Review – Blade Runner 2029: Reunion

Review – Blade Runner 2029: Reunion

SUMMARY

After the events of the original Blade Runner, the replicants caused a blackout in the Tyrell archives, scrubbing the records of existing replicants. The virtual and moral line between humanity and a surviving species is lost to the darkness. One Blade Runner on this thin tightrope looks to make the replicants permanently disappear, one way or another.

ART

With the exception of the beautiful neo-noir cover art, the artwork throughout the novel is more akin to Akira.  There’s a rugged darkness to the original Blade Runner and even it’s colourful sequel Blade Runner 2049 that doesn’t come through here. This is more of a comparison to the films rather than a critique as Lesko’s grainy Akira-like sci-fi palette totally works for this story and is nevertheless beautifully illustrated.

It may be a design choice by Guinaldo to exclude the glowing iris of the replicants in order to make the distinction between man and machine all the more difficult to decipher. The inclusion of the subtle distinction however could help in establishing the story’s Blade Runner setting as well as make for some awe-inspiring artwork that tells it’s own story.

WRITING

With a clear understanding of the source material, Johnson is able to manipulate and engineer his own interesting social dilemmas and gripping scenarios within the thought-provoking mythos of Blade Runner. As well as this, he demonstrates some noir detective chops with memorably poetic dialogue.

Something I really admire about the story is how it is uniquely it’s own story, there’s very few callbacks or foreshadowing to events before or after it. Johnson’s worldbuilding is expertly paced throughout, allowing the reader to invest in the complexities of each character. More Blade Runner is good Blade Runner!

OVERALL

In conclusion, Blade Runner 2029: Reunion is a stand-out and eventful storyline with so many moving pieces, set in the beloved dystopian future of Blade Runner, you’ll think it was directed by Christopher Nolan. Between the grizzly darkness of the original film and the polished luminescence of it’s sequel, this comic stands ironically in the middle with a classic look and a refreshingly inventive story.

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