BLADE RUNNER 2029 #7 – Review

In BLADE RUNNER 2029 #7, available from Titan Comics on August 25th, 2021, Yotun executes his master plan for revolution while Ash gets used to her rejuvenated body and Freysa learns new information about her past.

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The Details

• Written By: Mike Johnson
• Art By: Andres Guinaldo
• Colors By: Marco Lesko
• Letters By: Jim Campbell
• Cover Art By: Harvey Tolibao (cover A)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: August 25, 2021

Was It Good?

Go big or go home. Wise words to live by when telling a story of this type, and the creators are certainly going big in this issue. So yes, it’s a great issue.

Not only is the action big in this issue, but we get big revelations about the characters that add to their depth, giving readers are more complex characters to appreciate. Yotun’s plan, if successful, will engulf a whole city, and we learn he’s been laying the groundwork for years. Freysa’s early days as a combat medic inform her reasons for becoming a major figure in the Replicant Underground. And Ash’s early days as a small-time criminal give readers a better understanding of her attitudes about the world she lives in and what Yotun’s rejuvenation means to her.

This may seem like a lot of information, and it is, but what’s so surprising is how efficiently and effectively it’s conveyed in a standard-sized comic. Johnson puts in overtime keeping up a speedy pace while filling in piles of backstory AND making a respectable amount of forward progress on the plot. This comic is a great example of balancing multiple threads effectively.

Guinaldo’s art style is detailed, crisp, and emotionally expressive. It has a distinctly European flavor that looks it would be right at home in an issue of 2000 AD. It would be helpful to add in some touches to give the settings a distinctly L.A. vibe since there’s nothing remotely recognizable about the city. Yes, it’s a future L.A., but a monument to ground the reader would be helpful.

In all, it’s a big story with big ideas and big reveals. The art is great, and the ending teases a massive showdown to come.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

Before you’re mistakenly “retired”, read our BLADE RUNNER 2029 #6 review to get caught up on Ash and Yotun.

We begin with a flashback to Ash as a young criminal who fancies herself a sort of Robin Hood. Well, this Robin Hood got arrested. However, the arresting officer sees a blend of smarts and resilience in Ash that could be used more constructively.

Now, Ash wakes up after being rescued by Freysa’s friends. She’s spent the majority of her life waking up with pain, so this feeling of a healed body (back and eyes) is a blessing for how it feels and a curse for how she received it. A word from the Underground reaches her that Yotun’s plan is to attack the city’s police HQ, and the attack has already started. Ash departs the Underground’s hiding place to find Yotun and Freysa.

We get another flashback to Freysa’s early days as a combat medic. She recalls her last battle where she did everything she could, yet failed, to help an injured soldier. Suddenly, a bomb strike knocks her back, but she’s rescued by another group of soldiers before passing out.

Cut to the attack on the L.A. police headquarters by Yotun’s forces. Explosions and chaos were set off in advance all over the city to stretch police forces thin, making the HQ vulnerable. Yotun’s plan, unfortunately, is going exactly as planned. Freysa struggles with being held in Yotun’s company as she’s devoted her “life” to freeing replicants, and in a way, Yotun is doing the same. However, their methods vary wildly. As Yotun and Freysa discuss the moral conundrum of their opposing methods, we conclude the issue with Yotun making a shocking admission.

Final Thoughts

BLADE RUNNER 2029 #7 flawlessly executes big ideas and big revelations in a surprisingly small amount of space for maximum impact. The character development in this issue is top-notch, and the art is gorgeous. This is a recommended pick for the week.

Score: 9/10