BLADE RUNNER 2039 #7, from Titan Comics on 9/27/23, finds Ash’s trip to San Francisco taking on an unexpected twist when an old replicant Ash retired 20 years ago is far from retired.
The Details
- Written by: Mike Johnson
- Art by: Andres Guinaldo
- Colors by: Marco Lesko
- Letters by: Jim Campbell
- Cover art by: Dani (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: September 27, 2023
Is BLADE RUNNER 2039 #7 Good?
Mike Johnson’s latest entry in the Blade Runner series flips the script on Ash’s illustrious career as a Blade Runner when a replicant she thought she retired resurfaces for payback (or does it?). BLADE RUNNER 2039 #7 grabs your attention from page one and doesn’t let go until the very end, but appearances can be deceiving.
When last we left Ash, Cleo, and Lexi, the old farmer who lent them temporary aid and shelter turned out to be a replicant who remembers Ash from her Blade Runner days. Presuming Ash is still in the retirement business, the farmer holds Ash at gunpoint. Now, Ash convinces the farmer that her Blade Running days are over, and he decides to accompany Ash to San Francisco to meet the person who turned Ash’s life around.
We’ll go into more detail in the next section, but that summary pretty much captures everything that happens. Plotwise, Johnson strips BLADE RUNNER 2039 #7 to the bone to give readers only what matters, putting all subplots on a shelf for the time being. That doesn’t mean the issue feels sparse or incomplete. Instead, each scene in the sequence feels meatier and gives more depth to the world and the characters.
What’s great about BLADE RUNNER 2039 #7? Johnson creates a clever development to keep moving Ash forward while giving Lexi and Cleo a break to lick their wounds. The story feels tighter and more focused. And the last-page cliffhanger is a killer (literally).
What’s not so great about BLADE RUNNER 2039 #7? Ash’s journey from the farmhouse to her final destination in San Francisco progresses too easily, considering all the troubles she runs into up to her arrival at the farmhouse. Where are the roving biker/scavenger gangs? Where are all the death traps set for wayward travelers? Sure, Ash hits a (literal) bump in the road, but that’s about it.
How’s the art? Fantastic, Andres Guinaldo captures cinematic levels of tension on every panel as Ash faces down one threat after another with supreme confidence in her demeanor and facial expressions. As a bonus, the splash panels of a destitute, burning San Francisco look great.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s BLADE RUNNER 2039 #7 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our BLADE RUNNER 2039 #6 review to find out how Ash found herself under the protection of a one-handed farmer.
We pick up with the cliffhanger from issue #6 with Ash looking down the barrel of the gun held by the farmer who gave her refuge. The farmer is an old replicant who still remembers the night Ash tried to “retire” him. years later, he resigns himself to a quiet life of solitude, and he assumes Ash arrived to finish the job she started years ago.
Ash convinces the farmer she’s not the person she was, and she only wants to provide help to replicants. With the right words and strong examples, the farmer buys Ash’s explanation and decides to accompany her to San Francisco.
We conclude the issue with terrible-yet-wondrous sights, a last stop, and a familiar face.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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BLADE RUNNER 2039 #7 pulls back every subplot to focus on Ash, her new ally, and her final push to San Francisco. The world- and character-building are expertly done, the last page twist is a banger, and Guinaldo’s art is excellent.
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