Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus Reveals a New Vision of Cyberpunk Japan - IGN Fan Fest 2025

The Blade Runner franchise has truly flourished on the printed page, with Titan Comics significantly expanding this iconic cyberpunk universe through various spinoffs and prequels. Currently, they are actively publishing *Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus*, marking it as the first Blade Runner story set in Japan. This exciting series brings the franchise into a new cultural and geographic landscape, offering fresh perspectives and narratives.

During IGN Fan Fest 2025, we had the privilege of speaking with writers Kianna Shore and Mellow Brown to explore the depths of this new series and understand how they adapted the Blade Runner aesthetic to a Japanese setting. Dive into the exclusive artwork in the slideshow gallery below, which illustrates the journey from script to the final art, and then continue reading to discover more about *Tokyo Nexus*:

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

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Tokyo, a city often featured in seminal cyberpunk narratives like *Akira* and *Ghost in the Shell*, is now a new frontier for the Blade Runner universe. We were eager to learn how Shore and Brown envisioned Tokyo in this alternate universe version of 2015, and how it contrasts with the familiar, neon-drenched Los Angeles of the original Blade Runner.

“Brainstorming Tokyo in the Blade Runner universe was an exhilarating process!” Shore shared with IGN. “Having lived in Japan in 2015 and recently visiting exhibits on envisioning the future, I aimed to craft a Tokyo that feels distinct from Los Angeles. Given their different histories and socioeconomics, my goal was to create a hopepunk version of Tokyo.”

“Los Angeles in *Blade Runner* feels broken and on the brink, with neon masking its decay,” Brown added. “Our Tokyo, on the other hand, is a beautiful utopia where people feel constrained. Disobey the rules, and this paradise can become a nightmare. It's just as menacing, but in a different way.”

Interestingly, both writers consciously avoided directly referencing *Akira* and *Ghost in the Shell*, instead drawing inspiration from other media and contemporary Japanese life. Shore explained, “I watched anime like *Your Name*, *Japan Sinks 2020*, and *Bubble* to understand how Japanese media depicts the future post-3.11 Tohoku Disaster.”

Brown added, “My goal was not to reiterate anime inspired by Blade Runner, such as *Bubblegum Crisis* or *Psycho-Pass*. Writing cyberpunk often reflects your own environment's future trajectory. I wanted to capture the hopes and fears of modern Japanese society and explore what could go right or wrong.”

Set in 2015, *Tokyo Nexus* precedes the events of the original film. We were curious about how the series connects to the broader Blade Runner franchise. Shore noted, “*Tokyo Nexus* stands alone in setting, time, and story. Yet, it retains the essence of Blade Runner with the influence of the Tyrell Corporation and a central mystery. There are nods and easter eggs for fans, but it's accessible to newcomers as well.”

Mellow elaborated, “Our story builds on *Blade Runner: Origins* and precedes *Blade Runner: 2019*. We're exploring deep questions like the Kalanthia War and Tyrell's Replicant monopoly, leading to a secret civil war among Blade Runner organizations. *Tokyo Nexus* lays the groundwork for one such organization's rise to global power.”

*Tokyo Nexus* uniquely focuses on the partnership between a human, Mead, and a Replicant, Stix. Their close dynamic is central to the series, depicting them as battle-hardened veterans reliant on each other in a harsh world.

“Mead and Stix are platonic life-partners, having endured unimaginable trials together,” Shore said. “Their bond is about protection and survival, but it hinges on trust.”

“Their relationship is beautifully unhealthy,” Brown laughed. “We explore the 'More Human Than Human' theme. Stix has a relentless thirst for life, while Mead, worn down by systems, is very mechanical. They depend on each other to navigate life, having survived a horrific scenario that's fostered a potentially destructive codependency.”

As the series progresses, Stix and Mead find themselves entangled in a conflict involving the Tyrell Corporation, the Yakuza, and a Japanese entity called Cheshire, which is trying to break into Tyrell's Replicant market.

“Cheshire is venturing into Replicant manufacturing,” Shore teased. “Their new model is designed for warfare, supposedly surpassing Tyrell's creations.”

Mellow added, “Cheshire isn't just a crime syndicate; they have grander ambitions. With refugee Tyrell scientists in Tokyo, they've unlocked vast potential in the Replicant market.”

*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.

Also at IGN Fan Fest 2025, we offered an early look at IDW's new Godzilla shared universe and a sneak peek of an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog storyline.