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Blade Runner 2039 #9 and #10 are all about analysing where characters are mentally and their allegiances, in particular the Replicant Ash. To do this, the creative team of Mike Johnson and Andres Guinaldo bring back two characters from the past, one from the films and one from the comics, to show how others have progressed down this path. The question that lies at the heart of both these issues is not an easy one for the reader or the characters.
Blade Runner 2039 #9
The human Ash visits the retirement home she visited in a previous issue but instead of talking to Wojciech who has been her voice of reason throughout the series, she meets with Gaff. The character of Gaff had a very specific purpose in the original film which was to wake Deckard up from his life, his words echo in the final scene even. So when Ash has been confronted with the embodiment of her past self, and her previous guiding voice has passed away, who better than the man who set Deckard on the right path?
Andres Guinaldo does a really good job capturing Edward James Olmos’ likeness, he even got his facial expressions perfect. Meanwhile, Mike Johnson perfectly captures the kind, fatherly, yet enigmatic nature of the character with his speech pattern. This is a wonderful and fitting use of a minor character from the films that adds weight to Blade Runner 2039 #9 rather than just pandering for nostalgia’s sake.
It is revealed that Ash went to the retirement home to bait the Replicant Ash into following. After a frosty reception, the human Ash springs a trap to catch the Replicant Ash. But as I have talked about in previous issues, Replicant Ash has started to show signs of humanity — and isn’t just the past reflected in human Ash. Replicant Ash wants to speak personably yet human Ash is the one that’s the most distrustful, a fun inversion of their previous meeting. The question is if Replicant Ash is being sincere.
Blade Runner 2039 #10
Cal Moreau from the Blade Runner: Origins series makes an appearance as human Ash seeks his assistance. What is interesting about the way he is portrayed in Blade Runner 2039 #10 is how he has seemingly abandoned his goal or at least part of it from the previous series. He became the first Blade Runner and attempted to subvert the mission statement of the rank by seeking out those who would be sympathetic to the Replicants like he was.
But now, he is a club owner, and even Ash says that what he is seems to change regularly. He claims that what he isn’t is more important, but we the reader are left to wonder if that’s really true. Ash lost her way once, is Cal in the same boat as her? Or is there more under the surface? Again the creative team uses the reappearance of an old character to add layers rather than play on nostalgia which is quite a feat.
Now the question of whether Replicant Ash is sincere or not gets complicated in Blade Runner 2039 #10. She takes Isobel hostage via trickery, uses her as a bargaining chip to gain membership to the Replicant Underground, and then fights Luv who has been pursuing her as Wallace ordered. We even see her garrot Luv, but because Luv is a major character in the film Blade Runner 2049, was this a true attempt to kill her?
Luv could have another copy, but the amount of work down to develop her to match her film counterpart seems to go against this as being an option. So we are left with the possible conclusion that Replicant Ash did not really kill her and it is for show. Only the future will tell on this but it’s interesting how the creative team has chosen to portray Replicant Ash over these issues.
Previous issues showed Replicant Ash to be the dark mirror of Human Ash, then we saw the way she reacted to her finger being broken and there was a glimpse of humanity in her. Then in Blade Runner 2039 #9 and #10, we are presented with two conflicting motives for her. This strikes me as interesting and intentional as she is in effect a newborn lashing out, she herself is unsure of her own motivations, of who she truly is.
Blade Runner 2039 #9 And #10 Reflect The Past
Blade Runner 2039 #9 and #10 add layers to Replicant Ash and bring back old characters not as nostalgia but to add even more layers to the story. The creative team has continued to show their understanding of the core themes of the series and is taking it in ways both unexpected and exciting. Who knows what the final few issues hold, but we cannot wait to see.
