Advance Review: ‘The Seasons’ #4 Sees Trouble For One

Writer Rick Remender is still doing some set-up at the beginning, and arguably some of the remainder, of this issue. Mainly this occurs with a massive lore drop at the start. There are also a few moments around the end of this issue that are debatably set-up. As for the characterization it is mostly good. However, it could be better when it comes to making Summer Seasons a person readers want to see Spring Seasons save. The elder of the two sisters simply comes off as too much of an uncaring diva throughout these early issues. On the plus side, Spring still has the beginnings of a great fictional adventuress.

Artist Paul Azaceta provides some great interior art, but it is his collage style cover design that is the true stand out for this issue. The style is contestably evoking artists Salvador Dali and Jack Kirby with the former’s surreal style and the latter’s understanding of comics. When it comes to the minimalism there are times it looks like artistic short cuts are occurring. Despite this the average reader will not find these bits to create a jarring experience. As far as visual characterization goes there is one outfit that looks like it is from the movie Conan The Barbarian (1982). Otherwise there is plenty of originality to the characters’ outfits.

Colorist Matheus Lopes applies a wide enough range of hues to make this issue look astounding in parts and moody in others. Lopes also cleverly colors some panels on one particular page to suggest believable darkness.

Letterer Rus Wooton is usually masterful at incorporating the text elements onto the pages. Unfortunately, in this issue there is one panel’s worth of text elements that seems to look a bit separate from the art.

Cover B is a creation of artist Max Fiumara and colorist Dave McCaig. While the colors and art are spectacular it is feasible to say that buyers may view this as a lesser work than Azaceta’s cover.

The Seasons #4 comes out on April 30th from Image Comics and Giant Generator.