This felt like a very familiar story: a hero on a fantastical quest, friendship, rebellion. Very reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz in particular, but, of course, darker. There was a very important part of the story towards the end that happened off-page for some reason, did they run out of pages?

The art was really beautiful, but I found myself unable to understand what was happening in most of the action scenes.

What a lovely book! The art is so lush and beautiful, and the story, based in part on The Wizard of Oz and Dante's Inferno, is a classic hero journey. Canto, a slave with a clockwork heart, escapes and goes on a quest to save his friend, a tin girl who has lost her heart. There's adventure, there's darkness, and there's hope, and it'll get you right in the feels. So good!

#CantoVol1IfIOnlyHadaHeart #NetGalley

The story of an enslaved, little clockwork knight who goes on a quest to save the life of his beloved. It's an all ages story of hope and darkness in the vein of The Wizard of Oz or The Neverending Story. Booher and Zucker have also included several little nods to Oz. I liked the story of hope Booher presents in this hopeless world. It's a nice fantasy world he's created. Hopefully we'll see more of Canto.

This was so cute! I enjoyed it a lot!

Canto is a small clockwork slave, who is not even supposed to have a name, let alone friends. When one of these is mortally wounded he embarks on an adventure to find replacement parts, but will also learn more about himself and the world in the process.

Like I said, I enjoyed the story and also thought the drawings were very nice.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and IDW Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

I don't normally read graphic novels as I don't really like the layout; too many things happening on one page and not enough words but I am trying to expand my horizons. I didn't really understand what was happening at the beginning of the book (again my lack of graphic novel understanding) but I found myself wanting to continue reading to find out what was going to happen to Canto and his people. In the end I really liked this book, the illustrations and the story were great.

#CantoVol1IfIOnlyHadaHeart #NetGalley

'Canto, Vol 1: If I Only Had a Heart' by David M. Booher with art by Drew Zucker is the story of a small mechanical knight on a quest to find a heart.

Canto is a windup knight in the land of Arcana. His people have been enslaved for years, but when a tin girl's clock heart is damaged, Canto builds up the courage to venture out in to the world. There he meets strange allies, travels along a yellow brick road to an emerald tower to face off against an enemy that holds the world in power.

I really liked this story of a little hero with huge determination. I liked the unusual allies he made along the way. I also liked the sly references to the Wizard of Oz. The art is fun with unusual creatures and a worn down world.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from IDW Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

'Canto: If I Only Had a Heart' by David Booher is a graphic novel inspired by the Wizard of Oz and Dante's Inferno that tells the story of a little tin boy who loves a little tin girl and the lengths he's willing to go to, in order to save her.
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Their people are forbidden to love, but when the slavers damage her clockwork heart by punishing her for breaking their rules, Canto undertakes a life or death journey to search for the real hearts that are taken from them at birth. As time ticks away, he makes some friends along the way to defeat the myth of the man whose power holds them all in chains.

I can't say enough good things about this little novel. The story is beautiful.. both sad and endearing all at once. Canto and the girl he loves just dig straight into your heart from the beginning, never easing up.

People have a tendency to segregate comics and graphic novels from what they call 'real books,' but I've never felt that way. And this story is a great example of exactly how much a good writer can do with the medium. It's full of the feels.. the tragedy of their existence, the small ways they offer each other hope and comfort, the warmth of comraderie, and more. A full spectrum of emotions play throughout the story, more so.. I have to say.. than some more traditional titles I've read.

Oh my, I loved this book and I just knew it was going to be something special. The artwork is absolutely stunning. There are times it feels like it's glowing on the page and others where the texture turns gritty, conveying Canto's experience viscerally. Even the fight scenes are executed beautifully!

Initially, I had gotten the title as an ARC from NetGalley, but my file got corrupted and it had already been archived on the site. Convinced though, as I was, that it was going to be something extraordinary.. I pre-ordered the digital version so that I could still read and review it. Now I'm kicking myself for not just buying the physical copy. I'd considered it heavily, but in the end I erred on the side of caution.. and I shouldn't have. I'd love to have it in my collection.. and you will too.

Canto is a refreshing take on fairy tales and specifically The Wizard of Oz. The art is beautiful. Canto takes the tropes of fairy tales and spins them to show how one person's courage can create change.
Initially I was confused by the twin plots that were being told but as they started to coalesce the story became clearer and took on heart and depth.

Heartfelt, inspiring and wonderful. I cannot recommend this enough.

A unique tale inspired by The Wizard of Oz accompanied by stunning, emotive illustrations. The tale of Canto and his people will draw the reader in instantly and you can't help but root for this little hero. I was captivated and felt so much in such a short amount of time, this is how you do a graphic novel and do it well.

Canto is a beautifully illustrated book, full of fantasy -- a really fine example of the graphic novel medium, with a story that is sure to engage a wide range of readers. Yet another lovely addition to the IDW catalog.

Canto (Volume 1) by David Booher, 152 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. IDW Publishing, 2020. $20.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
The slavers have taken the hearts of their slaves, replacing them with clocks. They have also forbidden their slaves to have names and to fall in love. Canto was given a name by the one he loves, though, and now he must find her heart before her time runs out -- or Canto will lose her.
Canto’s world is full of imaginative creatures, magic, and adventure, which all come together in a striking way. I was resistant to disengage from the story after I had started -- only a problem because I started during a break at work. I would have flipped through every page to drink in the breathtaking visuals even if the story had been erased, but the story and illustrations together create a powerful story; a story about courage. Heroes are found in those who have the courage to try, the courage to do what they believe is right. In that regard, maybe it isn’t so difficult for us to see the potential in ourselves to become the heroes of our own stories.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

"Canto: If I Only Had a Heart" is a fun graphic novel. I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the watermarks were not so prominent.

I liked this book, but I found the watermarks over every page quite off putting. It made it hard to really get into the story or to appreciate the art. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

The premise of this story and the cover art hooked me. I would have purchased this based on those two things alone. Sadly, the touching and heartfelt promise never quite coalesced for me. The story line felt too simple, and the voice wasn’t strong enough to carry that simplicity well. I could never figure out the target audience as the themes were older (love, slavery, resistance), but the tale used younger language. The twist was obvious, and all the important action took place off page from Canto’s journey. The art was elevated beyond the story, and maybe that was to lend balance, but for me it just made the whole less congruent.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

So first of all, before I get into this review, I’d like to thank NetGalley and also the publisher, IDW Publishing for an early copy of this book.

If anyone is interested, you can head over to [NetGalley|www.netgalley.com] and apply to get some early copies of books. The only requirement is you maybe, possibly, review them. Which of course I’m going to do, and I encourage all of you to do.

Now, onto the review!

This is going to be a spoiler free review! Enjoy!

Canto is a little clock man. Instead of having a heart, he has a clock, as do all of his people. They are slaves to another race. So I can’t say too much without spoilers, but basically Canto goes on a journey to hopefully find a heart for the girl he loves, and possible free his people in the process.

Wow. This book was amazing. (Graphic novel...same thing, really. I don’t see why people think they’re so different. It’s just a book with pictures, and we’ve all read picture books when we were kids, and I bet we all hated when we had to switch over to books without pictures. Ha! I got you there! Well, the easy solution to feeling horrible about switching over is to start reading graphic novels and manga. But that’s besides the point. Back to the review.)

I absolutely love how this book is based on the tin man from the Wizard of Oz, but I love how it takes a totally different spin on things while still referencing Oz. Besides Canto himself, I can think of 3 moments, ok maybe 4, where Oz is referenced, and each time I felt like they were done really well!

I also love how it’s shown that even though Canto obviously doesn’t have a heart, he does have one, in the metaphorical sense. He befriends a race that his people fear, is willing to risk it all for his girl and his people, and never, ever, gives up or gives in. I think that, in itself, makes him the perfect and most love-able hero.

Now, I know you’re all wondering about the art and style, cause I’ve gone on about the plot enough here. Well, all I can say was that I loved it about as much as I loved the story. The artist is unbelievably talented, and he obviously worked really well with the writer when planning out panels. I too often see books where the panels are bad, or the action scenes are so hard to understand because of giant explosions, but this book does the action so well. Cue the applause! Plus, some of the best Oz references are in the art, and they go hand-in-hand with the writing extremely well.

I love the dark theme sometimes, so that when it is light, you can really appreciate the hope that light brings. Canto’s design is so cute, but he can also be serious and look like he means business. His friend/pet is kind of ugly, but super loyal and I think that forces us to see him as dog-like, even though he’s big and scary. Every character design in this book is done so well, and creates a certain feel/mood in the scenes they appear in.

Overall, I’d say this was an absolutely AMAZING book!!! If you’re interested in Canto, GO READ IT!!!

I was really looking forward to this since I first saw a few pages.. NetGalley, thank you for the opportunity to read this but.. nah. I am disappointed. The story idea and the world-building is amazing, the main character too, but the whole story and other factors are clichés as hell. It was nothing special, I was reading stories like this before many many times, the change was here just that the main character is a slave robot. There is a woman he loves, there is his companion/pet/whatever, there is bad guy/guys. It makes me sad I did not like it more.. I really wanted to.

In the land of Arcana, small tin men (and women) work as slaves. The tin men's hearts have been replaced by clocks and when their clock stops working, they pass on. They are forbidden from having love or names. One tin man alone has been given a name by his peers, Canto. When the object of Canto's affection's time runs out, Canto embarks on a quest to free his people and to find their hearts.

This graphic novel had wonderful illustrations and told a tale of fantasy/adventure akin to the Wizard of Oz or The Labyrinth. This book would be a good fit for people who enjoy those kids of quest adventures with all sorts of creatures encountered along the way.

For a story about a character (actually, all of his people) who does not have a heart, but has had it replaced by mechanical clocks, this is a very sentimental tale. The graphic novel is visually beautiful and well executed, featuring a whole host of fantastic creatures in this well imagined world.

For my taste, the main knock against this book is that I would have liked to see more depth to the characters. For example, why is Canto (our main character) so radically compelled to find a heart for his “princess”? Showing a little of their backstory would have been nice and helpful.

With that said, it was an enjoyable read with a likeable main character in a world that displayed the creativity and skill of the author/artist. 3.8 out of 5 stars.

(Thank you to the publisher who offered a copy of this through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.)

A profound story about a little guy with a whole lot of heart. I will be sure to pick this up when I see it in stores. Thank you NetGalley for accepting my request to review rhis advanced copy.

A race of little tin men are enslaved by the Shrouded Man, their hearts replaced with clocks, forbidden attachments or names - but Canto has been given both anyway, and goes on a quest to save the one who gave them to him. There are some nice details - the bickering giants, a surprisingly brave resolution - but for the most part it's standard fantasy fare. Still, it's quite pretty, or at least might be if, out of all the ways to impede piracy, the Netgalley ARC didn't come with PROPERTY OF IDW PUBLISHING stamped translucently - though not translucently enough - across the centre of every page. As with that horrid noughties period when some record labels thought the way to save the music industry was to chop the ends off tracks, or have a voice interrupt them with 'This promotional CD is the property of [unknown name you presume to be the guy two before your editor], the main effect is to ensure a reviewer can never properly immerse themselves in the art and so is far less likely to be able to recommend it. None of the other comics publishers feel the need to use such an alienating approach, and I really hope it neither lasts nor spreads.