Comic Book Review - Blade Runner 2039 #1

Rob reviews Blade Runner 2039 #1...

Writers Mike Johnson, Mellow Brown, and publisher Titan Comics once again head back to the world inspired by Ridley Scott's groundbreaking sci-fi noir; Blade Runner.

Now in 2039, while the world may be slightly different, the hunt to decommission rogue Replicants continues. With the remnants of the Tyrell Corporation now folded into the much larger Wallace Corporation, it's not long before the sins of the past once again rise to the surface.

Viewpoint to this opening issue comes from two sides of the Blade Runner world. On one side we have the Replicant LUV. Developed by Wallace Corporation, she's essentially Replicant 2.0. Created without all the defects of the older Tyrell models, LUV's mission is to act as public relations between Wallace and the LAPD. As a Blade Runner, LUV is utterly ruthless in her job. She's able to put up a serious fight against the Replicants she's sent to retire, and she's certainly making an impression with the job she's doing - both good and bad.

The other side of this narrative follows an unnamed Replicant as she deals with a couple of unsavory characters. She's in search of something - or someone - that doesn't want to be found, and certainly has her work cut out for her.

Even with the split narrative, Johnson and Brown do a great job of establishing both characters whilst keeping the pace flowing. The story sits firmly in the middle of being a slow-burning noir, whilst hitting you with a short shock when needed. It gives you enough of a jolt to keep you in the here and now, but slowly develops the wider story in the background.

This storytelling is further helped by both characters. LUV is already shaping up to be quite complex. As both a Blade Runner and a Replicant she's facing persecution from both sides of her spectrum. Not only does her job see her hunt her kind, but being a Replicant instantly tarnishes her in the eyes of her coworkers. It's also interesting to see that Wallace has another - deeper role in their creation other than just being a Blade Runner. Quite what exactly is still up for interpretation, but it doesn't look good!

While LUV is starting to be "fleshed" out, our other character is still in a blank state. While Johnson doesn't give anything away in terms of the character's past, we're given more than enough to root for a "happy ending". She's shown to have been through quite the journey to get to the here and now. And come the issue's finale, you get zero illusions that her safety is only going to be temporary.

It's going to be interesting to see how these two characters fit into the overarching narrative that kicked off 20 years earlier.

Artwork and colors from Andres Guinaldo and Marco Lesko capture the noir setting of 2039's LA incredibly well. It's a grim, dark, and gritty world that's hidden away under the glitz of a cyberpunk world. Each panel perfectly captures the energy within the current scene, with Guinaldo utilizing plenty of focal points and ratios. There's a lot to admire here, but special mention goes out to that synonymous shot of the LAPD building standing out within the smog-filled skyline.

Overall, Blade Runner 2039 #1 sets its narrative off to a good start. It wastes no time in reintroducing its world, while simultaneously setting up the mystery that surrounds its primary cast. With interests already piqued, Blade Runner 2039 is already shaping up to be an unmissable read.

Rating: 8/10

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