The Blade Runner franchise has taken on new life through the expansive world-building of Titan Comics, which has ventured into various spinoffs and prequels to enrich the cyberpunk universe. Currently, they are rolling out Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus, a groundbreaking series set in Japan—the first of its kind within the franchise.
At IGN Fan Fest 2025, we had the privilege of speaking with the series' writers, Kianna Shore and Mellow Brown, to delve into the creation of this new narrative and how they adapted the iconic Blade Runner aesthetic for a Japanese setting. Explore our exclusive slideshow gallery below to see the journey from script to stunning artwork, and continue reading for more insights:
Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Behind-the-Scenes Art Gallery
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Tokyo has long been a staple setting in cyberpunk narratives, famously featured in works like Akira and Ghost in the Shell. However, this is the first time the Blade Runner universe has ventured into Japan. We were eager to learn how Shore and Brown envisioned the Tokyo of this alternate 2015 and how it differs from the familiar, neon-drenched Los Angeles of the original films.
“Brainstorming Tokyo in the Blade Runner universe was such a fun process!” Shore shared with IGN. “Having lived in Japan in 2015 and recently visiting some exhibits on envisioning the future, I wanted Tokyo to stand out from Los Angeles due to their unique histories and socioeconomics. My aim was to create a hopepunk version of Tokyo.”
“Los Angeles in Blade Runner is portrayed as a decaying, fracturing city masked by neon,” Brown explains. “In contrast, our Tokyo is a seemingly utopian society where the illusion of freedom is fragile. Disobey, and the paradise turns into a nightmare. It’s just as terrifying, but in a different way.”
Intriguingly, both writers chose to draw inspiration from sources beyond the well-known cyberpunk anime. Shore noted, “While I watched classics like Your Name, Japan Sinks 2020, and Bubble, I focused on understanding how Japanese media has envisioned the future post the 3.11 Tohoku Disaster.”
“My goal was to avoid repeating themes from anime already influenced by Blade Runner, such as Bubblegum Crisis or Psycho-Pass,” Brown adds. “When creating cyberpunk, you often project your environment's future, as seen with the '80s theme and fear of Japan's rise in the original series. I wanted to reflect current Japanese societal fears and hopes, and what might happen if dangerous forces had their way.”
Set in 2015, Tokyo Nexus occurs just before the events of the original film, raising questions about its connection to the broader Blade Runner timeline. Shore clarifies, “Tokyo Nexus is a standalone in setting, time, and story, but it retains core elements like the Tyrell Corporation and a central mystery. It includes fun nods to the films, yet it’s accessible to newcomers.”
“We're expanding the narrative from Blade Runner: Origins and Blade Runner: 2019,” Brown adds. “We tackle intriguing questions like the Kalanthia War and Tyrell’s Replicant monopoly. Tokyo Nexus sets the stage for a looming civil war among Blade Runner factions, hinting at the rise of a new global power.”
Tokyo Nexus centers on the partnership between a human, Mead, and a Replicant, Stix. Their bond, forged through shared trauma, is the heart of the series.
“Mead and Stix are best friends and platonic life-partners who have endured unimaginable hardship together,” Shore explains. “Their mutual protection is key to their survival, though it sometimes means protecting each other from themselves.”
“Their relationship is beautifully unhealthy,” Brown laughs. “We play with the franchise's ‘More Human Than Human’ theme. Stix craves life while Mead, worn down by systems, is methodical and economic. Their codependency is both their strength and potential downfall.”
As the story progresses, Mead and Stix are drawn into a conflict involving the Tyrell Corporation, the Yakuza, and a Japanese faction called Cheshire, which aims to challenge Tyrell's control over the Replicant market.
“Cheshire is entering the Replicant manufacturing industry with a new military model, supposedly superior to Tyrell’s,” Shore teases.
“Cheshire is more than just a crime syndicate; they have grand ambitions,” Brown elaborates. “With refugee Tyrell scientists in their grasp, they're poised to revolutionize their role in the Blade Runner universe.”
Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Vol. 1 - Die in Peace is now available in comic shops and bookstores. You can also order the book on Amazon.
As part of IGN Fan Fest 2025, we also previewed IDW's new Godzilla shared universe and a sneak peek of an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog storyline.
