Written by Michael Green & Mike Johnson

Art by Andres Guinaldo

Titan Comics, out now

Off-World 2026: Cleo and her replicant companion Padraic believe ‘Blade Runner’ Detective Ashina is dead, victim of an insurgence of mine workers, and make their escape to the stars with the killers.

The second issue of the second movement of Titan’s spinoff of Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi classic immediately reassures us that Ash is still alive (no great surprise), discovered among the carnage of the ship. Unfortunately, she is now the focus of Hythe, an enigmatic female Blade Runner from London who has been searching for her since she went off grid. A session with an antique Voight-Kampff confirms that she’s not a replicant, and that she’s also lying. Cover blown.

Out in the stars, Cleo is still disguised as a shaven-headed boy, Rabbit, staying alive amongst the saboteurs by providing valuable entry to a new world, Ramanjua, and keeping one step ahead of the Heidecker-Vostro corporation, who are in hot pursuit.

In many ways serving as a reset button, the issue concludes with Ash back on her feet – the robo-brace now functioning and allowing her to walk – and ready to look for Cleo again. As with previous issues, Andres Guinaldo’s artwork is spot-on, and kudos to Marco Lesko’s colouring for capturing the muted colour palette of this bleached dystopian world.

Verdict: After a short hiatus, Blade Runner 2019 is back, our favourite ongoing diversion into a miserable future. Grim, grimy and addictive – let’s see how Ash bounces back now that she can be herself again. 8/10

Nick Joy