BLADE RUNNER 2039 #5, from Titan Comics on 7/19/23, sends Ash and Cleo on a covert trek to track Isobel Selwyn before Luv can find them with the Replicant fertility data.
The Details
- Written by: Mike Johnson
- Art by: Andres Guinaldo
- Colors by: Marco Lesko
- Letters by: Jim Campbell
- Cover art by: Leirix Li (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: July 19, 2023
Is It Good?
BLADE RUNNER 2039 #5 turns the action but cranks up the tension in Mike Johnson’s latest entry about a hunt for data that could lead to the next stage of replicant capabilities – reproduction. Johnson gives readers plenty of potential to noodle over when Ash and Cleo set out to find Isobel, but the journey is a dangerous one.
When last we left Ash and her and of underground Replicants, they figured out the data disc contains Selwyn’s research that could give the Replicants the ability to reproduce organically. Realizing the threat that knowledge would have, Ash makes a plan to return the data to Isobel Selwyn and keep it away from Neander Wallace. Now, Ash and Cleo make the long quiet drive to San Francisco, hoping to avoid notice. Meanwhile, Wallace unveils a new replicant built using Ash’s DNA to aid Luv in her mission to capture the real Ash and recover Selwyn’s data.
That sounds like a lot, possibly too much, is happening, but Johnson keeps the pacing smooth and presents the plot developments with precise, easy-to-digest efficiency. As the story moves, you get only what’s necessary to move the plot forward, and Johnson peppers in a fair amount of moral dilemmas to get you thinking, emotional beats to get you feeling, and a heavy dose of violence to keep you on your toes.
What’s great about this issue? It’s all about the implications through sky-high stakes. Ash knows Wallace could develop an era of artificial slavery if he gets his hands on the data, so any mistakes could prove disastrous. The tensions build with every page when the possibility of getting noticed or caught becomes riskier.
What’s not so great about this issue? The stakes are high, but the environment and the plot progression feel small-ish. When you peel back the layers, not a lot happens in this issue. The players are repositioned, and new characters are prepped to take action, so a lot of this issue feels like a setup.
How’s the art? Guinaldo and Lesko deliver a detailed, engaging set of visuals primed to deliver atmosphere and tension. Shadows abound to elevate the feeling of a threat waiting around every corner, and the art crates that atmosphere beautifully.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our BLADE RUNNER 2039 #4 review to find out how Ash and Cleo made it back to Freysa with the disk.
We begin with Neander Wallace addressing his colleagues when he first unveiled Luv. The colleagues were skeptical about a replicant hunting replicants, but the results eventually spoke for themselves. Now, Wallace has that same talk with Luv after unveiling a replicant created with Ash’s DNA to give the new creations Ash’s same fighting spirit without the memories. Through a dangerous test, Luv witnesses how dangerous and obedient Rash can be.
Elsewhere, Ash says a heartfelt goodbye to Freysa when the decision is made to look for IsobelSelwin in San Francisco. The lovers discuss the implications of using the fertility data for themselves, but Freysa refuses – acknowledging Replicants should never have been created.
Soon, Ash and Cleo had out in an old truck, determined to stick to the backroads to avoid notice. We conclude the issue with Murphy’s Law, a stowaway, and death.
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Final Thoughts
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BLADE RUNNER 2039 #5 is a smaller, quieter issue that miraculously manages to increase the stakes, tension, and moral conundrums. The art team delivers grounded, emotional art, and the cliffhanger ending adds tons of emotional weight to Ash’s mission.
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