Leaving L.A. (Blade Runner Black Lotus #1)

No prior knowledge of the Black Lotus animated series is required to dip into this generally enjoyable spin-off in the Blade Runner universe. Elle, a replicant on the run, ends up in the tiny desert settlement of Fracktown, where the local “fracktory” rules and pollutes, and is opposed by a scrappy environmentalist cooperative. Co-op leader Miguel and his medic wife, Nyoko, take in Elle while mechanic Junkett fixes up her motorcycle, but the goons tracking Elle aren’t far behind. Elle’s attempt to escape her past is complicated by betrayal, sacrifice, and classic dramatic action sequences, styled against a postapocalyptic American Southwest. Women characters display more interiority than is typical for the series, whose conceits can struggle to age gracefully. Marvel artist Balam’s character drawings occasionally slip into awkward features and poses (particularly when drawing children), but she shines in creative background designs of the desert town. Warm coloring by Marco Lesko departs from the moody neons typical of the rest of the franchise. Nods to the source material, such as a reference to the Voigt-Kampff test and Miguel’s past as a blade runner himself, should be enough, though, to satisfy series sticklers. Fans who can’t get enough antics of rebel androids will appreciate this unexpectedly colorful trip back into the film’s conceits. (Feb.)