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

The *Blade Runner* franchise has truly come to life on the printed page, thanks to Titan Comics' expansion of this iconic cyberpunk universe through various spinoffs and prequels. Currently, they're in the midst of publishing *Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus*, which marks a historic first as the initial *Blade Runner* story set in Japan.

As part of IGN Fan Fest 2025, we had the privilege of conversing with writers Kianna Shore and Mellow Brown to delve into the intricacies of this new series and explore how they infused the *Blade Runner* aesthetic into a new corner of the world. Take a look at the exclusive artwork in the slideshow gallery below to witness the journey from script to fully realized visuals, and then continue reading for more insights:

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

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Tokyo, a city already celebrated in seminal cyberpunk narratives like *Akira* and *Ghost in the Shell*, serves as the backdrop for *Tokyo Nexus*. We were eager to understand how the writers envisioned the Tokyo of this alternate universe in 2015, and how it contrasts with the familiar, neon-drenched Los Angeles of the *Blade Runner* universe.

“Brainstorming Tokyo in the *Blade Runner* universe was such an exhilarating process!” Shore shared with IGN. “Having lived in Japan in 2015 and recently visited some thought-provoking exhibits on 'envisioning the future,' I wanted Tokyo to have its own unique feel and look, distinct from Los Angeles, reflecting their different histories and socioeconomics. My aim was to create a hopepunk Tokyo.”

“I've always admired how Los Angeles in *Blade Runner* is depicted as a decaying, fracturing place on its last legs, with neon lights masking its true state. If you turned those lights off, the hellscape would be revealed,” Brown explains. “Our Tokyo, on the other hand, is a beautiful utopia where people feel controlled. Step out of line, and this 'paradise' can be lethal. It's just as terrifying, but in a different way.”

Interestingly, both writers consciously avoided direct homage to *Akira* and *Ghost in the Shell*, instead drawing inspiration from other media and contemporary Japanese life to craft their version of Tokyo.

Shore notes, “While I drew inspiration from the greats, understanding how Japanese media depicts the future post-3.11 Tohoku Disaster was crucial. Anime like *Your Name*, *Japan Sinks 2020*, and *Bubble* provided valuable insights.”

“My goal was to not replicate anime already influenced by *Blade Runner*, like *Bubblegum Crisis* or *Psycho-Pass*,” Brown adds. “When writing cyberpunk, you reflect your own environment's future. The original series had an '80s LA theme and fears of Japan's rise. Here, I wanted to capture Japan's contemporary fears and hopes, and what could go wrong or right if dangerous elements had their way.”

Set in 2015, a few years before the events of the original film, *Tokyo Nexus* fits into the broader *Blade Runner* timeline. We were curious about its connections to the larger franchise and whether it offers familiar elements for fans or introduces a completely new experience given its Japanese setting.

“*Tokyo Nexus* stands on its own in setting, time, and story,” Shore explains. “However, it wouldn't be *Blade Runner* without the looming presence of Tyrell Corporation and a mystery to unravel. There are nods and Easter eggs for *Blade Runner* fans, but the series is also enjoyable for newcomers.”

Mellow adds, “We're building on the narrative from *Blade Runner: Origins* and *Blade Runner: 2019*. We're excited to explore complex questions like the Kalanthia War and Tyrell's monopoly on Replicant production. This series sets the stage for a secret civil war among Blade Runner organizations, with *Tokyo Nexus* laying the groundwork for one of those groups to rise as a global superpower.”

*Tokyo Nexus* is distinctive for focusing on the partnership between a human, Mead, and a Replicant, Stix. Their close-knit dynamic is central to the series, portraying them as battle-scarred veterans who rely solely on each other in this harsh world.

“Mead and Stix are best friends and life partners in the most platonic sense,” Shore says. “They've endured unimaginable hardships together, bleeding and weeping side by side. Their primary goal is survival, which requires them to trust again.”

“It's a beautiful, yet unhealthy, dynamic,” Brown notes. “We play with the 'More Human Than Human' theme. Stix, the Replicant, constantly seeks life, while Mead, the human, is worn down by systemic pressures and operates with a mechanical logic. They need each other to survive, and their shared trauma has forged a codependent bond that could potentially break them.”

As the narrative progresses, Stix and Mead find themselves entangled in a conflict involving Tyrell Corp, the Yakuza, and a Japanese group named Cheshire. The writers hint that Cheshire plays a significant role in the *Blade Runner* universe, aiming to challenge Tyrell's dominance in Replicant manufacturing.

“Cheshire is trying to break into the Replicant market,” Shore teases. “Their latest model is a military-grade Replicant, supposedly superior in strength and speed, built on Tyrell's foundational technology.”

Mellow adds, “Cheshire is more than just a crime syndicate; they have grand ambitions. When they acquire refugee Tyrell scientists in Tokyo, their potential in this universe becomes limitless.”

*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 got an early look at IDW's new Godzilla shared universe and a sneak peek of an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog storyline.