BLADE RUNNER: BLACK LOTUS #4, from Titan Comics on November 2nd, 2022, concludes the arc with Koslov stirring up the town against the Co-Op by labeling them as eco-terrorists for blowing up the Fracktory.
The Details
- Written by: Nancy A. Collins
- Art by: Bit
- Colors by: Marco Lesko
- Letters by: Jim Campbell
- Cover art by: Jesus Hervas (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: November 2, 2022
Is It Good?
BLADE RUNNER: BLACK LOTUS #4 doesn’t end the arc with a bang or a whimper but with a noisy pop. Coming into the finale with an explosive penultimate issue raised the stakes considerably, but the somewhat satisfying ending doesn’t quite meet the energy of the previous issue.
When last we left Elle and the kidnapped Co-Op workers, Elle blew up the factory, Barnes died, and Kozlov was severely burned. Now, we catch up with the cast in the aftermath and learn who collaborated with Barnes and what Kozlov intends to do next. In short, this finale acts as an epilogue rather than a climax.
Collins’s script ties up loose ends, maintains a high pace, and adds heartfelt moments to the final goodbyes. All the pieces are present to create a satisfying conclusion, but there are a few areas where the script falls short.
First, a Barnes collaborator is introduced out of nowhere and dealt with equally fast. The collaborator is set up as somebody who was always there, acting in the shadows, but the foundation of that person’s presence is never established. His entire sub-plot feels rushed and forced.
Second, the rapid speed of Kozlov’s actions after the Fractory explosion, likewise, feels rushed and forced. Fracktown considers Kozlov a greater bully and psycho than his brother, yet Fracktown goes along with his story about who blew up the Fracktory and why. Everyone falls in line conveniently, and it feels like an attempt to deal with Kozlov in a dramatic show that doesn’t feel earned.
Putting the rushed pieces aside, the finale, again, is relatively satisfying, with dramatic tension, danger, and a hero who saves the day.
Bit’s art is fairly good, but some readers may be put off by the stylized anatomy of the characters. Faces (and heads) are stretched, distorted, and rubbery. It wouldn’t be a criticism if that style was consistent throughout the issue, but unfortunately, it’s not. However, Lesko’s colors are excellent, so the coloring helps overcomes the flaws in the inks.
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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 #3 review to find out how the Fracktory met an explosive end.
We begin with Elle, Nyoko, and her daughter arriving back at the Co-Op while the freed workers escape separately in a supply van. With the family reunited, Miguel offers Elle the opportunity to stay with them permanently.
Meanwhile, one of the escaped workers, Preston, arrives in Fracktown with injuries, explaining the rest of the workers were gunned down outside the supply van. He’s brought back to the Co-Op where he explains what happened and seeks out medical attention from Nyoko. When Preston and Nyoko are alone, he suddenly tries to get her to come away with him, proclaiming his love, and admitting he collaborated with Barnes to get Miguel out of the way. Elle rushes in to incapacitate Preston.
Elsewhere, a burn-scarred Preston enters the town to inform the townspeople that the Co-Op has turned to eco-terrorism and blew up the Fracktory. He calls Miquel offering a truce if he comes to the town alone. We end the issue with a showdown in Fracktown.
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Final Thoughts
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BLADE RUNNER: BLACK LOTUS #4 ends the arc somewhere between a whimper and a bang. The loose ends are all tied up, but a few old points, and a strange new one, are brought up and resolved too quickly to feel organic to the story.
Related Information
Who is the true villain in Blade Runner?
Eldon Tyrell is frequently considered the villain of the original Blade Runner story. Tyrell created the replicants, and it was his idea to use memories and emotions as a method of control.
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