Much like the creator’s previous work, Crave, the first issue of Maria Llovet’s Artificial sets up a kind of lonely hearts app straight out of Black Mirror, albeit one that feels pretty close to reality. Users can order an ideal android date that’s programmed with their favorite personality traits, values, and even select kinks. Of course, things take a turn by the end of this first issue — and I’m already totally sucked in.
This first issue does a great job of getting readers invested in the mechanics (no pun intended) of a first date. There’s a sweet awkwardness to the interactions between Clara and her new beau, with Llovet making great use of body language and the space between words to show us how exciting and spooky this experience might be. The date plays like a montage right out of a romantic comedy, slowing down in a few key moments to really highlight the things that stick out in Clara’s experience. For instance, the agonizing closing of the space for a kiss is broken into multiple panels, heightening the anticipation for the reader and communicating just how much this moment means to Clara.
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Clara seems like a likable protagonist so far, although it’s clear that her perception of love and the ideal relationship has been somewhat tainted by the romance series she and her friends have been consuming. In a nice touch, Llovet shows that Clara isn’t the only person in this society to be suckered in by the Realm of Lust and Lies series, as one of the most popular names for these cybernetic companions comes from those in-universe books. The sequence in which Clara designs her perfect mate also brings up a number of questions about power dynamics and what Clara really wants. Does she want a partner, or just someone who is willing to please her by any means necessary?
With these little details (as well as the fact that Clara is dodging texts from her ex), Llovet manages to weave the beginnings of a love story that is both endearing and depressing on its fringes. There’s a toxic undercurrent that bubbles throughout this first issue that I feel will only grow more apparent as the series continues. As with Crave, it seems the Date-X app is a disaster waiting to happen — especially seeing how a moment involving speech-to-text made my stomach drop while reading the final page.
There are a number of directions this stay can go at this point, and very few of them seem pleasant. Again, if Maria Llovet’s previous work is any indication, readers are in for quite a ride.
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