You there! Yes, you! Are you looking for a comic read that’s more style over substance? What about a super action-packed gore-fest that has elements of Lovecraftian horror? Well, look no further than Brzrkr: Bloodlines.

Before we begin, thank you to Netgalley and BOOM! Studios for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first series. I liked it enough. Thought it was fun, engaging, and gory. This one here is more of the same. With one notable exception… there’s even less of a story here.

While there are moments of intrigue and promise, the storyline occasionally meanders, leaving some of the character motivations and plot points underdeveloped.

The book’s pacing is a mixed bag: it rushes through potentially interesting subplots and then lingers on action scenes without providing enough context or emotional weight.

Over all, I enjoyed it. If you’ve never read this series before, I wouldn’t start with this one. Fans would appreciate this more. But if you just want to look at some gory artwork, I’d say go for it.

This is the first BRZRKR graphic novel I've read, but it's very accessible and by that I mean I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything by not reading the previous publications. You'll love this book if you enjoyed the dry humor in the John Wick movies and the world building of Constantine. I'm really looking forward to checking out other content in this series.

You there! Yes, you! Are you looking for a comic read that’s more style over substance? What about a super action-packed gore-fest that has elements of Lovecraftian horror? Well, look no further than Brzrkr: Bloodlines.

Before we begin, thank you to Netgalley and BOOM! Studios for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first series. I liked it enough. Thought it was fun, engaging, and gory. This one here is more of the same. With one notable exception… there’s even less of a story here.

While there are moments of intrigue and promise, the storyline occasionally meanders, leaving some of the character motivations and plot points underdeveloped.

The book’s pacing is a mixed bag: it rushes through potentially interesting subplots and then lingers on action scenes without providing enough context or emotional weight.

Over all, I enjoyed it. If you’ve never read this series before, I wouldn’t start with this one. Fans would appreciate this more. But if you just want to look at some gory artwork, I’d say go for it.

I dove into Brzrkr: Bloodlines Volume 1 without prior knowledge of the series, and while I'm sure I missed some context, I thoroughly enjoyed this backstory.

The irony, deception, and gore kept me interested, and the ending left me eager for more. The artwork was impressive, adding to the overall intensity of the story.

Despite being a newcomer to the series, I highly recommend Brzrkr: Bloodlines Volume 1. It's a gripping and action-packed read that left me happy.

Thank you NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for the ARC.

The violence and the graphics reminded me so much of Samurai Jack. I guess mainly because the ration between showing the blood and the war violence or contestant war violence was really heavy. I like the old-school comic look that it had and the story line as really good to go with the graphics. I just can’t believe that she lied to him knowing what type of person he was and what he was capable of doing but, sure enough when they ad sex she thought it was her way of asking the truth. He had already figured it out by that time. She indeed did get her peace though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boom! Studios for the review copy.

To be honest, I have not read any of the previous issues or volumes of the <i>BRZRKR</i> series, but I have heard mostly positive reviews. When I saw this was available for review I wasted no time requesting a copy since I have a been a fan of prior works from Steve Skroce, Mattson Tomlin, and Rebekah Isaacs. The results are...varied.

Understanding <i>BRZRKR: Bloodlines</i> is an origin story of sorts for Unute (a character created by and resembling Keanu Reeves), I had hoped this would serve as a good introduction to the character. I am not sure I did myself a disservice by not having read prior <i>BRZRKR</i> stories or there just isn't much enough depth to the character to mine anything else.

Both stories in this collection are, at face value, masked as love stories. The first story, <i>Poetry of Madness</i>, is a visual treat that does not shy away from the extreme, but unfortunately visually is where it ends. Steve Skroce's art style (not dissimilar to Geoff Darrow, Frank Quitely, and Moebius) is a perfect fit for a story leaning into the violent, bloody, morbid, and mythological, but I don't believe the story stands along side the standard of the art. An immortal warrior in love with his city, serving his king, and protecting his people should be ripe with story possibilities, but Skroce decided to forego character depth and heart for some decapitations and spreads of Cthulu.

The second story by Mattson Tomlin and Rebekah Isaacs, <i>Fallen Empire</i>, is equally stunning to look at, but, just like the previous tale, lacks an emotional core. We follow Unute on a journey as he is captured, enslaved, freed, loved, and manipulated. It is hard to care for a character (plagued? blessed?) with immortality and a photographic memory when those are the keys to every answer to every problem he faces. While not as heavy in the gore department as the first story, Isaacs manages to marry the beauty and the violence seamlessly. It is a shame the visuals are stunning, but not enough to carry the emotional weight needed to sell Unute's predicament.

I do not attribute the fault of these paper-thin plots to the writers, I just don't believe there is much to mine from the character or story. I can recommend this book on the visuals alone, and wonder if I will think differently of these stories once I eventually read the main <i>BRZRKR</i> title, but for now I would say this is a borrow or library rental.

Unfortunately, this is high on my list of follow-ups/sequels/prequels/returns that should never have been done.

BRZRKR is an excellent mash-up of ultra violent action comic and philosophical discussions on life, death, love, and many things in between. One of the best pieces of visual media I consumed in 2024.

My first return to this world, the book of elsewhere, did a fine job of meshing BRZRKR with China Mieville's particular brand of weird. It didn't work for everyone, but it worked for me.

BRZRKR: Bloodlines, on the other hand, is simply ultra violent action comic with none of the philosophizing heart of the original or the weird of elsewhere. And, in the first issue of the two collected here, Cthulhu and Atlantis thrown in for good measure.

I am left simply asking myself "Why?".

Thanks to BOOM! Studios and NetGalley for the eArc.

Further exploration of the incredible world of Keanu Reeve’s BRZRKR! In this deeper dive into the world of creator Keanu Reeves’ mind-bending world of B., the immortal warrior with a abiding lust for carnage , we see tale of B.ks exploits throughout history (as he sees it). In the first of two tales, we see B. fighting a band of rabid cultists in Atlantis and a tangling with a certain tentacled god. In the second, we read a tale of honor, betrayal, and even romance of a sort. The format of these tales allows authors such as Steve Skroce and Matt Tomlin in this volume to run amok throughout history, weaving in the stories of our favorite immortal merc. I loved every single moment of it. The stories are well written and the art is amazing. I can’t recommend this more for lovers of adventure, wild combat (gory as heck), warped history.

Thank you to Boom! Studios and NetGalley for this arc.

Apparently Keanu wrote a comic book series? Lots of gore which I don’t mind but I found the main character flat and one dimensional. The fact that he looks like Keanu was off putting because I really want to believe he’s a nice guy.

Unute is an immortal who routinely gets possessed by an entity who slaughters everyone in sight. We're told he kills innocent men, women, and children, so he's not a sympathetic character. He doesn't act remorseful after slaughtering anyone. He doesn't show any emotion at all except for anger and bloodlust, which makes him the very embodiment of toxic masculinity. Despite this, every female character we meet wants to sleep with him.

He doesn't make any attempt to stop the entity from taking him over. He even kills innocent people when he's not possessed by the entity. He should be the main villain, but he's presented as the hero. The villains he faces are usually less evil than he is. Since he's immortal, the battle scenes were pointless. There's no tension when we know he's going to kill everyone else. Since he routinely slaughters entire cities full of people, it makes you wonder how there are any people left alive on the planet. The body count is just way too over-the-top.

There was one funny part where a Cthulhu cultist says Unute has to spare his life because he knows some ancient language. Unute speaks the language. Then the cultist says the masculine and feminine can be tricky. Unute speaks again, and the cultist admits Unute speaks the language perfectly. Other than this, there wasn't really any humor (unless you count Unute keeping his promise to make the cultist eat his own intestines).

I've been digging The Book of Elsewhere, a novel which features the same character, so I wanted to like this, but Bloodlines didn't appeal to me. I'm just not into gore for the sake of gore.

BRZRKR: Bloodlines - A Brutal, Mythological Spectacle
Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR: Bloodlines is a visceral, action-packed graphic novel that delves into the mythos of the immortal warrior, B. This volume offers two self-contained stories that explore different eras of B’s existence, showcasing his relentless violence and enduring loneliness.

The first story, “Poetry of Madness,” plunges readers into the ancient city of Atlantis, where B serves as a protector. The artwork is stunning, capturing the grandeur of the underwater city and the brutality of the battles. The second story, “Fallen Empire,” is a tragic tale of love, loss, and the destructive power of war. It offers a more intimate look at B’s character, revealing his capacity for empathy and his longing for connection.

While the artwork is consistently impressive, the writing can be a bit uneven. Some of the dialogue feels clunky, and the pacing can be inconsistent. However, the raw energy and brutality of the action sequences more than make up for these shortcomings.

Overall, BRZRKR: Bloodlines is a must-read for fans of violent, mythological fiction. It’s a thrilling ride that explores themes of immortality, power, and the human condition. Whether you’re a fan of Keanu Reeves or simply enjoy a good action story, this graphic novel is sure to satisfy.

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.