BRZRKR #1 (2021) by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, Ron Garney

The first issue of Keanu Reeves‘ debut in comic book writing was released today, Wednesday March 3rd, 2021. BRZRKR is co-written by Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) with art by Ron Garney. The 12-issue limited series has so far raised over $1.8 million on Kickstarter, setting the record for the highest-funded comic book project in the platform’s history.

Synopsis from BOOM! Studios

The man known only as Berzerker is half-mortal and half-God, cursed and compelled to violence…even at the sacrifice of his sanity. But after wandering the world for centuries, Berzerker may have finally found a refuge – working for the U.S. government to fight the battles too violent and too dangerous for anyone else. In exchange, Berzerker will be granted the one thing he desires – the truth about his endless blood-soaked existence… and how to end it. NOTE: This is for Mature Readers.

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My Thoughts

I’ve just finished reading this and man, is it violent! Main character John Wick Berzerker is sent on a mission to locate and capture the heavily-guarded president of an unspecified country. He is accompanied by a squad of soldiers. The action kicks off from the sixth page and doesn’t stop for 23 pages, (in a 48-page comic book). It’s one long action scene that hardly gives you time to take a breath until it’s over. After the mission, Berzerker is taken to an “undisclosed US Government facility” and undergoes the start of a lengthy healing process that had me thinking of the first Matrix movie.

Throughout the story, we hear snatches of a conversation taking place between Berzerker and a female doctor. He has a session with her after being stitched up on the operating table. She is talking about his reactions during the mission and how something was “different” this time.

“I could tell on the monitors. Something triggered you. Something happened. […] I saw new pathways light up in your brain. […] I saw pathways in your brain that you’ve been blocking for a long time. […] What happened out there today?”

-Keanu Reeves & Matt Kindt

Berzerker tells the doctor that he remembered something important during the mission, something from his past. And that’s where I will leave my summary. No spoilers here.

Overall, BRZRKR #1 is an intriguing opening issue. It is bursting with violent action and bloodied bodies, as the Berzerker roars through his mission taking absolutely no prisoners. The writing is concise and the art is kinetic and visceral. It’s not for the faint-hearted. If you are looking for no holds barred comic book action with Keanu Reeves in the leading role, look no further. No masterpiece yet, but it has hooked me enough to look forward to the second issue.

Thanks for reading!

-Wakizashi

Art by Ron Garney, Colored by Bill Crabtree