Cyberpunk fans won’t want to miss the Johnny Silverhand 1/6 Scale Figure by Hot Toys. Johnny Silverhand, revolutionary Rockerboy and lead singer of Samurai, died in 2023 and awoke again in 2077 when his engram was uploaded to the brain of an Edgerunner named V. As both vie for control of the host consciousness, their fates are tied together as they try to survive in Nightcity.
Based on the appearance of Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand in the game Cyberpunk 2077, the Johnny Silverhand 1/6 Scale Figure brilliantly captures all the swagger of the ultimate Rockerboy. The figure boasts a newly developed and expertly crafted hand-painted headsculpt, and a newly designed body with detailed cybernetic arm and tattoos. Johnny’s iconic outfit is beautifully tailored with weathered accents, and includes faux leather pants, bullet proof vest, and a belt. The figure also comes with an array of signature accessories including the Malorian pistol, guitar with strap, duffel bag, a bottle of liquor, sunglasses, and dog tags.
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One of the most fascinating panels from this year’s San Diego Comic Con came from TitanComics’ Blade Runner 2019creator roundtable. What made it so interesting, in a nutshell, is that the creators of the book agreed that what made writing Blade Runner 2019 so liberating was the fact there isn’t a long line of sequels, prequels, and trilogies to honor and reference. This isn’t Star Wars. It allowed for more creative freedom when populating the Blade Runner universe with new stories and further worldbuilding. Blade Runner 2019 #9 is a perfect example of this.
While the latest issue of the series is being presented as a new jumping on point for fans, there’s no doubt the book is aimed at readers that have been following the story since day one. I won’t spoil the story up to this point, but know that the kidnapping case that sets off the events of the entire series are still influencing the path the main character, Ash, is on.
Operating outside the legal confines of Blade Runners, Ash lands on a new problem that threatens to derail her search for answers involving old clusters of replicants hiding in old but familiar places and long lost projects coming up to the surface once more. Some of these parts of the story allow for accessibility but are still reliant on the previous developments. Not an easy jump in.
Blade Runner 2019 #9, Titan Comics
The creative team of Michael Green, Mike Johnson, and artist Andres Guinaldo do manage to keep the dark neon world of Blade Runner welcoming. In fact, Guinaldo’s work alone is enough to justify the buy. Issue #9 sees a return to the Los Angeles we’ve come to know and love from the movies and Guinaldo takes extra care to revisit classic locations with both nostalgia and new mysteries leading the way.
There’s a scene where Ash flies over the ruins of the Tyrell Corporation that’s particularly impressive due to how imposing it still manages to be regardless of its current state. Green and Johnson’s scripting put Guinaldo in a position to carry a lot of the storytelling on visuals alone. In fact, one of the things this comic does well is not overwhelm the pages with text. The comic genuinely plays to the idea that dystopic LA is its own character.
While the Phillip K. Dick sci-fi vibes are definitely present in this new story arc, I was pleasantly surprised to find a bit of horror thrown into the mix. Ash meets a group of zombie-like replicants that put their own spin on synthetic body horror, subtly but effectively. There’s the potential for even more disturbing replicant designs as the story moves forward.
The same pulp sensibilities of the previous entries and the movies is still present and it helps emphasize each small happening into a crucial and story-defining development. In a world where change comes at the cost of humanity, these things matter. Green, Johnson, and Guinaldo do a good job of capturing it all and giving it the time it deserves.
Blade Runner 2019 #9 is not as simple a jumping on point as it suggests it is, but if it inspires people to go back and read the first issues then it is hitting all the right notes. This series is a treasure trove of cyberpunk storytelling and any excuse it gives readers to explore it is a good one.
Script: Michael Green & Mike Johnson, Art: Andres Guinaldo Story: 9.0 Art: 10 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Read or reread Blade Runner 2019 issues 1-8, then read #9
Titan Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Mine To Avenge: Book Of Layla #1, a new Kickstarter which kicked off on the 14th of November, is a futuristic cyberpunk filled with action and a dash of the supernatural. As spoiler free as possible, the first issue is a solid starting point for readers with its fast-moving plot that pulls you in with tight dialogue and snappy banter. Mine To Avenge is a mystery that starts in pre-Civil War New Orleans, then time jumps to Russia in the 22nd century, where we find our main characters rescuing a damsel in distress followed by the return of a dark nemesis.
Written and created by Robert Jeffrey II, keep an eye out for him as a recent participant of the DC Comics Writers Workshop program, you can see the refinement of his writing skills in this creator-owned project. Supporting him is an Italian artist Matteo Illuminati, whose work is new to me, but another one to look out for as he does characters and action amazingly well. Also helping with the visuals of the book is colorist and letterer Loris Ravina, whose color pallet helps to enhance and set the mood of the story.
And for proof of development, here are the first six pages of the book.
The Cellarius Universe (CX)— is an original, transmedia cyberpunk franchise that leverages blockchain technology and user-generated assets to create a collaborative, fan-curated story.
That means they want you to be a part of the writing process! Do fans want to write a new universe? And how does all this work? What role does diversity and representation play in building a user generated world? And how does ownership of content play out in a situation like this?
We’re joined by Gregory Whiting, the Community, Ethics, and Inclusion Lead of Cellarius Universe and by Kat Overland, small press editor at Women Write About Comics and fanfic afficionado.
