BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #11 – Review

BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #11, from Titan Comics on April 20th, 2022, finds Nia and Cal enacting a plan to stop Ilora Stahl’s machinations. A plan that will usher in the age of the first Blade Runner.

The Details

• Written By: K. Perkins, Mellow Brown
• Art By: Fernando Dagnino
• Colors By: Marco Lesko
• Letters By: Jim Campbell
• Cover Art By: Veronica Fish (cover A)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: April 20, 2022

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Was It Good?

BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #11 is possibly the most riveting and well-written issue of the series so far, with a last-act twist that brings the legend of the Blade Runner into sharp focus. Blade Runner purists may puzzle over whether or not this perspective on the origin adds a layer to the story that feels out of place, but the twist is intriguing.

We’re playing coy with the twist here, so read through to the next section if you want spoiler-ish details.

The central premise surrounds Nia’s quest to stop Stahl’s destructive ways. In the last issue, it seemed as if Nia was heading out on an assassination mission, but it turns out that Nia has something very different in mind. The twist is complex, inventive, and clever. You don’t see it coming, which is a pleasant surprise, and once the plan executes, it all makes sense in a satisfying way heading into the finale.

That said, the plan relies on racially charged parallels that some readers may find oversimplifies the “replicant struggle”. They are machines, after all, with Nia and Dr. Kine proving to be something much more than replicants for very exceptional reasons. In the context of the story and in isolation from the source material, you can see why Brown and Perkins chose the path taken, but some readers may see it as a retcon to make a social statement. This reviewer didn’t mind the choice, although it felt a little too on the nose.

The art in this issue is excellent. There are more shootouts and action scenes in this issue compared to most of the previous issues in this series, so you get plenty of excitement for the cover price. Nia’s mission turns into a chase early, and the art team does a fine job keeping the energy and pace high until the very last page.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.

What’s It About?

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

If you don’t recall how Nia was driven to concoct her desperate plan, first read our BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #10 review.

We begin with Nia and Desiree in a spinner heading into the city. They discuss what they’ve endured, and Nia presses Desiree to affirm her commitment to the plan. Given all they’ve lost, Desiree assures Nia she’s with her to the end.

Ths spinner approaches the broadcast tower where Ilora Stahl is scheduled to give a live interview about the last Tyrell social program. Armed guards spot their approach, but Ilora jumps down and makes quick work of the guards, courtesy of her enhanced strength and reflexes. Meanwhile, Cal arrives in a car and crashes through the ground level to head up the tower towards Stahl’s location. Brother and sister fight their way through an endless stream of security guards to converge at the same level.

Nia arrives at the studio first and charges Stahl in front of all the cameras. We conclude the issue with a heartbreaking flashback, a sorrowful promise, and the dawn of a new era.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.

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