Crave #1 teased an erotic thriller with a technological twist. Maria Llovett’s second issue follows through on this promise while leaving readers chomping at the bit for whatever is next. Fans of Llovett expect the artist to explore sinful themes with evocative, sensual art, and Llovett does just this with an erotic thriller for the digital age.
Crave #2
Maria Llovett (Writing, art, and letters), Jeśus Orellana (Designs)
Image Comics
January 10, 2024
Llovett’s latest comic is about the titular dating app, CRAVE, taking a prestigious college by storm. While most dating apps show singles potential matches in their area, CRAVE takes things a step farther. It asks its users what they “crave” the most. If the app thinks it is something they are meant to achieve, it will tell them how to achieve it. Remarkably, it is almost always effective, so students become dependent on the app in terms of pursuing any prospective relationships.
Come Crave #2, the students of this academy lean more into the titular app’s suggestions. Their wants often involve interpersonal and sexual relationships with other students and even teachers. As a result, the campus is sexually charged to an almost comical degree. However, Llovett successfully sets up that this is somehow the new norm for the student body. While giving into their desires becomes second nature for the students, Llovett doesn’t treat this as normal for the readers.
This creates an air of unease thanks to the contrast between what the students think is the best for them and what readers know is wrong. To take that to the next level, Llovett’s art captures her characters at their most vulnerable with evocative facial expressions.
The lips, in particular, stand out. There is a swollen, pouty nature to them. This imagery conjures up thoughts of a passionate first kiss or a tear-filled evening. This is just one way Llovett illustrates her expressions to keep up with the overall vulnerable, sensual, and intimate vibe of Crave. She also has a pastel, soft color palette that compliments the sensual imagery seen throughout Crave #2. For instance, the expressions of many of the characters are tinged with pinks. This highlights how flustered they’ve become over CRAVE’s suggestions.
The combination of illustrations and colors delivers a memorable, sensual comic, and those images are stark when one considers the context of Crave. Seeing the amount of pleasure these students experience when readers know something sinister is amok is disturbing.
Llovett is not afraid to show how far the students obsessed with this new app will go. Whether it’s a controversial relationship, like between a student and teacher, or by showing a student in their most private moment, Llovett highlights how obsessed these app users have become thanks to the titular CRAVE. For this reason, Crave #2 delivers on being both erotic and thrilling.
Along with that, there is a science-fiction element to Crave that is intriguing but grounded because of the contemporary setting and plausible technology. The simplicity of the sci-fi elements does not make it a standout amongst other science-fiction titles. However, it does make a poignant commentary on parasocial relationships through social media. An app determining what is best for young adults is a massive red flag, and this issue shows how harmful that can be as CRAVE does not consider the emotional ramifications of its actions. Charlotte’s heartbreak and how the app rubs salt in her wounds highlight this.
Issue #2 takes Issue #1’s premise to the next level. While it maintains the same sensual art Llovett is known for, it ramps up the pacing and stakes, keeping readers hooked for whatever is in store for Crave #3. For those craving more comic book erotic thrillers, Llovett delivers once again.
