By Dustin Cabeal

What a surprisingly charming comic. I giggled. Like actually giggled when I read the first six pages. That might not sound like much of a compliment, but laughing is easy. Making some giggle, well that takes charm.

Betrothed is a fantasy story set in high school. It’s roots feel grounded in manga in that we have a chosen boy and a chosen girl that need to save the future of their races. The catch, the charm, is that they have no fucking clue. They meet for the first time in high school, and when the guy touches the girl on the shoulder to get directions, she turns instantly violent. Through their narration and efforts of their friends, we learn that they were both filled with bloodlust upon that touch, but then also something more. I won’t tell you the rest of the scene, but it was a pleasant and fitting surprise.

We then pull back and get more details on what’s happening in this crazy world. This is where the title of the series comes into place. The two teens are betrothed to each other; their engagement will end a war between two groups/races of people. Earth is this untouched neutral ground where both kids have been living and raised. Neither has any biological parents, but neither has any knowledge of their background. They just know that they’re connected. Their betrothment is of course to stop a war, but not all sides want the war to end. Duh. Some motherfuckers just want to kill and win, and they make the best villains in these type of stories.

What’s particularly strong in this first issue of Betrothed, is the narration of the main characters. The back and forth between their thoughts has a flow to it. Yes, they play off of each other a little, but in a way, that’s not annoying and builds the character of the overall story. It makes the story and characters memorable, even if I can’t remember their names for the life of me. There is some concern that the story is going to delve more into the fantasy aspect than the high school setting which would be a shame. It would be nice to see them sucked back and forth, much like a manga, and find a way for them to balance the two lives, but then also a relationship that defies logic.

The artwork has a familiarity to it. It’s a little rough, with some extra lines here and there, but overall, it’s a good fit for the book. It does seem to favor the fantasy setting more than the high school setting, but future issue will confirm or deny that. It works though; the teens are believable teens. Their friends and classmates look like kids I see walking outside my window (I live across the street from a high school, so it’s a familiar scene to me). The coloring gives the overall story a lot of personalities. There are some lens flare inspired moments, but then also this neon futuristic look.

While I enjoyed the first issue, it’s what happens in the second issue that will make or break this series. It’s a better than average first issue for sure. It’s full of intrigue, strong narration and a plotline that’s different than most American comics. On the downside, it could have spent more time with the characters in the beginning and had a stronger introduction to the two societies that are fighting to their extinction. If it switches to only the fantasy side of the story, it’ll have its work cut out for it. This first issue of Betrothed is going to score high, but there’s the potential to be a one-hit wonder. I’ll be back for more though, and in the coming monthsd, I’ll hope for the best.

Score: 4/5

Betrothed #1
AfterShock Comics