Advance Review – Blade Runner 2019 #1 (Titan Comics)

Publisher: Titan Comics
Writer(s): Michael Green, Mike Johnson
Artwork: Andres Guinaldo
Colours: Mark Lescko
Letters: Jim Campbell
Release Date: 17^th July 2019

A black background with the familiar white and red text shining through the page at you, setting the scene of a world far away, yet, for some, closer to our hearts than our family members. This is a new addition to the world of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, an original cult classic with numerous cuts throughout the years and a universally loved (although unfortunately not at the box office) sequel “Blade Runner 2049”, whose screenwriter Michael Green returns to write this 12-issue Titan Comics series.

It was always going to be a tall order to expand on the world of such a well-loved franchise, but right from the start it’s reassuring to know that this series is in the safe hands of a man who was part of continuing the on-screen story (alongside with the extremely talented Mike Johnson of IDW Star Trek fame). And, quite simply, it’s perfect.

The story does what any side story should do, exploring the depth of the interesting world that caught our attention in the first place. It’s set in the same year as the events of the original film, and while the cover suggests that we’re potentially going to cross paths with at least one of the original cast of characters, this is a totally separate tale running alongside the other Blade Runner (couldn’t help the pun sorry.)

The story is of Ash, a Blade Runner with an almost inhuman ability to track down and retire renegade replicants. Her talents have garnered her quite the reputation as a tracker, as well as making her job more difficult as she tries to clear the streets of pretty much all the skin jobs out there. She finds herself lamenting about this fact as she receives her latest contract: to find the missing daughter and wife of some big wig on the other side of town, a job too big and with too many strings attached to turn down.

This has all the classic ingredients of a film noir, and provides its own modern take on the Blade Runner franchise. Gone are the critics of the female stereotype characters of the first film, replaced by the fantastic Ash, and unique twist on a woman in this world.

To describe the art of this comic in mere words would do it an injustice, but it is simply perfect! Shot for shot it recreates the aesthetic of the film, from the acid raindrops right down to the random ‘80s inspired wardrobe that the creators thought would represent the fashion of the future. Add this to the new scenery explored in the story, the name drops and a classic film noir tale and you have the beginnings of a masterpiece. An absolute must-have for Blade Runner and Cyberpunk fans alike.

Rating: 5/5.

[PREVIEW ARTWORK]