BOOM! Studios released BRZRKR: Book One, collecting the first twelve chapters of the acclaimed comic series. This series is written by Keanu Reeves (whose credits include The Matrix, John Wick, and my personal favorite Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure) and Matt Kindt (author of Mind MGMT, Pastaways, and Dept H. from Dark Horse Comics).

Reeves and Kindt weave a brutal fantasy/action epic that spans the length of human history and asks the question: What is the cost of immortality? As we begin Book One, Unute has lived almost 80,000 years but is desperately seeking a way to become mortal. It isn’t just the effects of immortality he wants to shed but his primal urge for committing violence. Though blessed with great strength and the ability to heal from any wound, these powers come with a price. Whenever Unute uses his ability he enters a berserker state, transforming him into a living force of destruction. Violence and bloodshed have been a constant companion in his long life, and he’s grown tired of this constant cycle of his eternal existence.

To help him find the answers to his powers, Unute is working with Diana Ahuja, a scientist working for the United States government. In exchange for her help, Unute undertakes missions for the United States abroad and allows Diana and her fellow researchers to study his genome and biology. As Unute works with Diana, he recounts his past, and we learn more about his origins. Reeves and Kindt convey tale after tale of Unute being used as a tool of power and war by those he has trusted. He’s seen the same stories and conflicts repeat themselves throughout human history and it’s caused him to slowly disconnect from the rest of world. There is literally nothing new for him to experience or understand. It has all happened and will happen again. BRZRKR is a book that has stayed with me long after I put it down. What might seem like a story solely centered on bombastic action sequences has a solid philosophical core at its base.

That isn’t to say it isn’t an action-packed series. There is plenty of action that should appeal to John Wick fans here. The fight scenes are electric and visceral, thanks to Ron Garney’s art. This book is certainly not for the squeamish, as scenes quickly become drenched in blood and gore. I often felt that the book could range into what I will call “absurd Itchy and Scratchy territory” on more than one occasion. Enemies are stabbed with their comrade’s rib bones, horses are ripped in half, and entire heads explode just to name a few instances. A far cry from Ron Garney’s collaboration on Marvel’s Captain America with Mark Waid or his Daredevil work. What makes Ron Garney a comic icon is on full display in this book beneath the blood and guts. As seen in his previous work, Garney is a master director of action sequences to the point where I can feel the movement bouncing off the page. And he’s great at capturing the quiet moments, as well. A reader can feel the weariness wracking at Unute’s soul from his facial expressions to the way Garney poses him sitting on the plane after missions. Bill Crabtree’s colors bring the action to vivid life. Crabtree’s color choices for depicting the ethereal origin of Unute’s powers was a great choice and overall his work paired successfully with Garney. Clem Robbins’ lettering work stood out to me in his use of blue-colored boxes to convey to the reader that this story is being told to someone else in a completely different time and place. He also managed to always keep the action clear and at the forefront, even in the more prose-filled pages.

Though out of my usual comfort zone, I found BRZRKR to be a surprisingly deep and thoughtful book. The action is intense but as we learn, with each mission and with each kill, Unute loses a piece of himself. BRZRKR wants us to see the real mental cost for the hero after we have cheered on the heroic action. An intimate exploration that few comics have undertaken. I’ll be on the lookout for volume 2.

Creative Team: Keanu Reeves (Creator/Writer), Matt Kindt (Writer), Ron Garney (Artist), Bill Crabtree (Colorist), Clem Robbins (Letterer)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
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