BRZRKR (2021) has been hyped for a while mainly due to the fact that action legend, Mr. John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves would be co-writing the entire miniseries along with Matt Kindt. I didn’t know what to expect from the first issue as I’ve never read anything by Kindt before and likewise never come across any of Ron Garney’s art work. Both of these latter people have worked on issues of Justice League of America, and as a massive DC fan, that raised my expectations a bit. Maybe I should’ve saved the research on the creative team till after finishing the initial chapter. BRZRKR follows the eponymous Berserker who is an immortal warrior seeking mortality. What turned me off was the gore right at the start of the issue which felt forced – or like they were trying to mimic other more established gory comic-book franchises. I liked the two-person narration that ran throughout the issue but the artwork seemed amateurish. Maybe if the illustrations were glossy, they might’ve appealed to my tastes. The artwork is not bad but isn’t eye-catching either. However, Keanu Reeves’ first outing as a comic-book writer is to be applauded. This beginning chapter has definitely been written by a novice author, but at the same time, the central narrative concerning an immortal wanting to become mortal, left me wanting more. Read this review on my website Lit Retreat: https://www.literaryretreat.com/brzrkr-issue-1-review/

Wowza! I thought BRZRKR Issue #1 was average but BRZRKR Issue #2 is like that superior sequel to a meh movie. It contains as much gore as the previous chapter but this time the carnage is thoroughly justified. We find out that there is a mystical reason behind Berserker’s birth. I really liked the flashbacks to the cavemen era, and that there was not a random reason behind our hero gaining powers. I am also appreciating Ron Garney’s art style more even though I have read better. The action is top notch and I really appreciated the designs of the prehistoric-period characters, especially the young version of Berserker and his flashy blue eyes, along with the illustrations of the wild animals. If you are faint of heart then BRZKR Issue #2 might not be for you as it shows violence against children as well. This ain’t no PG-13 comic. It goes all out. And I would have given it a full 5 10 stars but a 9/10 rating is more suitable given that it’s simply a better continuation of a lackluster first instalment. Read this review on Lit Retreat: https://www.literaryretreat.com/brzrkr-issue-2-review/

BRZRKR Issue #3 proves that you don’t judge a book by its cover or a comic by its first issue. This third outing is epic mainly because of the character development. I really liked how younger Berserker was growing outside of his conditioning by his father. This chapter also reinvokes the duality of man. Once his father’s village was the victim of raids by outsiders, and just when the coin landed on the other side, Berserker’s dad became a raider. Although, I did not find the previous two issues as insanely awesome as this one, there has been one consistent pattern in all three and that is the action. From start to finish, Keanu Reeves’ debut as a comic-book writer lets him play John Wick on the page. Let’s also not forget Matt Kindt’s contribution as co-author, and of course, Ron Garvey’s tenure as the main artist of the series. The ending was the best part of BRZRKR Issue #3. A collective body is trying to tame BRZRKR again, but just like the Marvel Comics character Wolverine, the people trying to control the former will learn that a warrior can be physically influenced but their heart is always free. Read this review on Lit Retreat: https://www.literaryretreat.com/brzrkr-issue-3-review/

BRZRKR Issue #4 is simply wow! I thought that the last issue was an improvement but this latest chapter pushed the pedal to the metal. The paramount aspect was the gore which was just bloody brilliant – no pun intended. I also admired how writers Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt handled the transitions between vast time periods with such finesse. Ron Garney’s artwork could use some gloss, but for what it’s worth, really helped bring the adrenaline-pumping, gut-tearing, horse beheading action to life. It usually takes me 20 minutes on average to finish a general-length comic-book issue but with this chapter it took me only a whopping 10 minutes! I was so disappointed when I saw the 24-page issue come to an end with the dreaded to be continued message. Just like some TV show debuts which don’t start off as eye-catching but get better with each episode, BRZRKR seems to improve with every issue. Kindt and Garney are industry veterans so maybe Reeves is the one who has managed to better himself as a first-time comic-book author in regards to the latest instalments of the storyline. The only thing I regretted about finishing BRZRKR Issue #4 was that now I have to wait a month or so for Issue #5. I guess all good things come to those who wait after all. Read this review on Lit Retreat: https://www.literaryretreat.com/brzrkr-issue-4-review/