Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Reveals a New Vision of Cyberpunk Japan - IGN Fan Fest 2025

The Blade Runner universe expands its reach with Titan Comics' Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus, the first Blade Runner story set in Japan. IGN Fan Fest 2025 provided an exclusive interview with writers Kianna Shore and Mellow Brown, delving into the creation of this new series and its unique aesthetic. A slideshow gallery showcases the evolution of the series from script to artwork.

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Instead of mimicking established cyberpunk works like Akira and Ghost in the Shell, Shore and Brown drew inspiration from post-3.11 Tohoku Disaster Japanese media (such as Your Name, Japan Sinks 2020, and Bubble) and contemporary Japanese society to craft a unique vision of Tokyo in 2015. Shore describes it as a "hopepunk" Tokyo, contrasting with the decaying Los Angeles of the original films. Brown highlights the duality of a seemingly utopian city masking a brutal undercurrent: a "beautiful utopia" where disobedience has severe consequences.

Tokyo Nexus stands alone within the larger franchise, though it features subtle nods and easter eggs for long-time fans. The story focuses on Mead, a human, and Stix, a Replicant, a battle-scarred duo whose codependent relationship forms the series' core. Their survival hinges on their mutual trust in a harsh environment. Their bond is described as both beautiful and unhealthy, playing on the franchise's "We're More Human Than Human" theme.

The series features a conflict involving Tyrell Corp, the Yakuza, and Cheshire, a Japanese company challenging Tyrell's Replicant monopoly with its own military-grade Replicants. Cheshire's acquisition of escaped Tyrell scientists hints at ambitious plans.

Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Vol. 1 - Die in Peace is available now. You can also order the book on Amazon. IGN Fan Fest 2025 also offered previews of IDW's Godzilla shared universe and an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog storyline.