Blade Runner Comic Books Overview (with The Vern!)

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[00:00:59] 2019, that's good shit too.

[00:01:01] I've read the comic book of Blade Runner in 2018.

[00:01:05] Did you read Origins?

[00:01:07] Did I read Origins? I just read the one with, I think it was the female comic book.

[00:01:13] And Will said they adapted the Electric Sheep book in 09 by Boom Comics.

[00:01:21] I heard about that, but they took the entire text of the comic book or the book and put that in the comic book.

[00:01:28] So you get these pages of great visuals, but then every boss is just the text of the book into there.

[00:01:38] It's like a lot of thought bubbles everywhere.

[00:01:40] Yeah.

[00:01:41] Gotcha.

[00:01:41] Oh, fuck.

[00:01:43] So I don't know if I want to go by with that. I'd rather just read the book or get...

[00:01:47] Alright, alright. Thank you all for being here. It's always a delight.

[00:01:53] So we were having a very intense Blade Runner chat and I hadn't brushed up on the comics yet, but now I have.

[00:02:00] So to update that previous comment that, oh, I need to get to that.

[00:02:05] Well, I have. I'm all caught up.

[00:02:08] So, the beauty of Blade Runner is, while it is very complex, it's never incoherent.

[00:02:15] It's been living on, you know, who would expect it?

[00:02:18] You know, a Philip K. Dick adapted short story to become a cult hit movie.

[00:02:23] Then, you know, get a sequel and an anime and even a video game.

[00:02:29] So we've discussed all of those other stuff, so expect those separate episodes.

[00:02:33] But in this case, I'm just going to give you the nitty and gritty on what stood out about these comics.

[00:02:39] And it's also awesome that, I mean, they put the year of the alternate future in their titles.

[00:02:46] So, Titan Comics, in this case, released a very cool earlier story featuring an earlier detective in the futuristic LAPD, Cal Morrox.

[00:02:58] And this is published, yeah, again, by Titan Comics.

[00:03:01] It's set 10 years after the original movie.

[00:03:03] And follows this investigator going after an unusual apparent suicide of a bioengineer that works at the shady Tyrell Corporation, which produces those replicants.

[00:03:17] And, yeah, this is easily the best of the lot.

[00:03:20] The vibrant colors, the original character is able to hold his own.

[00:03:26] And, of course, nothing is what it spelled out to be.

[00:03:30] There's everything.

[00:03:31] There's a PTSD sufferer, you know, in this detective.

[00:03:39] I love how there's just all this extra reasonable doubt before all the guns start getting waived and all the other sleazy elements come to light.

[00:03:51] And it's set in 2019.

[00:03:52] And just a must read.

[00:03:55] Just very, very intense.

[00:04:00] Aza, the replicant, has escaped.

[00:04:03] And she teams up with Cal.

[00:04:07] And she has the consciousness of the so-called dead scientists.

[00:04:11] So, therefore, they're going to expose a conspiracy by Iora, another evildoer, before the city burns to the ground.

[00:04:21] And it's because Aura is, you know, part of a secret program to transfer these human consciousnesses into the replicant hosts.

[00:04:31] And she's launched an all-out attack, determined to flesh out and kill Nia.

[00:04:37] You know, Nia is, of course, you know, she's got baggage.

[00:04:42] She was once part of this covert program.

[00:04:44] And she's like, no more.

[00:04:45] And I love that tagline.

[00:04:48] Gloves a belly are ablaze.

[00:04:50] So, yeah.

[00:04:51] This takes the cake.

[00:04:53] And you don't have to read any of these in order, just to be clear.

[00:04:58] But, you know, it helps, obviously.

[00:05:01] But, yeah.

[00:05:04] But this is set, yeah.

[00:05:11] I take it back.

[00:05:12] It's actually set in an alternate 2009.

[00:05:15] Even though it was published in 2021.

[00:05:17] So, sorry about that.

[00:05:18] But, yes, the next one.

[00:05:20] And this is where it gets confused.

[00:05:21] The 2019 series.

[00:05:23] And this had Mike Johnson and Michael Green, one of the writers of the newer movie, working on this one.

[00:05:32] This features Ash.

[00:05:35] L.A. PD, Blade Runner.

[00:05:41] And, you know, it is just a little more intense.

[00:05:49] And this won a 2020 Scribe Award for Best Graphic Novel.

[00:05:56] But, yeah.

[00:05:57] I like how Ash, you know, she can't stand these Blade Runners.

[00:06:02] She's, again, you know.

[00:06:03] It's published by Tyne Comics.

[00:06:05] And, again, you know, she's going into the outer, off-world colonies.

[00:06:09] Trying to expose a conspiracy that could bring down an empire.

[00:06:12] This plays out kind of more like Altered Carbon in a way.

[00:06:16] Where it's more action-y.

[00:06:18] So, it can get a little repetitive.

[00:06:19] But, it is very well drawn and very engaging.

[00:06:23] The next one up.

[00:06:25] 2029.

[00:06:27] Also came out in 2020.

[00:06:28] And it continues the Ash character.

[00:06:33] And I love how this character, you know, also suffers from a rare spinal condition.

[00:06:43] And her mother left the night after diagnosis for the Afro colonies to earn money and send it back to support her.

[00:06:52] While she was being cared for by her grandmother.

[00:06:58] And it's good at exposing some of the underworld.

[00:07:02] You know, people who are, you know, blackmailing her.

[00:07:07] Her grandma runs a food stand.

[00:07:10] And is annoyed by the officers.

[00:07:13] The police come in, refusing to pay.

[00:07:16] And apparently the cosplayer, Ray Renex.

[00:07:21] The Ukrainian-born actress and musician.

[00:07:24] Betrayed the Ash character in all the 2029 covers.

[00:07:29] So, I think that's cool.

[00:07:31] Just, the script writers were impressed by how she looked.

[00:07:35] They're like, yeah.

[00:07:37] She apparently had done other characters.

[00:07:43] Like, Elle from Black Lotus.

[00:07:46] More on that later.

[00:07:47] And Joy from the sequel.

[00:07:54] So, I think that's cool.

[00:07:55] That, you know, 2049.

[00:07:59] You know.

[00:08:02] Just, sequel opened up all these extra comic books.

[00:08:05] And just, you know.

[00:08:08] Just so much that happened in between.

[00:08:10] You know, prior to that you just had a CD-ROM.

[00:08:13] You know, video game to rely on.

[00:08:15] And, uh, no.

[00:08:18] I do, a lot of the animation here definitely looks like a lot of the ultra carbon comics.

[00:08:25] And that's fine.

[00:08:26] You know.

[00:08:26] Same kind of premise and everything.

[00:08:28] But yeah, 2029 just picks up.

[00:08:31] It's about 12 issues.

[00:08:35] And, jeez.

[00:08:36] Investigating the construction of a seawall.

[00:08:40] Uh, which basically is gonna.

[00:08:43] Uh.

[00:08:45] It's constructed to protect the city from rising sea levels due to climate change in the future.

[00:08:52] Uh.

[00:08:53] You know.

[00:08:54] All while finding secrets by Dr. Tyrell.

[00:08:57] You know.

[00:08:57] The original founder, mad scientist.

[00:08:59] Who.

[00:09:01] Is killed by the replicants in the original movie.

[00:09:05] And.

[00:09:06] Yeah.

[00:09:07] It's a little more intense and everything.

[00:09:09] But still intriguing.

[00:09:11] And then we got Black Lotus.

[00:09:14] Uh.

[00:09:15] Leaving LA.

[00:09:16] And again.

[00:09:16] This is just a prequel.

[00:09:17] Spin off of.

[00:09:18] The Adult Swim.

[00:09:20] Black Lotus anime cartoon.

[00:09:22] And that's set.

[00:09:24] In 2032.

[00:09:26] And that.

[00:09:26] You know.

[00:09:26] Again.

[00:09:27] Has Nia Wallace.

[00:09:28] The main gal.

[00:09:29] She's got a cool samurai sword.

[00:09:31] She's an heir to the Tyrell Empire.

[00:09:33] And.

[00:09:34] Gonna create the joy hologram.

[00:09:36] And the replicant love.

[00:09:37] That we're seeing in the 2049 movie.

[00:09:41] And yeah.

[00:09:42] This gets the job done.

[00:09:43] You know.

[00:09:43] It's not necessary.

[00:09:44] But if you want a little more.

[00:09:45] Just exposition.

[00:09:47] In between.

[00:09:48] You know.

[00:09:49] Watching the anime.

[00:09:50] Check it out.

[00:09:50] Especially.

[00:09:51] If you like.

[00:09:53] How this universe made use of the manga style.

[00:09:56] And Nancy Collins.

[00:09:58] The author of this.

[00:09:59] Has.

[00:10:02] Also done.

[00:10:03] Just.

[00:10:04] Find the Abe's books.

[00:10:06] Just all kinds of better tie-in media.

[00:10:08] So.

[00:10:09] Good on her.

[00:10:10] And then we get to.

[00:10:12] Blade Runner 2039.

[00:10:14] Which.

[00:10:16] Once again.

[00:10:17] The Ash character comes back.

[00:10:19] And that's the conclusion of this trilogy.

[00:10:21] This came out in 2022.

[00:10:23] And recently concluded.

[00:10:24] In April of 2024.

[00:10:27] So that's where I was confused.

[00:10:28] I'm like.

[00:10:28] Didn't they just finish this?

[00:10:29] I'm like.

[00:10:30] No.

[00:10:30] No.

[00:10:30] There were free volumes.

[00:10:31] You know.

[00:10:33] Love.

[00:10:33] Upgrade.

[00:10:34] And then Ash.

[00:10:35] Those names.

[00:10:36] The free covers.

[00:10:37] And again.

[00:10:38] They make great use of the neo-noir.

[00:10:40] And I.

[00:10:41] You know.

[00:10:41] There's throwbacks to earlier characters.

[00:10:45] And.

[00:10:51] Yeah.

[00:10:52] Isabel.

[00:10:53] Who's.

[00:10:54] The wife of.

[00:10:56] Alexander.

[00:10:57] An employee of the.

[00:10:58] Canaan Corporation.

[00:11:01] Uh.

[00:11:02] Uh.

[00:11:03] Basically.

[00:11:04] Following.

[00:11:04] A blackout.

[00:11:06] Uh.

[00:11:07] That.

[00:11:07] Effected.

[00:11:08] L.A.

[00:11:08] For 10 years.

[00:11:09] In.

[00:11:09] This alternate.

[00:11:10] 2022.

[00:11:12] Uh.

[00:11:12] This shady corporation.

[00:11:13] Decided to seize the Tyrell Corporation.

[00:11:16] Yeah.

[00:11:17] But even more prohibition.

[00:11:19] On replicant production.

[00:11:20] But they hired a number of the.

[00:11:22] Engineers to legally purchase.

[00:11:24] Uh.

[00:11:25] This obedient.

[00:11:26] Replicant series.

[00:11:29] Nexus 8s.

[00:11:31] And.

[00:11:32] Those are portrayed again.

[00:11:34] You know.

[00:11:34] In.

[00:11:37] Uh.

[00:11:37] Both the 2049 movie.

[00:11:39] As well as.

[00:11:39] Uh.

[00:11:40] Black Lotus.

[00:11:41] TV show.

[00:11:42] So.

[00:11:43] I.

[00:11:43] Think that was cool.

[00:11:44] That.

[00:11:44] Again.

[00:11:45] You know.

[00:11:45] There's.

[00:11:47] It's not just.

[00:11:48] It never ends with just one bad apple.

[00:11:50] You know.

[00:11:50] Just like.

[00:11:51] Skynet.

[00:11:52] You know.

[00:11:52] The corporation.

[00:11:53] And the Terminator films.

[00:11:54] There's always somebody.

[00:11:56] And.

[00:11:57] I like how.

[00:11:59] Again.

[00:12:00] Isabel Gal.

[00:12:01] You know.

[00:12:01] She's replaced by a replicant.

[00:12:04] And.

[00:12:04] She's gonna research.

[00:12:07] Uh.

[00:12:08] Neander Wallace.

[00:12:09] Yeah.

[00:12:10] You know.

[00:12:10] He's the scientist you see in 2049.

[00:12:13] He's all.

[00:12:14] Diabolical.

[00:12:16] Uh.

[00:12:17] So.

[00:12:17] Yeah.

[00:12:17] Isabel's daughter Cleo.

[00:12:18] She's gonna help out Ash.

[00:12:20] Because she believes that.

[00:12:22] Wallace is keeping.

[00:12:24] Uh.

[00:12:25] Her mother.

[00:12:26] Captive.

[00:12:28] And.

[00:12:28] You know.

[00:12:29] This wasn't as needed.

[00:12:30] Or intriguing.

[00:12:31] But.

[00:12:31] Again.

[00:12:32] You know.

[00:12:33] Hats off to him.

[00:12:33] You know.

[00:12:34] I couldn't do this.

[00:12:35] This is.

[00:12:36] Love all the sketch art.

[00:12:38] That they publish in between.

[00:12:39] The different.

[00:12:40] Covers and everything.

[00:12:41] And.

[00:12:42] Again.

[00:12:43] Easy to follow.

[00:12:45] Callbacks to.

[00:12:46] Again.

[00:12:47] Some of the characters.

[00:12:49] In the 2049.

[00:12:50] 2009 comics.

[00:12:51] So you know.

[00:12:52] It.

[00:12:52] It's a pretty well fleshed out.

[00:12:54] Expanded universe.

[00:12:55] It's not like.

[00:12:56] With Star Wars.

[00:12:57] Where.

[00:12:57] You're looking at it.

[00:12:58] And you're like.

[00:12:59] Hmm.

[00:12:59] That contradicted.

[00:13:00] That thing.

[00:13:01] And this thing.

[00:13:02] So.

[00:13:03] Recently.

[00:13:03] The Tokyo Nexus comic.

[00:13:05] Has come out.

[00:13:05] It.

[00:13:06] And since.

[00:13:07] It's going to be a while.

[00:13:09] Before Titan.

[00:13:10] Comics releases.

[00:13:11] The next two volumes.

[00:13:13] I'm going to put a hold on that.

[00:13:14] I'm going to cover that.

[00:13:15] Much later.

[00:13:16] That's going to be.

[00:13:16] Get its own separate episode.

[00:13:18] But.

[00:13:18] In the meantime.

[00:13:19] Thank you for listening.

[00:13:21] And hope I entertained your eardrums.

[00:13:23] And.

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