Blade Runner is one of the few sci-fi universes which has received relatively little extrapolation despite featuring deep worldbuilding and an (at the time) unique art direction and sense of place. Sure, the film did receive a short series of sequel novels and has spawned a few comics since its release, but outside of the recent Blade Runner 2049 there hasn’t historically been as much attention paid to the franchise as other genre contenders. Whether this is because the Blade Runner universe is less fantastical than its contemporaries or because the material itself is heavier and more existential, the fact remains that there’s still so much to explore in the world of replicants. The series hasn’t overstayed its welcome, which makes Blade Runner 2019 at once familiar and refreshing.

The series follows an LAPD detective investigating the disappearance of a major businessman’s wife and daughter. The investigator starts to second guess the tycoon’s motives as she is exposed more and more to an underworld meant to help people and replicants fall off the grid. The protagonist is a highpoint– there are flashbacks to her childhood which serve as an intriguing explanation of both the physical disability the character is hiding and her own emotional baggage. She’s a smart and capable lead which helps the story come to life alongside a cast of flawed but believable characters.

Andres Guinalldo’s art matches the story and the universe perfectly. Everything is simultaneously dilapidated and futuristic, and all the signature anachronisms of the Blade Runner universe are on display– for example, the analog cash register in the plastic surgery clinic is just the kind of touch that makes the setting pop. Special attention should be paid to the colorwork by Marco Lesko. The backgrounds and scenery are the characteristic desaturated blues and drab hues of a future metropolis, but there are spots of light and color all over the washed-out world that practically radiate warmth. The contrast is highly effective and makes the comic visually distinct. Blade Runner 2019 is definitely worth your time thus far, especially if you’re already a fan of the films. It’s good to see the often imitated but rarely well-duplicated series getting more attention.

The first two issues of Blade Runner 2019 are available now!