Since its release last Thursday, I have played Cyberpunk 2077 for about 15 hours. So far, I have found it one of the best gaming experiences ever – see my review. It has a fantastic story and setting (think Blade Runner) combines this with an incredible open-world experience. The game has, a few minor bugs aside, already convinced me it is the greatest yet. A worthy successor to The Witcher 3 which already set the bar incredible high for CD Projekt RED. As a tie-in for the game a comic book was issued by Dark Horse Comics entitled Cyberpunk 2077 Trauma Team. Due to the two delays of the game this short series by author Cullen Bunn is ending just as the game is released. I have already covered the previous issues, so now I am reviewing what I consider to be a quintessential comic to understand Cyberpunk 2077 better.
The finale to Cyberpunk 2077 Trauma Team
In issue #4 Nadia continues to escape with her client and her boss Stratter through the maze of high-rise buildings. Her work for Trauma Team in the violent metropolis of Night City has left her completely burned out. Previously we saw the fallout of Nadia coming to terms with the fact that the client she is trying to save murdered her previous team, and her lover. But on the many blood-filled pages it becomes clear that that is the job. Clients of Trauma Team pay the mercenary unit for successful and healthy exfiltration out of any situation. Especially if the client has paid for Platinum coverage. In this issue the Cyberpsychos are nearly caught up with the three and the client is reminding at every turn he expects top service. Just when it looks they might get away Stratter threatens Nadia with her job – until the client kills him.
And so, for Nadia the final boundary holding her back is destroyed. She never liked Stratter, but even she knows he was trying to look out for his team. The client’s reasoning is clear even if his empathy for Nadia is not. He reasons that by killing Stratter he just saved her job with Trauma Team. Because without the job she would be no-one, especially in Night City. This realization slowly adorns to Nadia as the Client wrestles for his live with one of the gang members. Eventually more backup comes from Trauma Team, leaving just Nadia and the client to face off against one another. Just as it seems Nadia might let him does she pull a gun on him. For Nadia it is a test. If she leaves the client alone then there is live beyond Trauma Team, or else she is as good as dead.
More Cyberpunk 2077 comics please
And so, ends Trauma Team on a bit of a cliffhanger. Though the last panel makes it clear Nadia is likely to shoot the client. I thoroughly enjoyed this final issue and indeed this whole series. Cullen Bunn did a fine job creating a dystopian Cyberpunk story. Some might see more than just a close similarity to the 2012 movie Dredd starring Karl Urban. But I certainly did not mind. The wonderful illustrations and coloring by Miguel Valderrama and Jason Wordie stand in contrast with other series such as Blade Runner. The bright coloring gives a similar mood to Cyberpunk 2077 game. Overall, it is a short story almost little more than a mise-en-scene with a bit of dialogue. However, I do hope Cyberpunk 2077 will return as a comic series. I think Night City has more stories to tell beyond Cyberpunk 2077 Trauma Team.
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