REVIEW: Betrothed #1

In Aftershock“s newest comic title, Betrothed, two teenagers bound by an intergalactic treaty happen upon one another in high school only days before their joint eighteenth birthday, making a powerful first impression.

Star-crossed lovers. Literally.

Over the past few weeks, I“ve seen previews of this comic tacked onto the end of some of my other favorite Aftershock comics like Babyteeth, Alters, Animosity, and many more. I“m kind of a fan. What I saw in Betrothed“s preview was enough to pique my attention: Opening page has a boy getting punched in the face by the school “good girl”“, knocking a tooth out. We have no idea why, but it makes a serious statement. Their classmates are in awe of the unusual encounter, dissecting the chain of events before they cross each other“s paths once again. This time, they have a different sort of connection. A love connection.

That“s all the sneak peak gives you, but that introduction would lead you to believe it“s a run-of-the-mill teen romance drama comic. Not a bad genre, but overplayed and somewhat predictable. Well, this was NOT predictable. As the scene is set for later issues, the reader finds out that two races, the scientifically advanced Nuam and the magic wielding Priam, are in a never-ending war for control over the quartz that enables the Priam“s magical abilities. Their respective heirs, Kieron and Tamara, are being held on Earth (which is a sort of bridge between the two planets) until the time of their return home to claim their birthright.

And that time is now.

Betrothed was not what I expected, which could be a compliment or a criticism, depending on how you look at it. On the plus side, this goes in a much more sci-fi/fantasy direction that I originally expected. Blending portal travel and magic and romance and family feud elements made for an interesting progression throughout the comic. There is a clear history of animosity between the Nuan and Priam that will be dealt with, and these unsuspecting high schoolers are dropped into the middle of it with no knowledge of who they are or what is going on. This is very exciting stuff. However, after reading the issue, I kind of think the rushed their horses out of the gate a bit soon. Writer Sean Lewis introduced these characters Kieron and Tamara with a tension that teeters between lust and fury, and I would have loved to expand upon that relationship before introducing other elements to the story. What would happen in school between these connected individuals? How would their personal lives conflict with their ultimate destiny? That“s a story I“d be interested in seeing for several issues, building up to that fateful day when they are pitted against one another. My issue is not the direction it“s going in (because I do enjoy that), just how quickly the plot is progressing.

Also, by issue“s end, it is pretty straight forward that the two heirs must fight to determine who wins this standing war between their people’s, but I was under the impression this was going to be have more romance thrown in. They reference Romeo and Juliet several times throughout this issue, which would lend to an unstoppable love. The comparisons hold true so far, but the passion seems fabricated and not genuine. I do hope this series builds that relationship and makes me believe that their bond is enough to mend these hostilities between these two races, because right now it“s one dimensional.

As for the artwork by Steve Uy, I cannot make any solid criticism other than it“s not my personal taste. There are heavy Asian influences on this comic, to the point that if Aftershock marketed it as a Manga title, I couldn“t argue with them. I preferred the action and otherworldly sequences to the dramatic ones, as that is where I think his style shines, but overall I just don“t really dig the Japanese portrayal. Probably why I don“t review them very often. I did really love the colors, which Steve Uy also handles, and this is where the disconnect from manga lies. It“s vibrant and cosmic and I loved most of the decisions he made. The execution and skill displayed in his pencils are exceptional as well; just don“t let my bias convince you it“s not.

So, big question: should you read Betrothed #1? I“m going to say yes, you should. Just because I think they should have slowed down the progression of this book to allow for more character/relationship building between our two main characters over more issues, that doesn“t mean the overarching plot isn“t a good one with plenty of potential. And so what if manga-style artwork isn“t my thing? It“s still well done. The concept of sworn enemies falling in love is not new, but this version is something I“m looking forward to seeing develop and grow. Anything could happen. (And yes, I will probably continue to read Betrothed to see what does.) Three out of Five Stars.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

(W) Sean Lewis (A/CA) Steve Uy

Betrothed #1 hits shelves on March 14th, 2018 at your local comic book store.

Author Profile

Robert Anderegg

Robert joined Comic Crusaders in 2016 as contributor, but has been an active online voice through social media for almost ten years. His hobbies include reading and collecting comics, attending theme parks, making music, and driving his wife insane. Deadpool and Nightcrawler are his two favorite superheroes, and while his preference is Marvel, he dabbles in every major and indie label in the comics community. He graduated from UTPB in 2013 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is currently seeking employment in that field. A southern boy at heart, he currently resides in the Midwest.