food, Zawa's temperament completely changes, though her appetite is still ravenous! There's much more going on behind the company's door than shackling spirits and hoarding resources, including what Bandit and Thatcher's mom has been up to at work, and it all shakes the very foundation of the town, forcing the citizens to question the relationship they have with the natural world around them.
In a strange black-and-white city, Zet is studying to become a holy leader for his people. That means stamping out all traces of color and keeping them safe from the fierce creatures on the other side of the walls that thrive on color. One day, Zet discovers a creature in the tallest tower, a creature with two different colored eyes. But she's a girl, not a monster, and her very existence conjures questions about the rules of color, the way of life for those inside the walls, and what sacrifices are truly necessary for their survival.
Illustrated by Max Fiumata
In a near utopia, the gods are about to come together for The Harvest Festival, which takes place only every twenty years. At that time, they demand a seemingly small price from the beings who enjoy the peace and prosperity of the world below. We follow Pigeon, one of those souls as he goes off to pay that price, not entirely certain what the gods will demand of him and the others who are with him. Within the castle of the gods is Soluna, young the daughter of the powerful sun and moon deities, who is eager to defy her father and eavesdrop on the business of the divine at her first Harvest Festival. However, she finds herself helplessly entwined in a much bigger power struggle between several gods and the souls from below. 
Illustrated by Kelsey Ramsay, colored by Ronda Pattison, lettered by Rus Wooton and Shawn Lee
Teenager Cheyenne and her mom Rebecca move to St. Augustine, Florida with a dream of fixing up an old diner and having it be the gem of the town. Little do they know the history of the diner, that a man was murdered there, and the town’s seething hatred for the building. Later, an investigative reporter named Jean McKnight comes to the town to cover the Founder’s Day celebration, a fluff piece to salvage her career after a terrible outing that tarnished her reputation. The three lives cross when they all find that there is much more to this town, including something supernatural that may trace its roots back to the landfall by Spanish explorers at the heart of the town’s celebration. 
Illustrated by Dan Panosian, lettered by Richard Starkings
Set in Wild West of Utah, Sheriff Azrael William Holt is a legendary figure thanks to exploits that have been popularized in Dime novels, but the fictionalized accounts and horror stories may be closer to reality than the public may believe. In his latest case, Holt is assigned to protect Dr. Ed, a geologist, as he investigates a collapsed copper mine outside the town of Canary. Holt and Dr. Ed get some assistance from Mabel, the town’s saloon maiden and daughter of Canary’s founder. The town and mine have had a string of supernatural occurrences surrounding it, and Dr. Ed theorizes it may have something to do with Canary's water. 
Illustrated by Chris Wildgoose, colored by Msassyk and Diana Sousa, lettered by Simon Bowland
The world is dying - scarce farmland is being fought over by orcs and a desolated human population, but now the two sworn enemy races find themselves in a tentative alliance against a more violent foe - the Vangol. In an effort to ally the races, Tara, a promising young healer and cousin to one of the most powerful orc overlords, is stationed with the human warrior Callum Battlechild and his group known as “The Last Men”. Their mission is to discover how the Vangol are finding their way so far in from the shores where they land, but to also secure the shrinking farmlands from further violence. 
Illustrated by Tula Lotay
In the 1920s, Bixby is a pilot fresh from a devastating war that left him with some emotional scarring and nothing to his name except a plane. Skipping from airfield to airfield across small-town America, Hawk joins the local Barnstormers and participates in aerial shows to wow the crowd with death-defying feats. In one small town, he meets Tillie, who desperately wants to escape a forced marriage to a manipulative man. The two use the Barnstormers to evade Tillie's fiancé and the Pinkertons who want them for murder. 
In this autobiographical comic, Thorogood details her life as an illustrator going to comics conventions, trying to break into the industry, her attempts at romantic relationships, and her struggles with her depression. She goes far outside her comfort zone and decides to meet an online friend in person, which requires traveling from England to California. The two become romantic partners, but Zoe is very conflicted because the man is still infatuated with his previous partner, and he has children who don't accept her. During the months this comic takes place, the COVID pandemic begins, so isolation makes projects difficult and cancels some of Thorogood's planned appearances. She struggles with going to conventions and imposter syndrome, feeling like her illustrations are not worthy of the praise she receives from fans who visit her booth.
Illustrated by Flaviano, colored by Rico Renzi
Jess and Eddie are imprisoned by Adira while Marcel wallows in a layer of Hell, but humans on Earth are still unable to die and the Reapers are starting to get restless. Meanwhile, the deal Adira struck to capture Jess has dire consequences as the soul she traded for Jess releases onto Earth something even worse than the undying. Elsewhere, Life bargains with Lilah, Jess's mom, to try and get her to relinquish her powerful amulet, but first he has to understand what she truly wants after serving decades in prison away from her family. |
About MeI've been reading manga and comicbooks for years. Now, I write reviews and other helpful things for School Librarians, teachers, parents, and students. Search this site
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