The Blade Runner universe expands its reach with Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus, the first Blade Runner story set in Japan. Titan Comics, the publisher, collaborated with writers Kianna Shore and Mellow Brown to bring this cyberpunk vision to life. Exclusive artwork showcases the series' journey from script to stunning visuals. See the gallery below:
Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus - Exclusive Artwork
6 Images
This unique setting contrasts with the familiar rain-soaked, neon-drenched Los Angeles of previous installments. Shore, drawing on personal experience living in Japan, aimed for a "hopepunk" Tokyo, distinct from its Los Angeles counterpart. Brown describes Tokyo as a seemingly utopian facade masking a brutal reality: a "beautiful utopia" where disobedience has dire consequences.
Instead of directly referencing Akira or Ghost in the Shell, the writers drew inspiration from post-3.11 Tohoku Disaster Japanese media (Shore citing Your Name, Japan Sinks 2020, and Bubble) and contemporary Japanese society (Brown focusing on societal hopes and fears).
Set in 2015, Tokyo Nexus stands alone within the larger franchise timeline. While featuring subtle nods to the films, it's accessible to newcomers. The story builds upon previous works like Blade Runner: Origins and Blade Runner: 2019, exploring the Kalanthia War and Tyrell Corporation's replicant monopoly, ultimately hinting at a vast inter-organizational conflict.
The narrative centers on Mead, a human, and Stix, a replicant, a battle-hardened duo bound by a complex, codependent relationship. Their survival hinges on their mutual trust in a harsh environment, exploring the franchise's "more human than human" theme.
Their journey intertwines with a conflict involving Tyrell Corp, the Yakuza, and Cheshire, a rising company challenging Tyrell's replicant market dominance. Cheshire's military-grade replicants, built upon Tyrell's designs, and their acquisition of escaped Tyrell scientists, add significant intrigue to the storyline.
Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Vol. 1 - Die in Peace is available now in comic shops and bookstores. You can also order the book on Amazon. For more from IGN Fan Fest 2025, check out the IDW's new Godzilla shared universe and upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog storyline.
