Keanu Reeves

For more reviews and bookish posts visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com

BRZRKR: Bloodlines, Volume 1 by Mattson Tomlin and Steve Skroce tells of the origins of the immortal killing machine. Mr. Skorce is a successful screenwriter, and Mr. Tomlin is a filmmaker, writer, and producer.

This graphic novel contains two stories, both of which tell of the BRZRKR’s history and survival.

Poetry of Madness finds our anti-hero in Atlantis, protecting it from attacking enemies. Atlantis’ king, much like the fabled city itself, is rotting from the core and the BRZRKR finds himself fighting the enemies within.

Fallen Empire tells the story of a kingdom destroyed by BRZRKR. A lone survivor tells the story so it can be written down and not forgotten.

The immortal warrior BRZRKR was created by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt. I find it amusing that Mr. Reeves’ name is prominently displayed on the cover even though he hasn’t written a single word of this graphic novel. I know it’s for sales purposes, but the publisher should take a page of the Fleming and Ludlum estates (ex: Ian Fleming’s James Bond in…).

I’ve enjoyed the BRZRKR character in previous graphic novels, but the real strength of these comics is the supporting cast. After all, the main character is, frankly, not that interesting. We have no stakes in his future since we already know his immortal. Even being decapitated he can come back to life.

Poetry of Madness:

I don’t know why the writers picked Atlantis, there are plenty of other real cities that can be used. A grittier story than the fantastic elements. The artwork shows us a photorealistic Keanu Reeves (well-drawn) slashing page after page warriors, giants (?), and those who should never be in armor.

Even though the action is plentiful, it was boring. BRZRKR had no challenge, he cuts through an army of thousands, splattering the pages with blood, but there is nothing dynamic in those fights. I saw more movement in a six-panel page of Captain America’s shield flying around. Nevertheless, the art was interesting even though it lacked imagination.

Fallen Empire:

This story, however was much better, but I’ve read very similar stories previously. Both stories are very similar, ancient civilizations were destroyed, but this one works much better.

The action scenes, illustrated by Steve skroce and Rebekah Issacs, are dynamic and move the story forward, not just a celebration of gore. There’s also a twist in the story which I didn’t see coming. The supporting cast is much more interesting than the previous story and we get to know BRZRKR better and what makes him tick.

I wished the two stories were different, old stories of ancient civilizations being destroyed with BRZRK in the middle of the mayhem. They’re fun stories, but at some point they become predictable and boring.… (more)

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… (more)

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.… (more)