“More human than human” is our motto…
It’s been a while since I re-read Titan Comics Blade Runner prequel, Blade Runner Origins. With the comic publisher recently sending me a copy of Blade Runner 2039: Vol.1: Luv to review, I thought it’s best to jump in from the beginning and experience the whole series in preparation.
I’ve previously reviewed the first volume of Blade Runner: Origins, which you can check out here. As such I won’t be recapping previous events aside from a few flashbacks.
Taking place in the immediate aftermath of Effie’s assassination by Ilora Stahl, NYPD Detective Cal Moreaux finds himself teaming up with a Replicant who’s conscious is that of the deceased Tyrell Corp researcher, Dr. Lydia Kine. Now known as Asa, Kine and Cal must work together to track down a rogue Nexus 5 Replicant who’s “awakening” those Replicants deemed to be past their use by date. With the threat of a Replicant uprising, and Ilora Stahl, Cal gets dragged into the seedy underbelly of 2009 Los Angeles.
And for those keeping up. It’s set 10-years before the Ridley Scott movie.
Much like “Production”, Scrap drags Cal Moreaux deeper into a world of shady corporate practices, and social justice. With Tyrell Corp wanting the fact that their new Replicant model is becoming more human suppressed, Cal finds himself unwillingly Tyrell’s puppet. However as we soon find out, a much bigger game is in motion, and it’s one that reverberates into the follow up series, Blade Runner 2019.
While this second volume takes on a more subdued approach to action. and focuses on more building its characters complex web of reasoning, it’s better off for it. We get plenty of insight into Cal’s particular skill set that sees him the perfect candidate to be the first “Blade Runner”, as well as the trauma he still carries with him from that opening back on Kalanthia. Elsewhere we explore more of Asa as the Replicant struggles with defining who she is while keeping the hopes of Lydia Kine alive. The opposite side of this coin is Ilora Stahl who not only has the struggle in recapturing the rogue Replicant, she’s also got to deal with Tyrell breathing down her neck. And we all know how insidious they can be!
K. Perkins and Mellow Brown continue to amaze with their world building of the alt 2009 Los Angeles. While it’s a far cry from Dekker’s L.A. the groundwork is being laid. It’s a superb cyberpunk noir that’s dripping with stories to be told away from the main narrative. It’s also a narrative that demands your attention throughout. I wouldn’t personally say that Blade Runner: Origins is an easy read, and it pertains much of the same style as Ridley Scott’s original film. There’s a lot going on which can make things seem a little cluttered, but stick with it and you’ll find a great detective noir that’s packed with plenty of twists, turns, and double dealings. Throw in Fernando Dagnino’s art, and Marco Lesko’s colours, and you’ve got the icing on the proverbial sci-fi cake.
With one more volume to go, there’s still more questions being asked with few answers being told. Perkins and Brown continue towards their endgame with plenty of mystery and speculation abound. Just how it’s going to end is still unclear, but with such a strong creative team, it’s going to be very interesting.
And stick with me as I check out that very ending soon!
Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow us on X/Facebook @GeekCultureRev, TikTok/YouTube @Geekculturereviews, and BlueSky @geekculturereviews.bsky.social
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