By Jacob Cordas — The first volume of Faithless was a gut punch and a reach around all at the same time. I had become jaded with writer Brian Azzarello at this point, concerned that his best work was behind him. And artist Maria Llovet was completely off my radar. But the art looked great and Azzarello had built up so much good will with me after writing one of my preferred runs of Hellblazer, I decided to give it a shot. 

It blew me out of the water. The writing was the best work he had churned out in years, and Maria Llovet’s sensual cruelty perfectly matched his script. This was a match made in Hell. I can tell you with all sincerity before reading Faithless II #1, the start of the second part of this trilogy, I read through my erotic variant cover floppies once more, partially to make sure I was ready and prepared and partially because I now had an excuse to reread them. 

And maybe it was that enthusiasm, or maybe it’s the fact that (for me, at least) Faithless seemed to come out of nowhere the first time around, but this new issue isn’t able to capture the same magic that the first volume did. Not exactly.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s still good. Azzarello is writing better here than he has in years (probably since his Wonder Woman run, a problematic but still thoroughly compelling comic). Maria Llovet is still able to express unholy eroticism with such ease it makes you concerned for her well being. 

It’s just that it doesn’t seem to continue progressing from where the series was last. Every issue in the previous series slowly teased you through its story, relishing in its methodical plotting and world. This feels complacent in a way the last volume never did. 

Maybe it’s a symptom of the narrative structure? The Divine Comedy, which Faithless pulls from for its story, falters heavily the further we get away from Hell. With the series entering into part two, Purgatorio, is this just the natural path this series was bound to follow? 

Faithless II #1 incorporates ideas from that section of The Divine Comedy so well though that you would expect this to be better. I love the modernization of Dante’s concept of love’s corruptibility by humanity (here depicted through a combination of sex, period blood and art). It’s a great idea. It’s depicted well. I can tell you why the characters did what they did. But, in a way I never felt with the first volume, I can’t shake the feeling this could be better, that this should be better. 

And maybe, by some miracle, it will be. 

Overall: Faithless II #1, while still a good comic, is a bit of let down. The first volume was so strong that even this solid output feels like a real missed opportunity. While I will still keep following this series, I can’t shake the feeling this could’ve been better. 7.0/10

Faithless II #1
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Maria Llovet 
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Price: $3.99
The best-selling erotic thriller returns from the acclaimed team of Brian Azzarello (Batman: Damned) and artist Maria Llovet (Heartbeat) as Faith, and her lovers, Louis (a.k.a. The Devil) and Poppy (his daughter), bring  magic and chaos to the streets of Italy. Turin, known as the epicenter of black magic, is also a place of high fashion, art, and literature. Now, Faith is in the center of it all and with that, her own power grows. But any power comes with a price. Faith has only just begun to pay for hers. Curious about this blockbuster occult sex thriller? This is your new jumping-on point! Featuring the first of six connecting erotic variant covers by superstar Tula Lotay that are too explicit to show you in PREVIEWS!
Release Date: June 10, 2020
Buy It Now: Click here!

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My name is Jacob Cordas (@jacweasel) and I am not qualified to write this.