The Seasons #1 Review: Step into a Dangerous New World

The Seasons #1

Review

Rating

8

Good

Writer: Rick Remender

Artist: Paul Azaceta

Publisher: Image Comics / Giant Generator

Release Date: January 15, 2025

Page Count: 40

Format: Single-issue

The Seasons #1 introduces readers to a fascinating new world filled with both wonder and danger. While light on plot details, this debut issue showcases Rick Remender and Paul Azaceta's incredible world-building and leaves you intrigued to explore more.

The Seasons #1

Review

Writer: Rick Remender

Artist: Paul Azaceta

Publisher: Image Comics / Giant Generator

Release Date: January 15, 2025

Page Count: 40

Format: Single-issue

The Seasons #1 introduces readers to a fascinating new world filled with both wonder and danger. While light on plot details, this debut issue showcases Rick Remender and Paul Azaceta's incredible world-building and leaves you intrigued to explore more.

Rating

8

Good

Rick Remender is arguably one of the busiest comic book creators in the industry today. As the mastermind of his Giant Generator imprint for Image Comics, Remender works like a well-oiled machine putting out imaginative new comics on such a consistent basis. This year alone, he’s released hits like Grommets, Napalm Lullaby, and The Holy Roller for a stacked lineup of new titles. But to kick off 2025, Remender teams up with artist Paul Azaceta for an intriguing new sci-fi fantasy series: The Seasons. With its mix of wonder and danger, The Seasons promises to be another standout in Giant Generator’s lineup. Does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the review to find out.

Overview of The Seasons

The story follows the Seasons Sisters—Summer, Winter, Spring, and Autumn—who are grappling with life after the mysterious disappearance of their parents. While some of them were ready to finally give up hope of ever finding their parents again, Autumn stumbles on a sliver of a clue that could bring their family back together. However, the truth behind what happened leads to sinister forces secretly operating within the world’s shadows. That leaves it up to the youngest of the bunch, Summer, to step up for the sake of the family.

Image: Image Comics

Review

Setting the tone is the name of the game for The Seasons #1. The issue opens with an ominous introduction, showing readers a ravaged city shrouded in mystery. But in the stark and gloomy setting, a vibrant but sinister-looking clown character sticks out like a sore thumb. From there, the focus shifts to Summer, who serves as the comic’s lens into the fantastical world—a setting bursting with both wonder and hidden dangers.

If there's one thing Rick Remender excels at, it's world-building, and The Seasons looks to be another stellar example. Through Summer’s wide-eyed perspective, readers are taken through an energetic adventure across a retrofuturistic city where jetpacks and automatons coexist with vintage cars and architecture. Its vibes reminded me a lot of the Bioshock games, which is a very welcome aesthetic for me in comics. Ultimately this first issue is more about exploring the comic’s atmosphere and characters over narrative exposition to show readers a unique world brimming with creative potential.

Image: Image Comics

Paul Azaceta's artwork brings the world of The Seasons to life beautifully. His style perfectly captures both the whimsy and underlying danger of the comic’s fascinating setting. The character designs also stand out, blending retro aesthetics with a touch of the eerie, while his dynamic panels keep the story visually engaging. The colors by Mat Lopes also further elevate the visuals, with its mix of warm tones for the more wondrous moments and darker shades adding tension to ominous scenes.

But while the world-building of The Season is interesting, some readers may find themselves wishing for a bit more meat to bite into at the start of the story. This first issue is really focused more on immersing readers in its richly textured world than laying out the greater narrative threads to be analyzed. You'll likely need to give this series a little more time to fully hook you as details about the overarching narrative are revealed in later issues. That said, Remender’s track record suggests the payoff will be worth the wait. 

Image: Image Comics

Final Thoughts

The Seasons #1 is a promising start to what could be another imaginative hit for Rick Remender and Image Comics. While light on story details, this debut issue excels at introducing readers to the comic's captivating world. Paul Azaceta's artwork delivers a perfect blend of whimsy and darkness, with his unique visual style bringing the retrofuturistic setting to vivid life. While the slow-burning plot may not be for everyone, readers who enjoy immersing themselves in richly realized fantasy worlds will find plenty to love in this comic.

It will be interesting to see how the central mystery of the comic unfolds and how the creative team balances the wonder of discovery with the darker elements hinted at in this first issue. For now, The Seasons #1 stands as a visually stunning and conceptually intriguing entry into Remender's growing catalog of creator-owned works at Image Comics and Giant Generator.

Why You Should Read The Seasons

• The comic offers a richly realized retrofuturistic setting to dive into
• Paul Azaceta’s visuals bring the story to life with expressive character designs and dynamic layouts.
• While details are still light, there’s just enough of a tease about the comic’s mystery to hook you in