Titan Comics has breathed new life into the *Blade Runner* universe, expanding its cyberpunk world through captivating spin-offs and prequels. Their latest venture, *Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus*, marks a significant milestone—the first *Blade Runner* story set in Japan.
IGN Fan Fest 2025 provided a unique opportunity to delve into the series with writers Kianna Shore and Mellow Brown. The following slideshow gallery showcases exclusive artwork, tracing the series' journey from script to stunning visuals:
Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Behind-the-Scenes Art Gallery
6 Images
The choice of Tokyo as a setting is intriguing, given the city's prominent role in seminal cyberpunk works like *Akira* and *Ghost in the Shell*. We were eager to learn how the writers envisioned this alternate-universe 2015 Tokyo and how it contrasts with the rain-slicked, neon-drenched Los Angeles familiar to *Blade Runner* fans.
"Brainstorming Tokyo within the *Blade Runner* universe was incredibly fun!" Shore shared with IGN. "Having lived in Japan (coincidentally in 2015) and recently visited relevant exhibitions in Tokyo, I aimed to create a Tokyo distinct from Los Angeles, reflecting its unique history, experiences, and socioeconomics. My goal was a 'hopepunk' Tokyo."
"I appreciate how Los Angeles in *Blade Runner* is broken, decrepit, and fracturing, with neon masking its decay," Brown explained. "If you switched off the neon, the hellscape would be undeniable. Our Tokyo is a parallel—a beautiful utopia where people feel constrained. Disobey, and the 'paradise' consumes you. It's equally terrifying, just differently so."
Intriguingly, both writers consciously avoided direct homage to *Akira* and *Ghost in the Shell*, drawing inspiration instead from other media and contemporary Japanese life.
Shore noted, "While I drew inspiration from classics, it was crucial to understand how Japanese media portrays the future after the 3.11 Tohoku Disaster. I watched anime like *Your Name*, *Japan Sinks 2020*, and *Bubble*."
"I personally aimed to avoid iterating on anime already inspired by *Blade Runner*, like *Bubblegum Crisis* or *Psycho-Pass*," Brown added. "Cyberpunk often reflects one's vision of the future. So, I wanted to reflect the hopes and fears of contemporary Japanese society and explore potential positive or negative outcomes."
The *Blade Runner* timeline spans the 21st century, but *Tokyo Nexus* is set in 2015, preceding the original film. We explored the series' connection to the broader franchise. Would fans find familiar elements, or is this a wholly new experience?
"*Tokyo Nexus* is standalone in setting, time, and story," Shore confirmed. "Naturally, it wouldn't be *Blade Runner* without Tyrell Corporation's influence and a mystery to solve. There are nods and easter eggs for fans, but newcomers can also enjoy it."
Brown added, "We're building upon the story from *Blade Runner: Origins* and shortly before *Blade Runner: 2019*. We're addressing complex questions like the Kalanthia War and Tyrell's Replicant monopoly. This all builds towards a massive, secret civil war between different Blade Runner organizations vying for dominance. *Tokyo Nexus* reveals the origins of one of these organizations."
*Tokyo Nexus* centers on the partnership between human Mead and Replicant Stix. Their bond forms the series' core, portraying them as battle-hardened veterans relying solely on each other in a harsh landscape.
"Mead and Stix are best friends and platonic life partners," Shore explained. "They've been through hell, bled and wept together. They protect each other, sometimes from themselves. Their goal is survival, requiring them to trust again."
"It's beautifully unhealthy," Brown chuckled. "We played with the 'more human than human' theme and how it manifests. Stix, a Replicant, craves life, while Mead, a human, is hardened and pragmatic. They need each other to survive, creating a codependency that could shatter them both."
The series sees Stix and Mead embroiled in a conflict involving Tyrell Corp, the Yakuza, and Cheshire, a Japanese company challenging Tyrell's Replicant market dominance.
"Cheshire competes in Replicant manufacturing," Shore teased. "Their latest model is a military Replicant, supposedly stronger and faster, built upon Tyrell's designs."
Brown added, "Cheshire's ambitions extend beyond petty crime. Acquiring refugee Tyrell scientists in Tokyo unlocks incredible potential…"
*Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Vol. 1 - Die in Peace* is available in comic shops and bookstores. You can also order the book on Amazon.
IGN Fan Fest 2025 also offered early looks at IDW's new Godzilla shared universe and an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog storyline.
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