BLADE RUNNER 2029 #12, from Titan Comics on February 9th, 2022, concludes the 2029 saga with Ash and Yotun on a collision course as they search for Eldon Tyrell’s key to infinite replicant life.
The Details
- Written By: Mike Johnson
- Art By: Andres Guinaldo
- Colors By: Marco Lesko
- Letters By: Jim Campbell
- Cover Art By: Claudia Caranfa
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: February 9, 2022
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Was It Good?
BLADE RUNNER 2029 #12 brings this year-long adventure to a close by wrapping up the latest mystery of Yotun’s search for everlasting life. The story’s ending concludes the arc with a tidy finale, but the result is, frankly, underwhelming.
Whenever we review a finale, we always look at the issue in isolation and the arc/series as a whole, so you get two reviews for the price of one.
As a single issue, BLADE RUNNER 2029 #12 accomplishes two key points. You get the reveal of whatever mysterious element Yotun believes Tyrell left for him to discover. Yotun’s hopes and dreams of living well past expiration hinge on the secret paying off. Does it pay off? Well, it’s unexpected for both Yotun and the reader, and it gives you plenty of food for thought.
Second, the issue works out a path for Ash to escape her double life as Blade Runner and agent for the Replicant Underground. On both counts, the story provides an out that makes sense and fits Ash’s circumstances and her character. You can see her moving on through a new status quo, even if it’s not quite a happily ever after ending.
As an arc, the ending felt small. The last few pages are a faceoff between Yotun and Ash in the middle of nowhere. Their conflict concludes (in every sense of the word) but it was an unceremonious conclusion that didn’t feel as big or as momentous as the machinations Yotun is guilty of pulling off. In truth, the down point of the arc is the lack of payoff to match the build-up of Yotun as a character. All the planning, all the maneuvering, all the mystery, resulted in a “villain” with big ideas that failed when it was time to execute. You could chalk this point up to preference rather than a technical flaw, but Yotun eventually turned into a character with big potential who accomplished very little except blowing up a dam.
Regardless of the highs and lows of this issue and series, the art has been consistently great. Guinaldo’s linework is excellent. Lesko’s colors are pristine. And Campbell’s lettering practically melts into the scenery (that’s a compliment).
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you don’t recall how Ash got arrested or where this all leads, first read our BLADE RUNNER 2029 #11 review.
We begin with Ash being led out of the police station in handcuffs. Marlowe turned over evidence to confirm she was colluding with the Replicant Underground, and now she’s headed to prison. Before she can be loaded into a transport, Freysa and an old colleague of Ash’s take out the guards and steal a police spinner to escape.
Ash and Freysa figure out from Yotun’s last comments that he’s headed for Tyrell’s childhood home in the mountains. They head for the historical location, but before they can land, their spinner is shot out of the sky. When the smoke clears, the spinner is wrecked, Freysa is unconscious, and Ash is awake but dazed.
Yotun pulls Ash from the wreck so she can bear witness to what he found. Working from the partial memories Tyrell implanted in him, Yotun is convinced whatever is buried in the ground is the key to reversing his deterioration and granting him eternal life. However, when Yotun uncovers and opens the small box buried in the ground, he finds something that changes his mind about everything.
We conclude the issue with a thought-provoking symbol, a gunshot, and a new beginning.
Final Thoughts
BLADE RUNNER 2029 #12 concludes the mystery and the series with a thought-provoking ending. While the ending is clean and addresses the major open threads from the series, it feels small and mildly underwhelming. Regardless of the power (or lack thereof) in the story, the art has been consistently great from first issue to the last.
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