Blade Runner: Origins, Vol. 2: Scrap

Blade Runner: Origins

by K. Perkins, Mellow Brown (Writer), Fernando Dagnino (Illustrator)

An exciting new graphic novel! Welcome to the world of Blade Runner 2009 and the birth of the BLADE RUNNER DIVISION.

LAPD detective CAL MOREAUX has teamed up with an escaped experimental REPLICANT, who has been uploaded with the memories of a dead Tyrell Corporation scientist, whose suicide he was sent to investigate. Now they must run and fight a conspiracy hatched in the very heart of the Tyrell Corporation.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Cyberpunk, Fiction, Crime, Graphic Novels Comics

112 pages, Paperback

First published February 16, 2022

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blade Runner is probably one of my all time favourite shared worlds (well it is now) dont get me wrong I still love the rest (you know who you are) but this was probably the first to make a huge impact on me. Watching the opening sequence of the original film all those years ago still sticks with me.

So of course an origin story is a must for me - and so far I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Is it a true origin story or just a prequal well I would say the latter but you know what I don't care. This series so far has captured all the pace and atmosphere I hoped for and gave a story I honestly think something different and yet totally in keeping with the world already created.

There has been a lot of material released (from sequels to animated series, role playing games and now comics) and I think so far all of them have added depth and colour to what could easily be left as 2 dimensional cliche

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well at least the coat gets a proper origin story!

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first Blade Runner comic that's a true disappointment. The complex setup of the first volume only grows more complex - until suddenly it isn't, and were down to three characters in a slum brawl. Why are they battling? How are they related? What does the outcome matter? The answers are all *waves hand* somewhere, but I couldn't point it out to you in this series.

The art continues to be good and some moments click. But overall, there's too much dialogue, too much unexplained action, and too many characters with white/blond hair. The teaser for the next volume suggests that this Origins series is an origin for blade running as a profession. Really? Pretty sure it's been a failure in that regard.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the weighted jacket idea for an improvised weapon. Lots of transference going on.

[Fraser Simons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although no longer officially a blade runner, the story progresses as you’d expect. I wasn’t wild about the fights getting so bombastic. I much prefer the Blade Runner universe to be grounded, slow, methodical, cerebral. When it gets to a conflict that takes up a lot of space it makes the larger issue feel a bit boring. But the art and paneling is still fantastic, so~

[David Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these Blade Runner stories. From 2019 to 2029, to Origins (vol 1 & 2).
Going to immediately jump on Origins vol 3. I am going to back order the first couple issues of Blade Runner 2039. Oh, and I will pick up Black Lotus vol 1 in print and video!

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed like it was heading somewhere interesting, but kind of got off-track this volume. It's a bit hard to follow when 3 of the main characters all have the same, buzz-cut, silver-white hair. And there's an extended sequence that jumps back to the past to show--I'm just guessing here--some of the defining moments for Tyrrell exec Ilora, though to what point or purpose? Dunno. The artwork is strong, but the story needs to be clearer.

[Frédéric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review for the whole series

I love Blade Runner as much as the next guy. Maybe even more. But this series doesn’t keep up the promises the title let hope for.

The plot is so poorly handled it hurts: Narration is confused and confusing (to have 3 characters with white crewcuts doesn’t help btw) with too many dialogues (some sounding phony). Some long scenes are utterly useless (Ilona’s flashback stands out in that regard) and transitions are all shot to hell. I didn’t even clearly understood Cal’s actions at the end and the twist with the Nexus 5’s identity was contrived as fuck.

I actually wondered if K. Perkins had ever written other comics or if it was her first series. Apparently not but she isn’t got many under the belt and she clearly needs to hone her writing skills.

Art is mostly good but neither amazing nor flawless. Colors help a great deal in setting an atmosphere close to Ridley Scott’s movie.

So these origins kinda jumped the gun and remain a disappointment as far as I’m concerned.

[José Paulo · Rating 3 out of 5]

And then the confusion from the first volume became a mess in this second one. The story line gets more confusing, in terms of characters, backstories, current story, and at times really does not seem to make sense. In the end, even the art, although we guess it is made with the clear intention of being somewhat fluid and representative of the action, becomes itself a mess. Will read the 3rd volume, to end the series, but this will be a somewhat missed shot in the Blade Runner universe. I am leveling at 3 stars, but...

[Zare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more 3.5 than 4 but I go with 4 because of the truly beautiful graphics.

Same as first volume this one is also "angry" story. As our hero detective Cal works on finding the mysterious Nexus android he comes into conflict .... with almost everyone. And I dont mean conflict as conflict-during-the-investigation but conflict in way of standard we-hood-you-cop-we-hate-you conflict or you-privileged-we-hate-you. Just pick up every current slogan and it looks like authors decided to apply it to the story. I mean every work is reflection of the society where it came to life. But for me it is lazy writing to just repeat the everyday slogans to make the story click. If it clicks, it will be clicking only for the current age and after that it wont click at all. Make the story good and introduce all the critique you want but make it subtle, true moral of the story - that has the biggest effect.

Maybe this was the element that I had problem with - I mean, you gotta admit that there is saturation with these justified-hate elements in everyday life, in media, amongst people .... everywhere. It is not something I want to read in comics (entire world is currently like some crazy episode of Preacher, comics should be an escapism). So .... social upheaval......OK.... We have Nexus androids in role of oppressed (although I dont remember anyone oppressed being capable of single-handedly splitting human in half), cops-are-bad cliche and they betray their 'hoods by being cops [or working for corpo's] .... Only cliche that I can [kinda] live with is Big Evil Corporation, Tyrell Corp. Because they are the ultimate baddies, and our guys should fight against them not between themselves. Right? Well, I guess we might see this in volume 3, because in volume 2 it is still infighting for different reasons between good guys.

Story does get disjointed at the end - at one point there is a rather weird kung-fu bare hand showdown between Cal, mysterious Nexus android (wont say much more in order not to spoil the story), mysterious Asa and crazy homicidal Nexus android. It is almost as somebody decided to go all-superhero in this part. As I said .... weird.

It all ends up on a cliffhanger and I have to say I am interested how story progresses. Tyrell deciding to involve their .... executive branch (?) .... in the slum area surely raises the stakes. I wonder what will happen next. I just want creative team to concentrate on the story progress and not that much on incorporating the current politics in it. It is dystopia, we already know it, dont press it.

Art as always is wonderful, even that weird part I mentioned is drawn very well, it is just that it looks so out of place in Blade Runner novel.

So all in all, very good volume number 2, looking forward to next chapter.

Recommended to fans of SF noir detective stories and of course Blade Runner universe.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Individual issue reviews: #5 | #6 | #7 | #8

Total review score: 2.375

[Bruno Franco Netto · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an upgrade on the first volume. I still think there are some pacing issues here, and the story never really hits the heights of the OG Blade Runner tale, but in this second volume the story of Cal, Nia and Asa picks up speed and everything starts to make more sense. I also love the art and this feels like a proper SciFi Noire Detective story.

[Vegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice. Good visuals but sometimes abit confusing. The two main characters look somewhat alike depending on the lighting and the story is fairly interesting but not great. Prefer the 2019-2029 series. But okay.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blade Runner origins – Volume 2 – Scrap

#5 – “Hi, Ms. I’m Cal Moreaux. Is there a replicant in your apartment?”
#6 – “Because Cal Moreaux is a man who will weaponize anything to have an advantage.”
#7 – “I’m a survivalist, Mr Kine.”
#8 – “Some rocks can never be molded.” – Cal ***

[Robert Hudder · Rating 2 out of 5]

The prequel continues. There is double crossing, some philosophy. Missing is the dark paranoia and deep questions of the source material. This feels more like the prequel to the movies rather than a prequel to the novella.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never gels into a comprehensible narrative. Hints at Cal being a human-in-Replicant copy, but then he isn’t? But his sister is? It’s all about freedom, not revenge? And why does the setting keep switching to the 2019 designs? Volume 1 was confusing, volume 2 maintains that confusion.

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice to keep going

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the Blade Runner world.

[Sam Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

[Sadiel Giron · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a decent read. Definitely enjoyed the artwork as usual. The story was a tad bit confusing at times. Still looking forward to the next trade.

[Sarospice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our noir detective is in deep with the synths as the hunt for the latest failed batch leads to his neighborhood and family. This might be a good story without even thinking about Blade runner.

[Paul Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good continuation of the story. Class! Privilege! Replicants becoming more aware. The precursor to Barry and the need for Blade Runners.

[Mark Ames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable noir comic.

[Michael Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Terminus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh...

[Max Duijsens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still not picking up the story after Vol.1 - somehow it's confusing as hell.

[Greg Burrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doesn’t feel very Blade Runner. Bogged down with too many fights. The plot is lifted straight from Humans (the television show) and many other sci-fi stories.

[Rish · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️/5⭐️

[Zachary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly better than the first iteration of this series. Volume 2 felt like there were more consequences for characters' actions.

Unfortunately, the plot gets very muddled by the end and things just start happening just to move the story along.

It doesn't help that three main characters look very similar to one another.