Artificial

by Maria Llovet

Babygirl meets Black Mirror in ARTIFICIAL, the new erotic thriller by acclaimed creator Maria Llovet (Crave, Violent Flowers, All The Things We Didn’t Do Last Night).

Clara, a fashion stylist disillusioned with love, turns to a futuristic dating service offering lifelike android partners. But when her dream lover glitches into a possessive stalker, she finds herself trapped in a game of desire, control, and survival.

Collects all issues #1-4.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Romance, Comics, Horror, Adult, Dark Romance

128 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 28, 2026

About the author

Maria Llovet is a graphic novel author and illustrator from Barcelona.
Her work explores themes of desire, intensity, and aesthetics, blending emotional depth with striking visual storytelling.

Reviews

[Nancy •͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ · Rating 3 out of 5]

──⟡⋆˙✩ 3 stars ✩ ⋆˙⟡──

Umm… well… I—

I don’t even know what to say ༼ つ ಥ_ಥ ༽つ

First off, I really liked the art. It was colorful, vibrant, and genuinely enjoyable to look at. Plus, this was a fast read—it didn’t take up much of my time and, honestly, that saved me a lot of stress.

The story follows a girl who tries out a virtual romance game powered by AI. She gets to customize her perfect date—an android—and at first, everything seems fun and harmless. But then the robot malfunctions and… well… things take a very dark turn. He becomes a psychotic, obsessive stalker, and the story quickly spirals into disturbing territory, with on-page rape and violence.

Honestly, it was a lot. The only relief was that it was short.

… And now I’m slightly terrified of AI, so there’s that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Anshika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expected to make me feel hot, left feeling cold 🥶
(the good kind of cold that crawls up your spine.)

Artificial was a short book—under 100 pages—and a graphic novel, making it perfect to read in a single sitting. I have no issues with the limited page count because, while it was fast-paced, it was enough to deliver the message. It definitely didn't feel like the plot was being stretched. My other reason for requesting this ARC (other than the length) was the art, and trust me, it is amazing.

The thriller element gave me serious chills. This book is coming out at a time when we're becoming so comfortable with AI companions, which makes the specific horror of what happens when we date AI robots feel terrifyingly possible. The story has a romantic start, but it slowly takes a dark turn and things get......weird.

If you’re looking for a quick, impactful, and visually stunning dive into near-future tech horror, this is it.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pre-Reading thoughts:
I showed my ARC list to my IRL Bestie, and she forced me to read this.

[jagodasbooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was terrifying 😭

my face went progressively:
🫢🤨😐👀👁👄👁😨🤡

tho it was quick and had pretty colours

Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly don't even know what to say 🤣🤣🤣

The artwork is stunning but the pacing gave me whiplash.

[greta · Rating 1 out of 5]

i thought it was gonna be a silly goofy time, but wow. did not expect that to go so downhill for me ratings wise.

it's so weird to me when rape is included without a substantial reason given for it. i did not enjoy my time after that point and towards the end it just got worse regarding abuse.
it also ended so abruptly and without proper leading up to it. the dialogue also wasn't really well done.

i just sadly can't recommend this.

[kiki’s delivery witch ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hell, Maria Llovet just casually dropped the prettiest graphic novel of the year.

Artificial is basically if Black Mirror hired a lingerie designer to direct an episode and then gave the script to someone who’s never recovered from watching Dangerous Liaisons on repeat. Clara signs up for this Date-X android company that presents you the Perfect Partner—custom face, custom peepee, and can even roleplay some hot fae bad boy from your favorite book series… except oops, turns out her robot boyfriend on Jealous Fae mode Saul won’t turn off and Clara can’t get ahold of the company through a real person. Customer service AI, annoying and entirely useless, right?


- sexy robot with feelings
- evil megacorp obvs
- “who’s exploiting who” but everyone’s naked
- bisexual lighting
- ending that ruined me in the best way possible

maria llovet you owe me therapy and also a cigarette and I don’t smoke. 5 stars, no notes, injecting this directly into my veins.

[Raegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Love the art!

I was happy to see the full color pictures. I liked the Android concept. The novel was very fast-paced, which is great for getting out of a reading slump. There was a grammatical error (haracters instead of characters). Overall, an interesting graphic novel, definitely 18+.

[Annalise · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay🤷‍♀️ I really like this art style and this one was super quick, but it wasn’t anything special😕

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an ARC from Netgalley for this read.

The premise of this is she hires an AI boyfriend. There are settings where you can roleplay a book (this is a graphic novel 1000% designed for the booktok girlies). The robot gets stuck in this setting so when her ex comes back to try and win her back, (Honestly super heartwarming because he is admitting his flaws and showing that he wants to be romantic but he can't be a booktok heroine and it is so real. LOVED THAT) robot man is like trying to throw down.

This is a VERY fast paced storyline. It's a super quick read but was fantastic. The art in this is amazing and tells a story all on it's own.

There are triggers in this book that you should be aware of before consuming this sort of media.

[Mayra Alejandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

⤿ Overall plot: Excellent and fascinating! I was expecting something completely different from what I saw at the beginning but still I loved how the comic turned out to be by the end.

⤿ Character’s evolution throughout the story: Clara and Mateo obviously have the best development in the story! They start off embodying an ideal at the beginning but end up taking steps to get to a better understanding of each other.

⤿ Final thoughts: I really loved how this story explores the themes of A.I. integrating more and more in the dating world and I dare to say, we may not be far off from something like this happening in the following years.

This comic just manages to tell a great story in a few pages whilst keeping a critical perspective AND the visual art is just a literal banger.

⤿ How many stars do I give to this book? 5 ★★★★★ out of 5 ★★★★★

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
ᯓ I want to thank NetGalley and Image Comics for the opportunity to read this ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) and to be able to give my review in the most objective way possible.

#Artificial #NetGalley

[always reading ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a weird and thrilling ride. The artwork is absolutely stunning, but the story was inconsistent. The pacing was all over the place, and there was no transition from one scene to the next.

[⋅˚₊‧ ୨bree୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ · Rating 1 out of 5]

this is to put it nicely, interesting. it follows the main character, Clara and she used the dating app, Date X which is an app where you can use “hyperrealistic androids” to “deliver the ultimate romantic and sexual experience.” CRAZY. it was quite disturbing as well.

OMG THIS WAS A CRAZY COMIC(?). Girl, what did i just read? to be fully honest with you…i don’t even fully know. Clara signed up for Date X which gives you control over a hyperrealistic android and you get your customize it. everything happened so quickly. i literally just kept swiping and the comic was done.

this is not something i’d read at all but i wanted to take a chance and see if the story would be interesting. it was not for me and not enjoyable at all but don’t yuck someone else’s yum.

thank you to Image Comics for allowing me to receive a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sonja · Rating 3 out of 5]

The graphic novel Artificial by Maria Llovet is visually beautiful, the artwork was clear, and the story started very promising. The plot was about love, personal relationships, and AI and the first 3/4's of this story felt like a great beginning and then it abruptly ended😂. It needed to be double in length to fully explore the plot and characters; the potential to be something truly amazing was there but unfortunately was underdeveloped.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Anjedah / bookriot_awesomeyou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well what just happened? 👀🙃😳👁☻️🤦🏼‍♀️my emotions when i m reading this.

Some people can't give more ,some want more and then they go to wrong path and regret it atlast. That's what this comic is all about.

Thank you netgalley for giving me chance to read this

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I loved the art! The art style in the books is so cute! I love the concept of a dating service where people can date androids. The spice was also definitely there🌶️🌶️🌶️!

I feel like the pacing was a bit quick and I would've loved to see more of a build up with Clara and Saul's relationship. I also would've loved more development for Mateo. Overall this was a pretty solid short and sweet graphic novel and I enjoyed reading it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Mirror meets Hinge Dates Gone Wrong!

Artificial is a thrill-ride of a graphic novel featuring a possibly not-so-distant future. Maria Llovet crafted a tantalizing tale within these pages. Readers can expect to start with a contained environment (that stays that way throughout), however, within this environment, you quickly realize the emotional depth of the characters. Our "heroine" in this tale simply wants to experience something different, with more emotional connection than what others might offer in her life. However, this exploration quickly devolves into a torrid affair that becomes unstoppable. This story is quickly paced and, as such, was not something I could put down. It was excellent storytelling and fantastic writing. The illustrations paired perfectly with the story, bringing a psychological thriller to life that I will be thinking about for months to come!

This is perfect for fans of Black Mirror and movie giants like M3GAN and Companion.

[DesanaRose · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
Our FMC just broke up with her emotionally unavailable boyfriend. She decided to try an AI robot “play” toy she can program. All goes well initially. She gives the robot scenes they can act out and she wakes feeling refreshed 😉

Old boyfriend shows up with a flipping garden weed (dandelion) trying to win her back ( 🤮). She thinks the garden weed is adorable and somehow he’s because emotionally intelligent and is impressed.

Wellllll….AI “play” thing took it personally because he’s locked into the “scene” our FMC gave him.

Violence ensues 😂
The art is great, the scenes are spicy, the story is good.
Less impressed with the dandelion as the heart warming gift.

#givemeanaiplaytoyanyday #satisfactionguaranteed

[shelvedbyjasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Destiny…”

‧₊˚💐✩ ₊˚🤖⊹♡

I want to start with a HUGE disclaimer: this is an erotic thriller, so there is a heavy TW for rape/sexual assault.

That being said, I actually enjoyed this one. It poses the longtime question: Is AI safe? How and when do we say enough is enough?

I think, in today’s society especially, stories like this are kind of important. With AI and androids becoming more of a norm, we have to ask ourselves how far is too far. I think Artificial explored that perfectly.

This reminded me a lot of the recent characterAI controversy, and the issue a lot of people had was why we (as a society) are so obsessed with the idea of a sexual or romantic relationship with fictional characters. In my opinion, the whole point of fiction is to escape reality. This story showed exactly why those boundaries are important.

Clara, disillusioned with love, signs up for DateX — a futuristic dating service that lets you design your perfect AI lover. She programs hers to look and act like Saul, her favorite book character: the broody, volatile, obsessive type we all know and sometimes love in fiction. At first, it feels like passion finally exists for her again… until it doesn’t. What happens when your dream man refuses to be turned off? When fantasy becomes possession, and love turns into survival?

On top of the story, I also really enjoyed the art style. It’s striking and beautiful in a way that fits the eerie, sensual tone of the narrative perfectly.

Dark, twisted, and thought-provoking, this graphic novel really blurred the line between desire and danger in a way that stuck with me. Not perfect, but unforgettable.

[Skirmantė · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The story felt rushed and moved too fast, so it was hard to connect with the characters. I did enjoy the art style, which looked amazing.

Be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.

[Faryal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! It was easy, fast, and really beautiful to look at.
I loved the plot as well ~ it’s not particularly unique, but it was scary.
The plot follows Clara who buys an Android from a dating service. What starts as a fun experience turns deadly.

The art is beautiful, the plot fast, and the story gripping. It was a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Ink & Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love Black Mirror and want to see it explore the idea of AI android dating, then Artificial may be right up your alley.

However, I really struggled to rate this - I wavered between 2 and 4 stars before settling on 2.5. I didn’t exactly “enjoy” reading this, but I don’t think you’re supposed to. Like Fahrenheit 451 or The Handmaid’s Tale, this falls into the dystopian-precautionary genre. It’s unsettling, intentionally so. It succeeds in showing just how disturbing and dangerous AI-driven relationships could be, and while I was never interested in the concept to begin with, I’m definitely even more wary now.

My main gripes: I really wish there had been clear trigger warnings upfront and the length felt too short. The premise begged for more world-building and deeper exploration leading up to the ending. Some of the most interesting details - like how customizable androids are (in *every* aspect) and the sharp commentary on how romance/smut novels can distort expectations were nice details but overall the story felt predictable.

I also think it could have benefited from weaving in more of how society is already reacting to AI “partners” (like terms such as wireborn for ChatGPT-based companions). That would have grounded the dystopian angle even more.

Would I recommend this? …Maybe? No? It’s a quick read, and it absolutely gets its point across about the dangers of AI dating, but it’s graphic without warning and lacks depth.

Also, comparing it to ACOTAR, Fourth Wing, and From Blood and Ash is really misleading and completely inaccurate… Thought I was getting into a completely different book.

Thank you Image Comics for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little intro to graphic novels. Unique art style and concept. Fun reference to a certain very popular Romantasy novel (if you know you know). However, there are some triggering moments in this novel that I think readers should be aware of. Other than that a fun quick read. Excited to see where the other books will take this series.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art was stunning! But I wish we had a little more time to get into the story-it was super quick and I liked how it got progressively darker(nothing crazy IMO).

Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for this!

[Leah reading & recording · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and aesthetically appealing story about a woman who decides to try an android AI boyfriend for her vacation week. Starts out hot and heavy but winds up putting her and those around her in danger...

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc!

[MaKayla Tru 🎀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woahhhhhhh. Now this was a wild ride and I was here for it. It was fun futuristic romance, with a really hot god robot and a second chance love. It felt very well paced for a comic, and had a great art style for the story. I totally understand why the mc paid for the subscription though 🤤

[Beatrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept is really cool, I liked the message to not completely rely on AI. It was a bit too fast paced for my liking, the story could have been developed better, but the illustrations are so good and detailed

Thank you Maria Llovet, Image Comics and Netgalley for the arc.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Holy lack of trigger warnings, Batman! No seriously, this is advertised for adult readers, but it needs a trigger warning for sexual assault.

I thought this would be a fun way of looking at artificial intelligence and how it is harming our abilities to connect genuinely with other people, and instead I got a frightfest!

I mean. There wasn't really a valid reason for this to include rape in an otherwise bland and unimaginative cautionary tale about AI.

Also, the art was not my cup of tea.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Selling Pitch:
Girlypop learns to settle for her real boyfriend instead of Tamlin the sex robot.

Pre-reading:
I'm always sat for graphic novel horror.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
I love how she draws the blonde girl’s eyebrows.

ACOTAR strikes again.

Love the pink color palette!

I'm trying to think what the Deep Burn franchise would be.

There’s a few typos in this arc.

Girl, is she picking Tamlin because-

I love the fashion in this. Kinda the Devil Wears Prada fantasy.

Oh god. That escalated quickly.

Oh, and that’s it? It doesn't really end does it?

Post-reading:
Pretty artwork and a fun idea, but it doesn't really explore the ethics of sex robots with the depth it would need to to be meaningful. The ending is super abrupt. It could've used at least another page or two dealing with the aftermath.

Who should read this:
Short story fans
Femme artwork fans

Ideal reading time:
Anytime

Do I want to reread this:
No, I’ll just remember it.

Would I buy this:
Yes. Support artists!

Similar books:
* Annie Bot by Sierra Greet-dystopian, sci-fi, social and gender commentary, sex robots
* Mercy by Mirka Andolfo-graphic novel, historical, horror
* Big Hard Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction-graphic novel, superheroes, social and gender commentary

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Fenrir Hemlock · Rating 1 out of 5]

I requested an ARC of this graphic novel because the art style was pretty and I enjoy the android premise.

However, I cannot in good faith recommend this work to anyone. The art is pretty, absolutely, but the pacing is insanely off, the characters don't make sense and the first 95 pages has several instances of SA.

The author claims it's a mix of Black Mirror and Babygirl but it honestly gives.... nothing. It's so superficial, there needs to be way more dialogue, internal thoughts, and just slowing everything down. And that's IF they remove the entirely unnecessary and graphic SA scenes.

[Tempy · Rating 1 out of 5]

The way the synopsis for this book is pitched does not align well with what the story actually was for me. I began reading expecting something spicy and fun but it was actually quite violent and assault-y and not in a fun, dark romance sort of way? The art was well done and I appreciated the relevance of the story in our AI timeline but I don’t think I would recommend this to anyone.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.