An end of an era. Ever since I started this Blade Runner review journey in 2019, we’ve witnessed the power of storytelling at its best. New mysteries, new characters and new perspectives on the Replicants and humans divide, which in turn has made for essential reading. The encouraging factor from its success is that we’ll see more stories from this universe, including a TV series in Blade Runner 2099 and the tease of the next comic book adventure from Titan Comics in Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus.
But for the final time in this particular universe, Mike Johnson enters the writing arena trying to wrap up “The Ash Saga”, a character who has gone from hunting Replicants to being their protector. Issue #12 has a lot riding on it in terms of navigating its conclusion. Yet based on Johnson’s previous form with closing chapters, the same writing frailties still persist.
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If #12 was a football match, then it would be a game of two halves. In its epic first half, filled with enough twists and psychological chess piece moves, it’s hard to argue against the intention. Ash fulfils her endgame plan by coming face to face with the person who has caused so much fear and terror amongst Replicants – Niander Wallace. And rightly so, given what is at stake with the future, it naturally takes on the bulk of the issue. Its second half doesn’t have the same stamina, sleepwalking into a finale guilty of rushing its story that doesn’t quite do its journey justice.
But I can’t sit here and pretend that writing a finale is an easy job. Of course, it isn’t, especially when you have to keep Blade Runner’s evolving mythology in mind. The world of Blade Runner has always deserved a bigger canvas for lengthy exploration, and Johnson does his best to work within comic book limitations to connect to a future that’s only ten years away from Denis Villeneuve’s film. But at least Ash’s ending leaves its readers with something poignant to think about. It is a “goodbye” of sorts, with reality starting to hit home in its closing pages. Ash was never going to kill Niander Wallace. Her best shot at survival was always to bargain with the devil. Issue #12 sees Wallace offer Ash a life-saving deal – to cure her debilitating disease that affects her mobility. But there is a catch (because there’s always one) – Isobel Selwyn is still a vital piece on the chessboard, and Wallace still wants her.
To the surprise of no one, the power-play move by Wallace keeps in tune with his ‘I’m an untouchable God’ school of thinking where every problem can be solved through technology. To an avid fan, the offer made to Deckard when faced with a similar choice will bring back memories, and like Deckard, we watch Ash reject the notion as if to say happiness doesn’t thrive through something artificial. It’s a powerful moment in the story, serving as an apt reminder of why Ash is a special character. Her unwavering determination and intelligence are one of a kind in what follows next.
To his credit, Johnson has fun with this matchup between Ash and Wallace, deceiving Wallace and its readers with an inspired switcheroo between Ash and her Replicant doppelganger Rash. As you would expect, it’s a bloody, action-packed spectacle once the ruse is up (with Andres Guinaldo and Marco Lesko bringing the artistic quality once again), and Rash showcases her loyalty and commitment to a free Replicant society. Whilst more time could and should have been dedicated to their exploits, this action all but solidifies their trust.
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Yet the shortcomings from its final chapter are visible. Ash gives Wallace an important data disc that holds the key to Replicants’ future – procreation. And while we may already know the story of Wallace’s ‘failure’ (2049 gave us ‘the miracle child’ in Deckard’s daughter), its aftermath is handled too neatly, cleanly and quickly to feel the emotional weight and depth from Ash’s decision. It’s a surface-level conclusion that could have benefited from extra pages.
This is notable in how it resolves Freysa and Ash’s relationship. Johnson strays away from the melodrama, but the lack of comic time for Freysa means the emotional ender Johnson seeks never quite reaches its apex. Their exchanges deserve more than a couple of sentences, summing up how isolated and side-lined their respective arcs have been. You can almost taste the betrayal when reading “I should throw you off this roof” from Freysa. But Ash’s decision needed more time to cook.
But the poignancy – which I referred to earlier – stems from Ash’s psychology throughout this entire 2039 chapter. It has become more about her legacy, wrestling with past mistakes and coming to terms with her end. It’s a morally complex journey of acceptance that comes full circle. In other words: it’s inevitably human.
Once the dust has settled, Ash’s story has provided immense joy and satisfaction in showing the possibilities of the franchise. That’s all that matters despite its ‘rough around the edges’ narrative. Nevertheless, the trip has been worth it.
Blade Runner 2039 #12 is out now from Titan Comics.
