Written by K. Perkins, Mellow Brown, Mike Johnson.

Art by Fernando Dagnino

Titan Comics, out now

Los Angeles 2009 and LAPD detective Cal Moreaux is given the case of investigating the apparent suicide of an employee at the Tyrell Corporation. Meeting with barely hidden hostility by the Replicant-maker’s personnel, he realises that all is not what it seems.

Blade Runner comics are like flying Spinner cars. You wait for over 35 years to get one, and then another follows shortly after. In this case, it’s an entirely new run, released at the same time as the ongoing Blade Runner 2029 line, but set 10 years before Ridley Scott’s movie. This is the story of the original Blade Runner, Cal Moreaux, presumably before Rick Deckard was on the force.

It’s a new creative team, with only Blade Runner 2029’s Mike Johnson coming across, with main writing duties by K. Perkins (Batwoman), Injustice 2) and Mellow Brown (American Gods). Artist Fernando Dagnino (Superman, Wonder Woman) offers an alternative cityscape to Andres Guinaldo’s spreads, but it’s still unmistakably Scott’s on-screen Hades.

Verdict: Hitting the ground running, this is another Blade Runner winner for Titan. Already I’m intrigued and can’t wait to see what happens next. 9/10

Nick Joy