BLADE RUNNER: BLACK LOTUS #3, from Titan Comics on October 5th, 2022, escalates the conflict between the Eco-colony and the Mine into a full-blown war.
The Details
- Written by: Nancy A. Collins
- Art by: Enid Balam, Bit
- Colors by: Marco Lesko
- Letters by: Jim Campbell
- Cover art by: Jeff Spokes
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: October 5, 2022
Is It Good?
BLADE RUNNER: BLACK LOTUS #3 kicks the series into overdrive with fast-paced action, fist-pumping heroics, and an ending that promises the fight isn’t over yet. The Blade Runner franchise isn’t known for big, explosive, action-centric storytelling, so this issue is a pleasant change of pace.
Collins delivers an energetic script that puts you squarely behind Elle as the instrument of vengeance in the blooming war between Miguel’s Eco-colony and Barnes’s fracking operation. Elle is deadly efficient in her attacks, and every skirmish ticks a notch in her badass reputation. We’ve noted in prior issues how this series reads more like a Clint Eastwood Western instead of a Blade Runner story, so true to that observation, Elle launches out of the gate as a perfect lone gunman.
The good, however, contrasts with a gap in the story – namely Elle’s lack of development. Specifically, Elle escaped her prior life because she was tired of being used as a killing machine. Now, Elle goes right back to acting as a killing machine with very little effort. In fairness, her actions are motivated by the kidnapping of the co-op residents, but you never see the slightest hint of hesitation or internal conflict within Elle. Her transition back to a killer is almost instantaneous, so the growth Elle experienced is practically forgotten or ignored.
Balam and Bit’s action sequences are the star of the issue. Elle is precise, fast, and brutally efficient in taking out guards to meet her objective. Even when odds appear overwhelming, her programming kicks in to show her as a formidable force. The team pulls off Elle’s skills masterfully, so you’ll get plenty of wow moments.
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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: BLACK LOTUS #2 review to learn what happened during the assault on the co-op.
We begin with Elle, Miguel, and Junkett discussing the details of the attack and coming up with a response plan. Barnes calls in to demand Miguel order the co-op to disarm as a “hostile takeover.” Miguel counters with a delay to call a council meeting for agreement.
Miguel buys time, so he sends Elle in to unleash Hell on Barnes’s fracking facility. We conclude the issue with a deadly, one-replicant army assault, close shaves, and an explosive end to the rescue.
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Final Thoughts
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BLADE RUNNER: BLACK LOTUS #3 is a fast-paced, action-packed issue to keep you on the edge of your seat almost from start to finish. However, Elle’s reversion to a killing machine happened too quickly, so you begin to see Elle as a plot device rather than a character with complex feelings.
Related Information
Was the original Blade Runner a flop?
Blade Runner (1981) received some critical acclaim on its initial theatrical release, but the general box office return was mixed. The film gained greater popularity in subsequent years, especially after releasing on home video.
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