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Titan Comics has breathed new life into the *Blade Runner* universe, expanding its cyberpunk world through compelling 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, uncovering their creative process in bringing the iconic *Blade Runner* aesthetic to a new global setting. Explore the slideshow below for exclusive artwork showcasing the series' journey from script to stunning visuals, then read on to learn more:
Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Behind-the-Scenes Art Gallery
6 Images
The choice of Tokyo, a city central to seminal cyberpunk works like *Akira* and *Ghost in the Shell*, is intriguing. We were eager to learn how the writers envisioned this alternate 2015 Tokyo and how it differs from the rain-soaked, neon-drenched Los Angeles familiar to most *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 visiting relevant Tokyo exhibits on envisioning the future, I aimed to create a Tokyo distinct from Los Angeles, reflecting its unique history, experiences, and socioeconomics. My goal was a ‘hopepunk’ Tokyo.”
“Los Angeles in *Blade Runner* is a broken, decaying city teetering on collapse, its neon masking the underlying hellscape,” Brown explained. “Our Tokyo parallels this; 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 classic works, understanding how Japanese media portrays the future post-3.11 Tohoku Disaster was crucial. I watched anime like *Your Name*, *Japan Sinks 2020*, and *Bubble*.”
Brown added, “I aimed to avoid iterating on anime already inspired by *Blade Runner*, such as *Bubblegum Crisis* or *Psycho-Pass*. Cyberpunk often reflects one's perception of the future. I wanted to reflect the hopes and fears of contemporary Japanese society and explore potential positive or negative outcomes.”
Set in 2015, within the broader *Blade Runner* timeline, *Tokyo Nexus* intrigued us with its connection to the franchise. Would fans find familiar elements, or is this a wholly new experience given the Japanese setting?
“*Tokyo Nexus* is standalone in setting, time, and story,” Shore clarified. “However, it wouldn’t be *Blade Runner* without the Tyrell Corporation’s influence and a mystery to unravel. There are nods and easter eggs for fans, but the comic is also enjoyable for newcomers.”
Brown added, “We're building upon the narrative established since *Blade Runner: Origins* and shortly before *Blade Runner: 2019*. We're addressing key questions like the Kalanthia War and Tyrell Corporation’s Replicant monopoly. This all builds towards a vast, secret civil war among Blade Runner organizations vying for dominance. *Tokyo Nexus* reveals the origins of one such organization.”
*Tokyo Nexus* centers around Mead, a human, and Stix, a Replicant, whose close bond forms the series' core. They are battle-hardened veterans relying solely on each other in this harsh environment.
“Mead and Stix are best friends, platonic life partners,” Shore described. “They've endured hardship together, shared pain and tears. Their goal is survival, requiring them to trust again.”
“Their relationship is beautifully unhealthy,” Brown laughed. “We explored the franchise's ‘More Human Than Human’ theme. Stix, a Replicant, thirsts for life, while Mead, a jaded human, is pragmatic and calculating. They need each other to survive, their bond a codependency that could break them both.”
The series sees Stix and Mead entangled in a conflict involving Tyrell Corp, the Yakuza, and Cheshire, a Japanese company challenging Tyrell’s Replicant market dominance.
“Cheshire aims to compete in Replicant manufacturing,” Shore teased. “Their latest model is a military Replicant, supposedly stronger and faster, built upon Tyrell’s foundation.”
Brown added, “Cheshire's ambitions extend beyond petty crime. Acquiring escaped Tyrell scientists in Tokyo unlocks incredible potential…”
*Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Vol. 1 - Die in Peace* is available now 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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