Kianna Shore & Mariano Taibo

To mark the release of Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus #1, our creators of the month are writer Kianna Shore and artist Mariano Taibo. Read the interview below – and buy issue 1 HERE

1. HAVE YOU BOTH BEEN BLADE RUNNER FANS LONG? WHAT INITIALLY DREW YOU TO THE FRANCHISE?

KIANNA SHORE (KS): The original Blade Runner movie came out before I was born, so my first real introduction to the franchise was writing a paper on Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049 for film school. I really enjoyed the thematic exploration of memories in self-identity and what it means to be human.

MARIANO TAIBO (MT): When I was 16 years old I saw the original film and was fascinated by the hard-boiled, futuristic aesthetic. It was total madness when I discovered Syd Mead.

2. KIANNA, IT’S SET IN TOKYO DURING 2015. HAVE YOU USED REAL-LIFE TOKYO AND ITS CULTURE TO INFLUENCE YOUR WRITING?

Yes, of course! I currently live and work in Japan and was actually studying abroad in Tokyo in 2015. When I was envisioning the world of Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus, I was inspired by a plethora of modern Japanese Media.

3. MARIANO, WHAT KIND OF INFLUENCES DID YOU DRAW ON TO CREATE SUCH ENGAGING ARTWORK? IT FEELS VERY BRIGHTLY COLORED, WAS THERE A REASON FOR THIS?

In this case, for every decision I made, I always asked myself what Syd Mead would have done.

4. KIANNA, THIS IS YOUR DEBUT COMIC BOOK. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BEST THINGS ABOUT WRITING IN THIS MEDIUM?

Writing for comics is a dream come true! I enjoy the ability to dream big without worrying about budget or producibility. I’m so lucky to have been paired with such an amazing artist.

5. MARIANO, I BELIEVE YOU WORKED ON PREDATORS: A PREDATORY LIFE. BOTH ARE HEAVY SCIENCE-FICTION SO WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN YOUR APPROACH TO STYLE AND FEEL?

Yes, definitely, for my work with Predators, it was necessary to respect the characters of the film and use the actors as models. But the biggest difference between Blade Runner and other futuristic aesthetics is that Blade Runner technology retains the old analog interfaces and mechanical parts.

6. KIANNA, WHAT’S BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WRITING THE DIALOG BETWEEN STIX AND MEAD?

They are best friends and platonic life-partners. They have such a long history behind them, it’s easy to create fun banter. It’s two people who have to utterly trust the other, due to the nature of their jobs and their lives, but also want to protect each other… sometimes from themselves. It’s a balance!

7. MARIANO, WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF PORTRAYING TOKYO IN THE BLADE RUNNER WORLD?

Trying to follow the logic of the 1982 movie, creating a version of L.A. with influences from the Orient. And trying to create a futuristic place that is in the past. In Tokyo I believe they have a very rich culture, heavily influenced by their historic roots. Kianna helped by sending me a good description, Tokyo almost being the opposite of Los Angeles, with sunlight and plants co-existing with the architecture. I felt like everything aesthetic-wise looked like a videogame, soft and friendly angles with an almost plastic look.

8. KIANNA, BECAUSE THE BLADE RUNNER FRANCHISE HAS SUCH A RICH MIX OF MEDIA INTERPRETATIONS, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO BRING SOMETHING NEW TO THE MIX?

Blade Runner, and cyberpunk in general, has taken heavy inspiration and visuals from Asia, specifically Japan, during the 1980s. Tokyo Nexus is the first time Blade Runner is set in Asia. I wanted to weave together a world, story and characters that could only be told within the setting of Japan.

9. KIANNA, IS THE STORY ACCESSIBLE TO NEW READERS BEGINNING THEIR BLADE RUNNER JOURNEY OR DOES IT REQUIRE PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD AND CHARACTERS?

You don’t need to know anything about Blade Runner to enjoy Tokyo Nexus. As of this moment, it is a standalone in time, location, and character. So feel free to dive in!

Check out the trailer for Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus