The Blade Runner universe expands its reach with Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus, the first Blade Runner story set in Japan. This IGN Fan Fest 2025 interview delves into the creation of this new series with writers Kianna Shore and Mellow Brown. Exclusive artwork showcases the series' journey from script to finished product. See the gallery below:
Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Behind-the-Scenes Art Gallery
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The writers discuss their vision of a 2015 Tokyo distinct from the familiar Los Angeles of previous installments. Shore, drawing on personal experience and research, aimed for a "hopepunk" Tokyo, contrasting with Los Angeles's decaying underbelly masked by neon. Brown describes Tokyo as a seemingly utopian facade concealing a brutal reality for those who break the rules.
Rather than directly referencing Akira or Ghost in the Shell, the writers sought 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).
Tokyo Nexus, set in 2015, stands alone within the franchise's timeline. While acknowledging the influence of the Tyrell Corporation and including easter eggs for fans, it remains accessible to newcomers. The series builds upon the narrative established in Blade Runner: Origins and Blade Runner: 2019, exploring questions about the Kalanthia War and Tyrell Corporation's replicant monopoly, hinting at a larger inter-organizational conflict.
The core of the story revolves around Mead, a human, and Stix, a replicant, whose close bond forms a central theme. Their relationship, described as a "platonic life-partnership," explores the "We're More Human Than Human" concept, contrasting Mead's pragmatism with Stix's zest for life.
The series features a conflict involving Tyrell Corp, the Yakuza, and Cheshire, a rising company challenging Tyrell's replicant market dominance with a new military model. Cheshire's ambitions and acquisition of escaped Tyrell scientists promise significant developments within the Blade Runner universe.
Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Vol. 1 - Die in Peace is available now. You can also order the book on Amazon. This IGN Fan Fest 2025 also featured previews of IDW's Godzilla shared universe and an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog storyline.
