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Blade Runner 2039 (Collected Editions)
Blade Runner 2039, Vol. 1: Luv
The officially sanctioned, critically-acclaimed, graphic novel. Written by the New York Times Bestselling author Mike Johnson, writer of Star Trek, Supergirl, Transformers and Green Lantern. The original creative team returns for this new chapter.
This first volume marks the start of the final chapter in the saga of Ash.
Los Angeles 2039. It has been three years since Niander Wallace introduced his brand of ‘perfectly obedient’ Replicants, and the ban on synthetic humans has been lifted, at least for the new Wallace models―the older Tyrell Corp’s Nexus 8 units are still hunted by Blade Runners.
Cleo Selwyn, first seen as a small child in Blade Runner 2019, has returned to L.A. some twenty years later, searching for Isobel, a Replicant copy of her real mother who died when she was three. Cleo believes that Niander Wallace is holding Isobel captive, and the only person she can call on for help is the one who saved her so many years ago: Aahna ‘Ash’ Ashina, now an aging and disgraced ex-Blade Runner.
This first volume marks the start of the final chapter in the saga of Ash.
Los Angeles 2039. It has been three years since Niander Wallace introduced his brand of ‘perfectly obedient’ Replicants, and the ban on synthetic humans has been lifted, at least for the new Wallace models―the older Tyrell Corp’s Nexus 8 units are still hunted by Blade Runners.
Cleo Selwyn, first seen as a small child in Blade Runner 2019, has returned to L.A. some twenty years later, searching for Isobel, a Replicant copy of her real mother who died when she was three. Cleo believes that Niander Wallace is holding Isobel captive, and the only person she can call on for help is the one who saved her so many years ago: Aahna ‘Ash’ Ashina, now an aging and disgraced ex-Blade Runner.
112 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2023
3 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Mike Johnson
616 books54 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Mike Johnson is a comic book writer.
An almost lifelong Trekkie, he has scripted more Star Trek comic books than anyone else to date.
Mike Johnson is a comic book writer.
An almost lifelong Trekkie, he has scripted more Star Trek comic books than anyone else to date.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 28, 2023
I do Luv this series, just the sense of building dread on a decrepit world I needed!
There's a new cop on the beat.
There's a new cop on the beat.
October 2, 2023
This is the third series of graphic novels, following on from Blade Runner 2019 & Blade Runner 2029, featuring Aahna Ash Ashina.
As with the previous entries in the series this one has plenty of good artwork & a decent plot. It's good to see a story that stands on its own in the Blade Runner universe, with some nice links to the franchise, without copying old ideas. I'm alreday looking forward to the next volume in 2024.
As with the previous entries in the series this one has plenty of good artwork & a decent plot. It's good to see a story that stands on its own in the Blade Runner universe, with some nice links to the franchise, without copying old ideas. I'm alreday looking forward to the next volume in 2024.
September 27, 2023
A great continuation. Nice seeing some of the second film details seeping in too.
April 17, 2024
Looks gorgeous ...the type of precise art I enjoy.
The story is brisk ...and I may need to familiarize myself with previous arcs to get up to speed.
The story is brisk ...and I may need to familiarize myself with previous arcs to get up to speed.
December 26, 2023
Replicants hunting replicants. The pursuit of longevity and reproduction. Fluid loyalties.
January 2, 2024
A pretty good addition to the Blade Runner canon.
December 3, 2023
Me he aburrido bastante... No sé porque sigo dándole oportunidades a Blade Runner 😓
December 9, 2023
A welcome return to the Blader Runner world of 2019 and 2029, now 10 years later, with a new Blade Runner cop (the titular Luv) tasked with catching replicants and an older, wiser Ash helping those replicants get off world. The story zips along with plenty of surprises and gorgeous, gloomy cityscapes.
Ultimately, it does feel a bit like a rehashing of previous plotlines, just with lower stakes (Los Angeles isn't getting flooded or blown up yet). Maybe that's for future volumes. I appreciated the return of old characters who benefit from lower stakes - more time for quiet moments with friendly faces. Just as excited to continue this series as I was for the previous two iterations.
Ultimately, it does feel a bit like a rehashing of previous plotlines, just with lower stakes (Los Angeles isn't getting flooded or blown up yet). Maybe that's for future volumes. I appreciated the return of old characters who benefit from lower stakes - more time for quiet moments with friendly faces. Just as excited to continue this series as I was for the previous two iterations.
March 24, 2024
Well that didnt last long! I hate reading a book series only to find I have to wait for the final installment (the Amtrak Wars as ALOT to answer for!) But I do love the world of Blade Runner ever since I saw the opening scenes from the first film. So yes I started the 3rd and final instalment knowing I will not get to finish it till at least August.
So yes it goes without saying that ideally you need to read the earlier installments first - you meet a lot of previous characters as well as revisit some of the locations so yes it does already feel like the various strings are all being drawn in.
The artwork and atmosphere is all here from the previous editions and you cannot help but fell that this may well be the final act for some while others you know will go on to appear in the second film. All I can say is that you cannot help but respect the person who kept the continuity going in this series it certainly feels like its part of a much much bigger story.
So yes it goes without saying that ideally you need to read the earlier installments first - you meet a lot of previous characters as well as revisit some of the locations so yes it does already feel like the various strings are all being drawn in.
The artwork and atmosphere is all here from the previous editions and you cannot help but fell that this may well be the final act for some while others you know will go on to appear in the second film. All I can say is that you cannot help but respect the person who kept the continuity going in this series it certainly feels like its part of a much much bigger story.
September 19, 2023
Story continues. As time goes by our heroes find themselves trying to do the good thing but also make do with what bio-technological resources they can get their hands on the black market or through not so legal ways. As they try to stay in rescue business, technological wizard Niander Wallace aims at putting the replicants back into circulation, this time aiming more to the government applications.
This will put Ash and her team on a collision course with Luv, our new antagonist (although she might very well end up as an anti-hero type of character, will see).
Story has lots of action. I have to admit that it is impressive that comic still keeps the same look and feel established in the first books of the series. Lots of details in panorama views, and pretty detailed close ups that show lots of emotions on the faces of characters captured in the frame. Colors, as was case before, are all very earthy and this brings this sepia like quality to the whole vision of this graphic novel.
Only downside is that this is first book in this story line, so it is lots of information, lots of build up that will definitely get developed in the follow up books (again, this also was case with previous story lines from this series, so nothing new here).
For fans of very interesting thriller/action/SF stories, highly recommended.
This will put Ash and her team on a collision course with Luv, our new antagonist (although she might very well end up as an anti-hero type of character, will see).
Story has lots of action. I have to admit that it is impressive that comic still keeps the same look and feel established in the first books of the series. Lots of details in panorama views, and pretty detailed close ups that show lots of emotions on the faces of characters captured in the frame. Colors, as was case before, are all very earthy and this brings this sepia like quality to the whole vision of this graphic novel.
Only downside is that this is first book in this story line, so it is lots of information, lots of build up that will definitely get developed in the follow up books (again, this also was case with previous story lines from this series, so nothing new here).
For fans of very interesting thriller/action/SF stories, highly recommended.
December 29, 2023
An ok continuation of the story, but yo me, it felt like it was more of the same. A new corporate enemy and new experiment with the Blade Runners.
Ash and her partner have been running a Replicant Rail Road, that is, until Niander Wallace's experimenral Blade Runner Replicant comes on the scene. However, is her mission someone very close to Ash herself?
I am interested to see to see how the story ends, but more as I followed the series so and would lije to finish it.
Ash and her partner have been running a Replicant Rail Road, that is, until Niander Wallace's experimenral Blade Runner Replicant comes on the scene. However, is her mission someone very close to Ash herself?
I am interested to see to see how the story ends, but more as I followed the series so and would lije to finish it.
October 11, 2023
I'm still, after all these years, fascinated with the Blade Runner stories.
November 10, 2025
Blade Runner 2039, Vol. I marks a confident and seamless continuation of Ash’s journey, bridging the grim neon past of 2029 with the looming world of Blade Runner 2049. Once again guided by Mike Johnson, this volume feels firmly anchored in the official canon since every scene, character beat, and narrative thread feels like a deliberate step toward the cinematic future we know awaits.
Set another decade deeper into decay, the world of 2039 is both familiar and changed. The social fabric has frayed even further, and the uneasy coexistence between humans and Replicants teeters on the edge of collapse. Ash, now older, wearier, and even more haunted by her past, becomes the perfect vessel through which to explore the moral erosion of this world. Johnson has always written her with nuance, but here she feels more layered and self-aware, a scarred and wounded survivor navigating the shifting tides of history.
The writing stands out for its restraint and cohesion. There’s less of the frantic chaos that sometimes crept into earlier arcs, replaced by a slow burn that’s as political as it is personal. The story builds tension through atmosphere and implication, showing how Ash’s decisions have ripple effects across a society heading toward the bleak world of Blade Runner 2049. It’s a narrative about transition both for its protagonist and for the universe itself.
While the artwork continues to deliver the mood and tone that define this series, the focus here is firmly on story and character. The creative team clearly knows where this all leads, and the sense of inevitability gives 2039 an added weight. You can feel the timeline tightening, the pieces falling into place. This isn’t just another chapter, but the bridge that connects two eras of Blade Runner.
Blade Runner 2039, Vol. I: Luv is a strong, deliberate step forward. It honors the past stories while setting the stage for the future, pulling us ever closer to the haunting, fractured world of 2049. Moody and grounded in the series’ signature moral complexity, it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to see how the rain-soaked path truly leads to the film’s doorstep.
Set another decade deeper into decay, the world of 2039 is both familiar and changed. The social fabric has frayed even further, and the uneasy coexistence between humans and Replicants teeters on the edge of collapse. Ash, now older, wearier, and even more haunted by her past, becomes the perfect vessel through which to explore the moral erosion of this world. Johnson has always written her with nuance, but here she feels more layered and self-aware, a scarred and wounded survivor navigating the shifting tides of history.
The writing stands out for its restraint and cohesion. There’s less of the frantic chaos that sometimes crept into earlier arcs, replaced by a slow burn that’s as political as it is personal. The story builds tension through atmosphere and implication, showing how Ash’s decisions have ripple effects across a society heading toward the bleak world of Blade Runner 2049. It’s a narrative about transition both for its protagonist and for the universe itself.
While the artwork continues to deliver the mood and tone that define this series, the focus here is firmly on story and character. The creative team clearly knows where this all leads, and the sense of inevitability gives 2039 an added weight. You can feel the timeline tightening, the pieces falling into place. This isn’t just another chapter, but the bridge that connects two eras of Blade Runner.
Blade Runner 2039, Vol. I: Luv is a strong, deliberate step forward. It honors the past stories while setting the stage for the future, pulling us ever closer to the haunting, fractured world of 2049. Moody and grounded in the series’ signature moral complexity, it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to see how the rain-soaked path truly leads to the film’s doorstep.
April 24, 2025
Book Review: Blade Runner 2039, Vol. 1: Luv
This volume is a haunting, stylish return to the gritty neon shadows of the Blade Runner universe, and it hits all the right notes for fans of noir sci-fi and dystopian depth. Luv is a beautifully illustrated, sharply written continuation that dives deeper into the emotional and philosophical questions the series is known for.
The dialogue crackles with tension and mystery. One early exchange chills with its cryptic finality:
"You brought payment." "Yes, I have your --" "They are not for me.. they're for the monster at the end of thy labyrinth."
Moments like this remind you that in this world, even simple transactions are loaded with existential weight.
As the story unfolds, the stakes rise, and the characters grapple with the collapsing boundaries between survival and identity:
"It means hiding might not be ENOUGH anymore."
There's no safe ground left — morally or physically.
In a world saturated with deception, one line hits especially hard:
"It's the prophets you have to worry about."
Truth-tellers in this universe are as dangerous as the lies they're exposing.
And just when the dust seems to settle, you're hit with the poignancy of a throwaway line that speaks volumes:
"Forgot to ask.. you learn to swim off-world?"
In a world of artificial life and moral decay, it's the human questions — the ones left hanging — that stay with you.
Blade Runner 2039, Vol. 1: Luv is cinematic, brooding, and unforgettable. If you're looking for a graphic novel that does more than entertain — one that provokes, questions, and lingers — this one's for you.
This volume is a haunting, stylish return to the gritty neon shadows of the Blade Runner universe, and it hits all the right notes for fans of noir sci-fi and dystopian depth. Luv is a beautifully illustrated, sharply written continuation that dives deeper into the emotional and philosophical questions the series is known for.
The dialogue crackles with tension and mystery. One early exchange chills with its cryptic finality:
"You brought payment." "Yes, I have your --" "They are not for me.. they're for the monster at the end of thy labyrinth."
Moments like this remind you that in this world, even simple transactions are loaded with existential weight.
As the story unfolds, the stakes rise, and the characters grapple with the collapsing boundaries between survival and identity:
"It means hiding might not be ENOUGH anymore."
There's no safe ground left — morally or physically.
In a world saturated with deception, one line hits especially hard:
"It's the prophets you have to worry about."
Truth-tellers in this universe are as dangerous as the lies they're exposing.
And just when the dust seems to settle, you're hit with the poignancy of a throwaway line that speaks volumes:
"Forgot to ask.. you learn to swim off-world?"
In a world of artificial life and moral decay, it's the human questions — the ones left hanging — that stay with you.
Blade Runner 2039, Vol. 1: Luv is cinematic, brooding, and unforgettable. If you're looking for a graphic novel that does more than entertain — one that provokes, questions, and lingers — this one's for you.
May 21, 2025
Die Artworks sind sehr cool - wenig “fancy”, eher kantig - passt dadurch aber viel besser zum Plot und dem Worldbuilding. Ich denke die meisten kennen Blade Runner, und wenn es nur die Filme sind (wie bei mir). Ich war sehr neugierig auf den Comic und dachte, hier könnte ich an anderer Stelle einfach einsteigen.. aber scheinbar gab's dann doch noch einen Teil davor bzw einen, auf den sich bezogen wird. Mir fehlten also ein paar Infos zu den Charakteren, aber es ging auch so.
Es treten viele Frauen als Protagonisten bzw Antagonisten auf, was ich sehr nice finde. So bekommt das Thema auch nochmal einen etwas anderen Blickwinkel. Im Innenteil sehen die Charaktere aber anders aus, als auf dem Cover (ist bei Comics ja oft der Fall, da viele verschiedene Künstler daran beteiligt sind und es oft mehrere Variants gibt). Man kann sie aber alle gut auseinander halten und sie sind alle sehr individuell gestaltet. Die Story an sich hat einen roten Faden, für mich war es aber noch etwas wirr - das legt sich wahrscheinlich in den Folgebänden. Ich find's sehr spannend und toll umgesetzt - werd also erstmal dran bleiben 🫡
Es treten viele Frauen als Protagonisten bzw Antagonisten auf, was ich sehr nice finde. So bekommt das Thema auch nochmal einen etwas anderen Blickwinkel. Im Innenteil sehen die Charaktere aber anders aus, als auf dem Cover (ist bei Comics ja oft der Fall, da viele verschiedene Künstler daran beteiligt sind und es oft mehrere Variants gibt). Man kann sie aber alle gut auseinander halten und sie sind alle sehr individuell gestaltet. Die Story an sich hat einen roten Faden, für mich war es aber noch etwas wirr - das legt sich wahrscheinlich in den Folgebänden. Ich find's sehr spannend und toll umgesetzt - werd also erstmal dran bleiben 🫡
February 24, 2025
After reading 2019 and 2029 I started 2039, this third series set in the Blade Runner world with Ash as a protagonist. If you've read the preceding two series this is very similar -cool world building, awesome art, interesting characters and plot.
February 5, 2026
Ties in naturally to the rest of the series, and starts becoming even more satisfying as it pulls some threads from the Blade Runner sequel. This has been a much better series of world tie-ins than I expected. Hope it also ends well in the next two volumes.
September 22, 2023
I can't get over Veronica Fish's single issue covers - issue 1 cover B is so incredible.
February 15, 2024
OMG! All the stars! Such a good bridge into the events of 2049. Excelllente...
February 16, 2026
This one’s good.
It’s very immersive as it thrusts you right into the action. A solid read.
Happy Reading, everybody!
It’s very immersive as it thrusts you right into the action. A solid read.
Happy Reading, everybody!
August 4, 2023
Não li os volumes anteriores, protagonizados por Ash, esta série nem sequer está publicada em português, mas como fã da franquia Blade Runner tive a oportunidade de ler este volume recente que se revelou uma grata surpresa, com todos os ingredientes pelos quais o cyberpunk é tão amado. O autor é Mike Johnson (Supergirl, Star Trek) e o ilustrador Andres Guinaldo (“Justice League Dark”), com Marco Lesko nas cores. Excelente trabalho, rapazes.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews