BRZRKR asks the question, would it be cool if John Wick was Wolverine, but always in absolute Beast Mode without any nuance of characterisation beyond stoic, immortal, and brutal? The answer might suprise you...

Look, I love the John Wick films and pretty much everything Keanu Reeves is in. He seems a cool guy as far as Hollywood actors go. I enjoy some pretty brutal comics, video games, and books. When done well, I enjoy a bit of 'Bolter Porn', as a treat, between actually engaging Warhammer stories. I wanted to like this, but, quite, frankly this gets an extra star purely on the fact that it is isn't actively offensive and Reeves seems cool.

It's as if someone jammed Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed together, but rendered in Gears of War, and it reads like janky video game tie in comic.

It's a bloody mess in every sense of the phrase.

There are brutal and blood-filled comics out there with more than a saucer's depth and an A-list name attached, if that's what you're after. There's a series of Hercules comics that fit this bill with artwork I enjoyed more, but it's been a long time since I read them, so I make no call on how problematic and edgelord they might be. I think that's something funny about this, it's all blood, no anything else. It's not even edgelord. It's just dudes (especially Reeves) rock and paint everything red.

I truly wish I had anything positive I can say beyond, it's cool seeing people work on passion projects than they are actually passionate about, but it does just highlight just how much of a silly lie the supposed meritocracy we apparently live in.

The highlight of my experience was realising he's literally what if Violent J's character from this Insane Clown Posse song was a stocky John Wick: https://youtu.be/qkgKccKlu2g?si=0oBQK6yzGjvQ1pFb ( )

Keanu Reeves has been my celebrity crush since before it was cool (I'm talking 1994 people). I heard about this graphic novel he wrote but that genre usually isn't my thing. But I'm trying to branch out and read different types of books this year, so I went for this one. I liked it. The illustrations were great, and the story is intriguing enough for me to want to read the rest of the series. I don't mind violence in graphic novels and this had plenty.

#AAPI month ( )

Note: I received this book for free from the publisher for the purposes of reviewing it.

The ultraviolence is so extreme that it is hilarious how creative they need to be with it to avoid it becoming rote. I would say they were beyond successful here but I don't know how long the series will be able to uphold it's novelty in this realm. The plot seems to have a lot of potential in it and could survive off of flashbacks alone with the depth of history that inhabits it. Overall it was a fun read that exceeded expectations. ( )

Debut Keanu Reevese jako autora komiksů.

Po tisíciletích putování světem muž známý pouze jako B., potomek smrtelnice a boha, stižený prokletím nesmrtelnosti a neustálým nutkáním zabíjet, pracuje pro americkou vládu, která ho nasazuje v náročných akcích. Výměnou za to má B. získat to, po čem nejvíce touží – pravdu o své krvavé existenci a nalezení způsobu, jak ji ukončit.

Spoluautorem scénáře je uznávaný Matt Kindt a výtvarníkem legendární Ron Garney.

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BRZRKR, vol. 1 by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt (illustrated by Ron Garney) is a graphic novel following an immortal warrior through decades of fighting. Mr. Reeves, an actor and all-around good guy needs no introduction.
This graphic novel collects issues #1-4.

B is a warrior cursed with not being able to die. Compelled to violence, B is starting to lose his sanity. After centuries of wandering and fighting, he found hope in working for the US government.

B is under the impression that government scientists are studying him and will help him die. A psychiatrist he’s seeing is trying to find what makes him tick, as well as remember the beginning of his life.

I had my eye on BRZRKR ever since I saw the Kickstarter campaign on it. I was very glad to see it the local bookstore, and on the sale shelf to boot, and instantly grabbed one.

My first impression of BRZRKR, vol. 1 by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt was that the protagonist, B, looked exactly like Keanu Reeves. That is, of course, by design. As someone who reads a lot about technology, as well as a pop-culture geek, I’m predicting that soon actors will copyright, and sell, their likeness. In the world of CGI, as the Marvel movies have shown, most movies will just be cartoons with talking heads and aging will have limited consequences for one’s career.

The graphic novel, however, tells a good story with interesting characters. It is gory, with hyper-violence, dismemberment, and other random acts of violence. If John Wick and Wolverine had a kid, it would be B.

Ron Garney does a fantastic job illustrating the book. There are intense amounts of blood and body parts, so much so that some of the story gets lost in between.

The story is simplistic, but I’m looking forward to seeing where the creative team takes it. I’ve certainly read worst, as well as better graphic novels. However, this is a competent story, with cool characters, and could be brilliant if given the opportunity.
And I, for one, will certainly buy vol. 2 when it comes out (and hopefully on sale). ( )