When you see Maria Llovets name in a book, you know what to expect. Plenty of interpersonal drama, complicated relationships and incredible erotic moments between unlikely people. It did not take long for the story to build up to its main conflict. The anticipated malfunction of the android date. Finally, everything must go downhill from here. I for one cant wait to see this trainwreck of a love triangle between 2 humans and an android.  Read Full Review

Maria Llovet turns up the heat and tightens the ropes in an impressive second issue of "Artificial". Our protagonist Clara enjoys a working staycation with her new android sexbot, Saul, balancing a new opportunity in her career as a stylist with a whole of down 'n' dirty f*cking to punctuate her workflow.

Llovet is telling a nicely contained story so far that focuses on interaction over exposition. Just as in the first issue, Llovet does more showing than telling, putting us in the rhythm of Clara's week off from work with a series of wordless panels of Clara and Saul working, dating, flirting, screwing, repeat. It's just two lovers holed up and hanging out, human head over android heels with each other, and Llovet makes the scenes connect.

Bad omens arise when Clara activates the role playing function but has difficulty turning it off again. An ill-timed visit from Clara's ex-boyfriend, Mateo, puts him squarely in the crosshairs of Saul, still engaged in his possessive lover roleplaying programming mode and leaves us wondering just how far this android will go to protect Clara.

I really enjoyed the first issue of "Artificial" and the second issue confirms that we're in the hands of a writer/artist fully in control of her story. Great pacing, believable characters (one even sells the line, "He's an android!"), and a story that's turning a new twist in the erotic thriller genre.

Subscribe if you're not already. more