BLADE RUNNER 2019

Writer: Michael Green, Mike Johnson

Artist: Andres Guinaldo

Colorist: Marco Lesko 

Aahna “Ash” Ashina is a tough as nails Blade Runner in a dystopian Los Angeles who sells replicant body parts for money. She is tasked with finding the missing wife and child of business tycoon Alexander Selwyn. Ash is tough, but she is also smart with incredible detective skills that will help her get to the bottom of this case. 

This comic started to remind me of an 80s action flick, but I was pleasantly surprised that it took a turn. At first, I thought Ash was just a female version of the Blade Runners from the movies, but again was thrown a much-welcomed curve ball. This book develops the main character in a very different way. There is a lot for Ash to struggle against and we see her persevere through it all. Ash proves to be resourceful and thoughtful as we weave through this very interesting story. 

As I mentioned the story starts off pretty cliché, but it isn’t long until it starts to develop in very interesting ways. We get unexpected twist and turns in the story that make this roller coaster even more enjoyable. There is not a ton of action in this story, but the action we do get is very well done and easy to follow. What this comic sacrifices in action it more than makes up for in detective work. Ash thinks of all the angles in order to get to the answers that no one else can unearth. 

The artwork is well done and does of good job of setting the mood. We see urban Los Angeles, sub terrain safe houses as well as scenes filled with plants. As you see, we get a lot of diversity in the story’s settings. The pictures and coloring all look good but are on the darker side. It makes sense given the environment and the type of dreary world this story is set in, but I do think some of the panels could be a bit brighter. 

Overall, I give Blade Runner (2019) 9 capes out of 10. It starts a bit slow, but quickly speeds up and gets very interesting. You can’t help but to want to know what happens next!