Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready has teamed up with Z2 Comics for Farewell to Seasons, a graphic novel and “lost” rock opera hitting shelves this fall. Today, The Beat can reveal an exclusive preview from the book.
Developed over the last two decades and published with writing by Mark Sable and art by Sebastián Píriz, as well as cover art by R. Kikuo Johnson, Farewell to Seasons is an alternate history of the 1980s Seattle music scene and the explosion of grunge in the early ’90s. Although the comic is fictional, it digs into the lived reality of those who built Seattle’s music community and survived this definitive era of music history.
“I’m incredibly excited to announce my new graphic novel with Z2, Farewell to Seasons. It’s a story I’ve been developing for many years, inspired by the creativity, community, and chaos of the Seattle music scene,” McCready said in the announcement.
“Farewell to Seasons is a historical fantasy set in that world, and alongside the graphic novel there will also be a ‘lost’ rock opera connected to the story, featuring original music written from the perspective of David Williams, one of the main characters,” McCready continued. “I’ve had a great time bringing this project to life with Z2, and I hope people enjoy the journey as much as I did creating it.”
Check out an exclusive sneak peek at the book below.
“Having been in the heart of the NW music scene as a journalist in the 1990s, I’ve wanted for years to work on a project that would reflect what it was actually like for the musicians and the fans when ‘the world came to Seattle,'” said Z2 editor-in-chief Rantz A. Hoseley. “I can say, without any hyperbole or exaggeration, that I feel like my entire creative life has led to me being involved with this book, and I feel so blessed to be a part of bringing Mike’s beautiful and poignant story to the world.”
Farewell to Seasons will be released as a slip-cased, oversized (12″ x 12″) Deluxe Edition and as a regular sized (9″ x 9″) Standard Edition.
The Deluxe Edition comes packaged with the aforementioned rock opera, featuring new and original songs and album art by Daniel Danger on Rain City Yellow vinyl. A signed Platinum Edition includes the album on Translucent Elliot Bay Green vinyl. These songs will not be immediately available on streaming or digital platforms.
All editions of Farewell to Seasons are currently available for pre-order at Z2Comics.com and the Standard Edition will be available everywhere books are sold on October 6.
