In BLADE RUNNER 2029 #5, available from Titan Comics on June 30th, 2021, Yotun and his crew flee police capture after destroying the LA seawall, and Ash is confronted with the extent of Yotun’s experimentation.
The Details
- Written By: Mike Johnson
- Art By: Andres Guinaldo
- Colors By: Marco Lesko
- Letters By: Jim Campbell
- Cover Art By: Dani Strips (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: June 30, 2021
Was It Good?
Yes, it was good for it’s blend of action and discovery.
After the events of the last issue, the stage was set for an all-out war with Yotun’s replicants. We don’t quite go that far in this issue, but we see enough and learn enough to stay invested in the story.
The art in this issue amps up the pacing with stellar action scenes. Nearly the first half of the book is dedicated to a riveting police chase in hover cars. Police chases are nothing new, but Yotun gets to flex his muscles (literally) by dealing with the pursuers barehanded. In the hands of a lesser artist, the scene might come off as silly. Here, Yotun is portrayed as an unstoppable machine that’s as nimble and fearless as he is strong.
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Generally, it’s poor taste to root for the villain, but you can’t help being enthralled with panel after panel of wow moments.
See for yourself in our BLADE RUNNER 2029 #5 preview.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
It’s a quick read so there’s not much to cover. Hang on to your hats.
We begin with Yotun and his followers fleeing the destruction they caused at the end of the last issue. Catch up on the BIG mess they made in our BLADE RUNNER 2029 #4 review.
Yotun contemplates the consequence of what he’s done — destroying the seawall and killing the high-power attendees at the banquet. But then Yotun lets something slip. He’s not solely interested in Replicant freedom or independence. His ultimate goal is to bring humans into slavery under Replicant rule.
It’s a quick bit of dialing that you’d miss if you blink, but it casts the morality of Yotun’s quest in a completely different light.
Suddenly, a small team of police cars catch up to them and announce orders to pull over. Yotun orders his crew to keep going, and what follows is a masterful display of acrobatics and strength as Yotun leaps from his car to each police vehicle, ripping off the canopies and tossing the drivers to the street below.
The chase scene is an excellent use of “show don’t tell.” You see just how powerful ad dangerous Yotun can be without breaking a sweat, and you get a firm sense taking him down will not be remotely easy.
Meanwhile, Ash is being escorted down a hallway by Yotun’s acolytes to some unknown destination. She gives a stiff elbow to the redhead holding a gun and makes a run for it. when she makes it to a door, she opens up to find she’s standing in the middle of a massive waste dump. With no way to tell her location, she blindly runs into the dunes of junk.
Before Ash make it too far, Yotun arrives. Ash tries to defend herself but her chronic back injury takes the wind out of her. Yotun picks her up and carries her back to his base for a chat.
Back at the base, Yotun has his hooded acolytes line up and introduce themselves to Ash. Face after face is revealed to be several of the replicants Ash has retired at some point in her career. this scene is not only an important psychological tactic used to shame Ash for what she’s done as a Blade Runner, but it also clues in the audience that Yotun’s innovations involve resurrecting replicants.
We conclude the issue with one more scientific innovation that will have a profound impact on Ash’s life.
How Does It End?
Yotun will not punish Ash but show her mercy. The line between human and replicant is becoming more blurred. Ash will wake up a new woman.
Final Thoughts
BLADE RUNNER 2029 #5 combines thrilling action, wow revelations, and even greater potential for the future of Blade Runners. The art is kinetic yet grounded, and the story ends on an enticing cliffhanger.
Score: 9/10
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