Clara is traumatized by Saul in Artificial #3 by Maria Llovet from Image Comics
PREVIOUSLY
Clara just spent an entire week living like she was the protagonist of a romantic novel. After taking time off work, Clara dedicated every living second with Saul. The android date she rented from the Date-X subscription. Saul had been programmed to be the utmost ideal lover for Clara. Since she customized everything about Saul to her liking. Of course, with such a tailor made partner, Clara was on cloud nine for a week.
ROLE PLAY
Eventually, the week of leave ran its course. Clara needed to come back to earth and prepare herself to return to her day to day schedule. However, Saul’s settings were malfunctioning. For the last day, Clara activated the Role Play feature in Saul. It should be noted that the particular role play Clara selected was a love triangle. Which involved Clara to play “Isolde”, the android Saul played himself as the lover in denial who refused to see his lady leave with another man.
A MINOR MALFUNCTION
Once again, Clara was a satisfied customer. Following the role play, Clara tried deactivating the settings before sending Saul back to the Date-X facility for the night. But there was a problem, the Date-X malfunctioned and Saul was stuck role playing the obsessed lover. It was right at that moment that Clara’s ex-boyfriend decided to pay her a visit. When Saul laid eyes on Mateo, he instead saw “Kyros”. The third character of the love triangle from the role play scenario. Saul became instantly jealous. Before things escalated, Clara managed to deescalate the tension. But it seemed like Saul was not done.
*SPOILERS FOR ISSUE #3*
BACK TO EARTH
Finally, Clara is back to work and it was quite the storm. It seemed like the place was falling apart while Clara was away. We all know what that’s like. All of our duties and responsibilities are not handled while we’re away, they stay put waiting for you to come back. That was Clara’s day one back at work.
FUN, BUT NOT REAL
Later, Mateo tried to understand Clara’s perspective. Why did she resort to dating an android? Also, what was that like? Surprisingly, they managed to have a productive conversation over the phone. Even though they had broken up on bad terms. Clara was under no assumptions that Saul was going to be a fulfilling partner. Regardless of the intimacy, the romance and the attention to detail, Clara took it all in for what it was.
SAUL LOST IT
But that’s when things took a turn for the worse. Unbeknownst to Clara, Saul was already inside her apartment. Without her consent he got there before she came back from work. Saul overheard the whole conversation and he was not fond of what was said. Saul lost all bearings. Especially because in the love triangle role play Mateo was the other man in Clara’s life. Also known as “Kyros”. Least to say, the next few seconds were traumatizing for Clara.
HOT ABOUT THE ART?
Maria Llovet managed to build enjoyable aesthetics through the entire issue. Day to day busy work, some productive conversations around taboo topics and progress between estranged folks. Just when you feel the most comfortable with the story, the shoe finally drops. You can’t help but feel dread, terror and fright for Clara.
OVERALL GRADE: 10/10
FINAL THOUGHTS
As advertised, the moment we dread since the original solicitation is here. Even after being aware of the worst case scenario’s inevitability. Maria Llovet surpasses the expected by avoiding crossing the line of no return. Rather than dragging the reader through one of the most horrific acts witnessed by human kind, Maria Llovet suddenly deescalates the scene. Just so we the readers can wait in dread and fear with Clara the protagonist. This is not for the faint of heart.
