ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Going to the Chapel,’ Issue #1

Going to the Chapel #1 is published by Action Lab Entertainment, written by David Pepose, with art by Gavin Guidry, colors by Liz Kramer, and letters by Ariana Maher with Colin Bell. The series is an action-packed romantic comedy. Emily Anderson is getting ready for her big day but the traditional wedding anxiety gets amped when bank robbers dressed as Elvis show up to crash the nuptials.

At the start of the issue, Emily is unsure about marrying Jesse. After confiding in her cynical family and her sister, she carries on with the ceremony. Dressed in her finest with a diamond and sapphire necklace coming in at a whopping 423-carats around her neck, Emily walks down the aisle. However, before she can object to the marriage, the Bad Elvis gang promptly interrupts her stating they are going to rob the place. But, as it turns out, the robbers are after more than just the pricy jewelry around Emily’s neck.

The concept of Going to the Chapel #1 seems straight forward enough, but the issue offers a few twists. While Jesse seems like a nice enough guy, Emily’s uncertainty about their future is easily felt thanks to Pepose’s script coupled with Guidry’s expressive artwork. Every character is beautifully illustrated with expressive features that convey a lot of the complexities hidden within the issue. Kramer’s colors highlight a lot of detail within the artwork. The bright color palette plays well with the setting and campy theme of the book. In addition to the creative artwork, Maher and Bell’s lettering was impressive. The use of large action words that take almost the entirety of the panel kept the action dynamic.

Going to the Chapel #1 clearly sets up a lot of its story through exposition, particularly as Jesse is gearing up for the wedding in a bar, enjoying his last few hours as an unwed man. While the book takes that time to tease the Bad Elvis Gang and showcase Jesse’s character, it is not nearly as exciting as when Emily is on the page. From the get-go, Jesse comes off as boring, which narratively makes sense considering Emily is apprehensive about marrying him. However, this means that while he was being heavily featured, I desperately wanted to story to return back to Emily.

Outside of the pacing issues I had while Jesse was on the page, Going to the Chapel #1 is a colorful and exciting take on the rom-com genre. This first issue is a great introduction to the series and characters, especially Emily. The series is a combination of Bonnie and Clyde and Runaway Bride. Considering everything else currently on comic shelves, this series is a new and refreshing romance series pumped with just enough action to keep it engaging for just about anyone. Overall, I look forward to the next issue. Any rom-com fans should absolutely pick up this bonkers series.

Going to the Chapel #1 is available in comic book stores everywhere and online.