Looking to go beyond my normal superhero-heavy pull list I’m making more of an effort to diversify the comics I’m reading. One comic that caught my attention was The Seasons Have Teeth. Dan Watters, the writer of the series, impressed me with the work Sword of Azrael mini-series from last year. Now I got a chance to the first issue of The Seasons Have Teeth, a brand new 4-issue horror series by Watters and Anthony Bourdain’s Hungry Ghosts artist Sebastián Cabrol. Scroll down to check out this advance review of The Seasons Have Teeth #1.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Sebastián Cabrol
Colorist: Dan Jackson
Letterer: Nate Piekos
SOLICITATION
“Andrew, a retired conflict photographer, lives a life steeped in regret, pain, and sorrow. When the seasons arrive–each one embodied as powerful god-like creatures–everything for Andrew begins to change. As he risks everything to track down Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, he can’t help but hope that capturing the perfect picture of each will help him find his redemption…and maybe–just maybe–bring color back to his world.” – BOOM! Studios
REVIEW
When it comes to The Seasons Have Teeth #1 what stands out most is how Dan Watters and Sebastian Cabrol tell the story through the lead character, retired photographer Andrew. Right away Watters and Cabrol get you in the mindset that you are experiencing the story through Andrew’s perspective. There is a careful tightrope walked so that Andrew’s voice is what you continue to hear rather than just Watters being the narrator of the story.
What specifically stands out with how Watters writes Andrew is the balance between an old man that feels he’s seen everything to still having a sense of discovery. This feeds into how the narrative in The Seasons Have Teeth #1 is about the reader discovering why this world seems to have lost its color palette. You get a sense through Andrew’s inner monologue and actions that there is so much about this world to discover. Andrew’s own history in this world also helps build a personal connection to what is going on.
What creates this investment in Watters’ narrative for Andrew was Cabrol’s artwork throughout The Seasons Have Teeth #1. Cabrol, along with colorist Dan Jackson, does a fantastic job capturing how do to some higher power this is a world that lost its color. The use of dull colors for the world helps amplify the attitude we see Andrew have. The dull colors used make the ways nature is taking the world back pop even more. Anytime we see vibrant colors seep into the world around Andrew they have to do with nature.
The build to the big reveal that ends The Seasons Have Teeth #1 has the impact it does because of how Cabrol and Jackson draw and color this final sequence. The suddenness of what happens adds to the surprised look that Andrew has on his face. This surprise creates a lot of questions about what will happen next in the rest of this mini-series.
This first issue isn’t perfect. Something that the remaining three issues need is additional characters as Andrew can’t carry the story alone. There is a risk of just falling down this entire story being narrator heavy. That is not how you want to discover this world, especially with how The Seasons Have Teeth #1 ended. There are hints we could get more characters involved, especially with the ending. It would certainly help add more perspective to what has become of this world and how each season impacts the status quo.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Dan Watters, Sebastián Cabrol, and Dan Jackson nail the sense of discovery that permeates throughout The Seasons Have Teeth #1. Watters develops a unique voice for our lead character, with both him and the world elevated by the fantastic artwork by Cabrol and Jackson. There is a lot of potential with how additional characters and discoveries made add to the world.
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10