In BLADE RUNNER 2029 #1, available from Titan Comics on March 3rd, 2021, a worn-out and retired Blade Runner named Ash comes out of retirement to hunt a Replicant who may be organizing fellow escapees. When a failed past mission comes back to haunt Ash, she must get to the truth before innocent people die.
The Details
- Written By: Mike Johnson
- Art By: Andres Guinaldo
- Colors By: Marco Lesko
- Letters By: Jim Campbell
- Cover Art By: Peach Momoko
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: March 3, 2021
Was It Good?
Yes. The Blade Runner film has a dreary, damp, melancholy tone that this comic captures perfectly. The big selling point of this comic is its ability to capture the movie’s feel with a completely new story and new characters, and it does so beautifully.
Likewise, the art is drawn with very thin lines to make every puddle and wrinkle stand out, adding a layer of realism. The colors are muted and somber which further adds to the atmosphere of dystopian malaise. This comic, much like the film, is all about mood and it works.
To get a bit of a feel for whole great this comic looks, check out our BLADE RUNNER 2029 #1 preview.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
It’s 2017. A replicant named Yotun trying to by credentials to escape Los Angeles. When he thinks he’s home free, he’s caught by an accomplished Blade Runner named Ash. They tussle and Yotun escapes, but not before seriously injuring Ash and knocking her out.
It’s 2029. A pleasure model replicant is being entertained by a wealthy client in his cavernous apartment. Before the client can go any further, he’s tranquilized by Ash. She’s here to free the replicant from forced prostitution. In the years since her encounter with Yotun, Ash has led a double life of working as Blade Runner and running an underground railroad for replicants that don’t deserve retirement.
Life for Ash is dangerous.
Back at home, Ash’s partner is tending to Ash’s back brace. Remnants of old injuries she’s kept from her superiors in the police force. The stress, the strain, the life is weighing her down and they thoughtfully discuss Ash’s retirement.
Days later, Ash is headed out to a case when her sergeant changes her plans. A replicant may be working at a high-visibility construction project and he needs her to quietly check it out.
When Ash arrives on-site during a particularly rainy morning (it’s always raining), the replicant spots her before she spots in and he runs off. Ash gives chase through the construction site and corners the replicant on a building ledge. Before she can question him, he leaps to his death after uttering a single phrase Ash recognizes but can’t immediately place.
We end with Ash doing a little research that brings the past back to haunt her.
Final Thoughts
BLADE RUNNER 2029 #1, available from Titan Comics on March 3rd, 2021, brings a new corner of the Blade Runner universe to life in a way the feels familiar and completely fresh at the same time. The detailed art perfectly catches the melancholy tone, and the story makes for a great start to an enthralling detective drama.
Score: 9.5/10
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