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

The Blade Runner universe expands its horizons with Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus, the first installment in the franchise set in Japan. This IGN Fan Fest 2025 interview delves into the creation of this unique series with writers Kianna Shore and Mellow Brown. The accompanying slideshow showcases exclusive artwork, tracing the series' journey from script to stunning visuals.

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Instead of directly referencing iconic cyberpunk works like Akira and Ghost in the Shell, Shore and Brown drew inspiration from post-3.11 Tohoku Disaster Japanese media (e.g., Your Name, Japan Sinks 2020, Bubble) and contemporary Japanese society to craft a distinct Tokyo. Shore describes their Tokyo as "hopepunk," contrasting with the decaying Los Angeles of the original films. Brown elaborates, highlighting the deceptive beauty of a seemingly utopian city masking a brutal underbelly.

Set in 2015, Tokyo Nexus stands as a standalone story within the broader Blade Runner timeline. While subtle nods to the films exist, the narrative remains accessible to newcomers. The series focuses on the relationship between Mead, a human, and Stix, a Replicant – a battle-hardened duo bound by a complex, codependent partnership. Their survival hinges on their mutual trust in a harsh environment.

The central conflict involves Tyrell Corp, the Yakuza, and Cheshire, a rising company challenging Tyrell's Replicant monopoly. Cheshire's military-grade Replicants, built upon Tyrell's designs, pose a significant threat, setting the stage for a larger conflict hinted at in previous installments. The series explores the ongoing narrative from Blade Runner: Origins and Blade Runner: 2019, building towards a vast inter-organizational war for dominance.

Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Vol. 1 - Die in Peace is available now. You can purchase it at comic shops, bookstores, and on Amazon. This interview also touches upon other projects showcased at IGN Fan Fest 2025, including IDW's Godzilla shared universe and an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog story.