Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Unveils Cyberpunk Japan's Future at IGN Fan Fest 2025

The Blade Runner franchise has truly flourished in the realm of comics, with Titan Comics expanding its iconic cyberpunk universe through various spinoffs and prequels. Currently, they are captivating fans with "Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus," the first Blade Runner story to unfold in Japan. This new series not only brings the franchise to a new setting but also delves into unique aspects of the universe.

At IGN Fan Fest 2025, we had the privilege of discussing the series with its writers, Kianna Shore and Mellow Brown. They shared insights on how they adapted the distinctive Blade Runner aesthetic to the bustling streets of Tokyo. Below, you can explore an exclusive gallery of artwork that showcases the journey from script to the vivid illustrations of the series.

Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Behind-the-Scenes Art Gallery

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Tokyo, a city already renowned in cyberpunk narratives like Akira and Ghost in the Shell, offers a fresh canvas for the Blade Runner universe. Shore, who lived in Japan during 2015, drew upon her experiences and recent visits to exhibits about envisioning the future to craft a distinctive "hopepunk" Tokyo. She aimed to differentiate it 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. "I wanted Tokyo to look and feel different from Los Angeles since their histories, experiences, and socioeconomics are completely different."

Brown added, "I've always appreciated how Los Angeles (in *Blade Runner*) is a pretty broken, decrepit and fracturing place on its last legs and that the neon is sort of hiding all of that. But, if you ever turned it off, everyone would quickly see they're in a hellscape. Our Tokyo works in parallel. It is this beautiful utopia where people feel like they're on a short leash. And if you disobey the laws of this 'paradise,' it will eat you alive. It is just as scary, just in a different way."

Both writers drew inspiration from contemporary Japanese life and media rather than directly referencing classic anime like Akira or Ghost in the Shell. Shore immersed herself in anime that reflected post-3.11 Tohoku Disaster themes, such as Your Name, Japan Sinks 2020, and Bubble. Meanwhile, Brown aimed to reflect current societal fears and hopes in Japan.

"When you write cyberpunk, you often are reflecting how you think your own environment will go into the future," Brown explained. "So, I wanted to reflect on the fears and hopes of Japan's society today."

Set in 2015, "Tokyo Nexus" is positioned a few years before the events of the original Blade Runner film. Despite its standalone nature, Shore assures fans that it retains key elements of the franchise, such as the influence of the Tyrell Corporation and a compelling mystery. "There are some fun nods and easter eggs alluding to the Blade Runner films, but someone without BR knowledge can also enjoy the comics," she said.

Brown further elaborated on the series' place in the larger universe, "We are continuing to build our story that has been advancing since *Blade Runner: Origins* and just a short time before *Blade Runner: 2019*. We've been excited to answer some complex questions in the universe, like 'What was the Kalanthia War?' and 'Why is Tyrell the only company that makes Replicants?'"

Central to "Tokyo Nexus" is the dynamic between human Mead and Replicant Stix, portrayed as battle-scarred veterans deeply reliant on each other. "Mead and Stix are best friends and platonic life-partners," Shore explained. "They have been through hell and back, bled together, wept together. They only want to protect one another, and sometimes that means from themselves."

Brown added a darker perspective, "It is beautiful in how unhealthy it is. We wanted to play with the 'We're More Human Than Human' quote of the franchise. While Stix is a Replicant with a constant thirst for life, Mead is a human who has been grinded down by systems and is very mechanical and economic in her reasonings. They need each other to make it through life."

As the plot unfolds, Stix and Mead find themselves entangled in a conflict involving the Tyrell Corporation, the Yakuza, and a new player, Cheshire. "Cheshire is trying to compete in the business of Replicant manufacturing," Shore teased. "Their newest Replicant is a military model, made for war. Supposedly stronger and faster, built on the bones that Tyrell fashioned."

Brown elaborated, "Cheshire is a crime organization with ambitions beyond shaking down Mom & Pop shops. When they get a hold of refugee Tyrell Scientists who have escaped to Tokyo, they suddenly discover that the stars are the limit for what they're now capable of in this 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 provided an early look at IDW's new Godzilla shared universe and a sneak peek of an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog storyline.