Brzrkr Bloodlines Vol. 1

Entertaining but it falls short of what I had hoped for. Basic prequel/side story. I had fun reading it but I was regularly disappointed in aspects of the plot and the lack of actual fight scenes. It was just people being torn apart and blood splatter (which I like when used in moderation).

If you’re a diehard fan of the other books in this series, this may be a 5 star read. If you’re just picking this up, it may fall short.

I do want to say I loved the art and illustration. It was worth the quick read to savor the talent there.

*ARC thanks to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios *

I enjoy reading the BRZRKR series, so I was excited when I saw this in NetGalley. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The concepts of the stories themselves were not bad, but the execution could have been better. The writing was uneven, as was the artwork. I am not sure what this adds to the series. I'm not sure that this adds to the series.

Who doesn’t love a bit of Keanu Reeves? This was really great! Loved the artwork and I really enjoyed the storytelling. Give me more.

BRZRKR: Bloodlines continues the brutal, action-filled saga of B, the immortal warrior cursed to fight through centuries of conflict. Co-created by Keanu Reeves, this installment dives deeper into B's backstory while maintaining the visceral intensity fans expect. The narrative shifts across various time periods, offering glimpses of B's role in historical battles, but at its core, the story is about B’s internal struggle—his desire to end his violent existence and find peace.

What stands out most in Bloodlines is how it balances relentless action with emotional depth. B is a tortured soul, burdened by his immortality and the never-ending cycle of violence that defines his existence. While the fight scenes are as brutal and kinetic as ever, the true strength of the story lies in B’s search for meaning and his longing for an end to his suffering.

The artwork is striking, capturing both the brutality of combat and the weariness etched into B’s expression. The intense, vivid illustrations heighten the story’s impact, especially in the violent action sequences. However, quieter moments of reflection give the reader a glimpse into B’s pain and humanity, adding weight to the narrative.

Overall, BRZRKR: Bloodlines is a thrilling continuation of the series, combining explosive action with a thoughtful exploration of immortality, trauma, and the human condition. Keanu Reeves and his team deliver a story that’s as emotionally compelling as it is visually gripping, making this a must-read for fans of the BRZRKR universe.

So I came to this double-issue comic of Unute, the immortal berserker with the face of Keanu Reeves, through the novel The Book of Elsewhere, which Reeves co-authored with China Miéville. I really enjoyed the weirdness of the novel. The comic version of two ancient stories of Unute - one set in Atlantis and featuring the Great Old One himself, the other a love and betrayal story set in a forgotten desert kingdom - was campy fun and extremely and violently graphic. There's no thoughtful graphic novel here - I think the first words that Unute says in the book is "fucking fuckers" as he cleaves some anonymous person's head in two like an overly juicy watermelon. Think Carrot Top, but more red, less orange.

Overall, a thumbs up from this jaded reader. It was a fun read.

This wasn’t quite what I thought it was going to be, but I enjoyed still. I really enjoyed the character work in here and the plot line wasn’t that difficult to follow as in some graphic novels. I liked the art, as well.

Is there anything Keanu Reeves can’t do? Now he’s helped create a combination of Conan with god mythology. Cool story with some suitably gory artwork.

BRZRKR: Bloodlines delivers a thrilling blend of intense action and raw emotion, reminiscent of a supernatural John Wick. Volume One takes us through two distinct chapters of Unute the Berserker's life, showcasing betrayal, violence, and deeply personal moments. While the surface offers a blood-soaked adventure, where the unstoppable protagonist survives the impossible, the real draw is in the nuanced exploration of Unute's character, which hints at even deeper layers to be uncovered in future installments.

The visual artistry is another standout, with vivid color schemes, dynamic illustrations, and immersive layouts that pull the reader into the chaos. It’s rare to see a graphic novel this visually engaging, I loved everything about this gorgeous artwork, every single scene was a pleasure to see.

The only drawback was the lack of a strong connection between the two storylines. While both were compelling and thematically linked, a tighter narrative bridge between them would have elevated the experience for me. So, with that said, it's a promising start, and I’m eager to see where the next volume takes us.

Thanks to Netgalley and BOOM! Studios for this wholesome experience.

This is a dark action collection but very ADULT. I would have appreciated more back story. There isn't much depth but it isn't a bad choice for adult readers who just want a bit of blood and gore.

Fantastic comic!!! I have read the first set of comic from Keanu and Mattson, so I definitely wanted to read this series. It full of blood, gore, and a great story line. This is a definite read for those of you that read comics/graphic novels

This is a super quick read with barely any plot. Lots of gore. I was hoping that it would've been more of an overarching plot in which the story is told.

BRZRKR: Bloodlines is the fantastical John Wick I never knew I needed. Volume One follows Unute the Berserker through 2 different periods in his life full of emotion, betrayal, and (of course) bloodshed. On its face, BRZRKR: Bloodlines is a fun romp through blood-spattered artwork with the world's favorite boogeyman surviving anything thrown at him. However, the joy I found in this comic was in the places where we got to see the depths of Unute's character that I'm excited to explore in future volumes. The other highlight of BRZRKR: Bloodlines was the phenomenal artwork. I found myself mesmerized by the color palettes, the stylized drawing, and the layout that really sucks the reader into the story in a way I've seen many graphic novels miss.

The only thing that kept this volume from 5 stars for me was the disconnect between the two vignettes. While both stories shared similar themes and were equally interesting to explore, I craved a stronger narrative between them than the storyline allowed for.

BRZRKR: Bloodlines is 2 on-shot stories about Unute's past, They are both very good but not as good as the main series. Still I'm looking forward to anything new in the BRZRKR world.

Thanks to BOOM! Studios and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley & Boom! Studios for allowing me to read Brzrkr: Bloodlines
Bloodthirsty, gory, and a little bit of explicit spice.

The artwork is fantastic.
I haven't read any of the other Brzrkr comics as I haven't had access to them, but I enjoyed these two stories.
I enjoyed the take on Atlantis and it's fall in Poetry of Madness, and the self-contained saga within Dead Empire.
The artists captured the likeness of Keanu Reeves really well. Even in small gestures. Great for Keanu fans.
A lot of action in a small number of pages, which entice you into reading more.

**Review of *BRZRKR: Poetry of Madness* and *BRZRKR: Dead Empire***

*BRZRKR: Poetry of Madness* and *BRZRKR: Dead Empire* delve deeper into the rich, violent tapestry of Keanu Reeves' *BRZRKR* universe, expanding on the mythology and exploring new facets of its legendary protagonist. This pair of self-contained stories showcases the collaborative brilliance of a stellar creative team, including writer/artist Steve Skroce, screenwriter Mattson Tomlin, and artist Rebekah Isaacs.

In *Poetry of Madness*, the narrative plunges into the ancient realm of Atlantis, where B., the immortal warrior, takes on the role of protector. The story immerses readers in a whirlwind of epic battles and dark intrigue as B. safeguards the city from an internal rot symbolized by a sickly monarch. Skroce’s artwork vividly captures the grandeur and decay of Atlantis, with an intensity that mirrors the chaos and brutality of B.’s interventions. The depiction of the city’s downfall is both tragic and profound, revealing that the security B. provides is built on unstable foundations. The story weaves a poignant commentary on the nature of power and the fragility of seemingly invincible realms.

*Dead Empire*, on the other hand, shifts focus to a lone survivor from a kingdom obliterated by B. This story unfolds as a somber recounting of a once-great empire brought to ruin. Isaacs’ artwork in this tale is evocative, using haunting imagery to depict the wreckage of the fallen empire and the emotional weight of the survivor's narrative. The fable-like recounting is laden with themes of lost love, betrayal, and the destructive impact of imperial power. The question of the narrator’s reliability adds a layer of suspense, making readers question what truths are hidden beneath the surface. This story amplifies the tragic dimensions of B.’s legacy, illustrating the far-reaching consequences of his actions.

Together, these stories not only enrich the *BRZRKR* universe but also deepen the exploration of its central character. The juxtaposition of B.'s role as a savior in Atlantis and as a harbinger of destruction in *Dead Empire* presents a complex portrait of a being whose impact on history is both awe-inspiring and devastating. The themes of power, betrayal, and the ephemeral nature of glory resonate strongly across both narratives, tied together by the powerful and often brutal art styles of Skroce and Isaacs.

Overall, *BRZRKR: Poetry of Madness* and *BRZRKR: Dead Empire* offer fans a compelling expansion of the *BRZRKR* saga, combining visceral storytelling with deep, introspective themes. Keanu Reeves' vision is brought to life with remarkable artistry and narrative depth, making this collection a must-read for both new and longtime followers of the series.

Note: I received a free unpublished proof of this book, for a limited time, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

This book contains a great deal of violence, blood, gore, sex, abuse, war, suicide, and other mature themes, hence I only recommend it to adults (18+).

So, this is actually one of the comics in the series that led to the book I reviewed a couple of months ago, The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Mieville. My full review of this book is here, and I recommend that you read it because it encompasses most of my thoughts, feelings, observations, and bits of humor on the premise and main characters of the franchise as a whole: https://qr.ae/psl1lc

Full disclosure, I didn’t need to be approved for this one because it was a “Read Now”, so getting this one in my hands was not a unexpected as The Book of Elsewhere.

Anyways, if you’ve read the earlier plot, this one continues on pretty nicely. I’ve read the first graphic novel and The Book of Elsewhere which I believe pulls from a few of the first graphic novels, in which that groundwork is set pretty nicely, but if you haven’t, this one will not make any sense. Even if I told you that the general idea revolves around a guy with god-like power and glowy eyes who kills millions of people, that doesn’t quite do it justice.

If I had a nickel for every successful graphic novel series surrounding a guy with god-like power and glowy eyes who kills millions of people…you know how it goes.

Unlike other works that attempt to take on similar themes, however, I particularly enjoy this one because the main character, B, somehow remains a bit sympathetic throughout the narraative, despite, well, everything. It’s not his fault that he kills millions of people, for starters, and I don’t think anybody would envy that difficult position in which to find oneself. While he makes both good and bad choices around his power, he has a refreshing degree of self-awareness for such a character.

B doesn’t give grandiose speeches about how what he’s doing is actually the right thing because he is the hand of God, even though he literally is the hand of God to some extent and is sometimes proud of his actions. He’s clearly a bad person in some ways as he doesn’t regret all of his actions, but he understands that there is a negative side to his violence no matter how inescapable it is or how good it makes him feel in the moment. He feels genuine affection for the people he cares about, and actively seeks to protect them rather than just using them as pawns in a game of 4D chess. He feels pain, regret, anger, confusion, betrayal, and the full palette of human emotion despite being such an overpowered character, and he comes across as a multidimensional character who makes some good decisions and some terrible ones. Characters like this are so often written as edgy antiheroes who are justified in everything they do or purely evil villains with no redeeming qualities, and while there are moments where the authors lean into those tropes ther overall narrative paints him as neither.

I think that readers who enjoyed the rest of the series will enjoy this new installment, and readers who enjoy dark and violent comics that raise questions about divinity, morality, and human nature will enjoy the series as a whole.

This was everything I hoped it would be. I love Keanu Reeves but was a little unsure whether I was going to like this or not. However, it ended up being pretty good. It feels a lot like John Wick but in a more fantasy setting. It's not super deep story wise but is overall enjoyable for those who just want a good old action packed comic.

I gave this comic 3 stars, I thought it was beautifully illustrated and had the potential to be a fun amazing read but the story fell short for me.

BRZRKR: Bloodlines reads as if it's some epic fantasy action film featuring Keanu, with violence and gore, love and betrayal and monsters. However, I felt that a lot of context and world-building was missing to understand what was going on.

How did Unute become who he is?
What are the origins of his power/curse?
What will happen if he doesn't succumb to the rage?
Where did he come from? Does he have a family?
What is the world he is walking through? What are the rules of myths/legends/history?

Now, my lack of knowledge could just be from not being familiar with this series and BRZRKR: Bloodlines Volume 1 being the first book I've read of this series, so maybe by exploring the other issues I'll get some answers and context to what I feel is lacking.

The illustrations are vibrant and detailed and reminiscent of the art style I grew up with in the 2000s when I started to dabble with reading comic books. Steve Skroce and Rebekah Isaacs helped me be able to understand the story more with their illustrations alongside the text. The level of detail and the colouring made it just really fun to look at.

If you're a fan of Keanu Reeves's work in film, you may enjoy this as a little fun read, but there are more fleshed-out fantasy comics out there.

I read books for plots and comics/graphic novels/manga for the artwork. BRZRKR: Bloodlines contains great vibrant western style artwork. The bright red of blood is splashed throughout this comic. The fact that the main character, B, has the face of Keanu is just an added plus. Unfortunately, the plot, of an immortal who just wants to die, is paper thin. To be honest, it was done better in the Berserk manga series that I read over twenty years ago. The artwork pushes it just over the average read for me. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

Thanks to BOOM! Studios and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

BRZRKR is one of the most over-the-top, hyperviolent piece of graphic fiction I've ever seen. The gore and movement and blood kind of fade into a vague blobby blur at times, the story is just as vague, and I couldn't have had more fun. If you love Conan, John Carpenter, and the works of Joe Abercrombie, BRZRKR is for you.