BRZRKR#Adaptations and spin-offs
{{Short description|American comic book series}}
{{Infobox comic book title
| image = BRZRKR no.1 cover.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = BRZRKR Issue 1 Cover
| startmo =
| startyr =
| schedule =
| Action =
| publisher = Boom! Studios
| creators = Keanu Reeves
Matt Kindt
| limited = y
| writers = Keanu Reeves
Matt Kindt
| artists = Ron Garney
| letterers = Clem Robins
| colorists = Bill Crabtree
| editors = Matt Gagnon
| issues = 12
| creative_team_month =
| creative_team_year =
| TPB1 = BRZRKR Vol. 1
| ISBN1 = 978-1684156856
| cat =
| subcat =
| altcat =
| sortkey =
| addgrpcat# =
| addpubcat# =
| genre = {{ubl|Action| Supernatural| Sci Fi}}
| italic title = Y
| date = March 3, 2021
| main_char_team = {{ubl|B.(Berserker or Unute)|Dr. Diana Ahuja}}
| TPB2 = BRZRKR Vol. 2
| ISBN2 = 978-1684158157
| TPB3 = BRZRKR Vol. 3
| ISBN3 = 978-1684157129
| TPB4 = BRZRKR Deluxe Edition
| ISBN4 = 979-8892150521
}}
BRZRKR is a comic book series created and written by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt, and drawn by Ron Garney.{{cite web |last=Owoseje |first=Toyin |date=2020-07-20 |title=Keanu Reeves is writing comic books – the first issue is out in October |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/20/entertainment/keanu-reeves-comic-book-brzrkr-intl-scli/index.html |accessdate=2020-07-22 |website=cnn.com |publisher=CNN}} The comic follows an immortal half-human, half-God warrior, known as B or Berzerker. Cursed and compelled to violence, he has fought and killed his way through the ages,{{cite web |last=Mihalcik |first=Carrie |date=2020-07-20 |title=Keanu Reeves is writing a 'brutally violent' comic called BRZRKR |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/keanu-reeves-is-writing-a-brutally-violent-comic-called-brzrkr/ |accessdate=2020-07-22 |website=cnet.com |publisher=CNET}} but now works for the U.S. Government completing missions too violent and dangerous for anyone else.{{Cite web |title=BRZRKR |url=https://shop.boom-studios.com/collections/brzrkr |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=BOOM! Studios |language=en}}
The first issue of the 12-issue limited series was published on March 3, 2021, by Boom! Studios.{{cite web |last=Truitt |first=Brian |date=2020-07-17 |title=Whoa! Check out an exclusive look at Keanu Reeves' action-packed first comic book, 'BRZRKR' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2020/07/17/exclusive-keanu-reeves-debuts-comic-book-writer-brzrkr/5448723002/ |accessdate=2020-07-22 |website=usatoday.com |publisher=USA Today}}{{Cite web |last=Arrant|first=Chris |date=28 September 2020 |title=Whoa! Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR comic book pushed back four months |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/whoa-keanu-reeves-brzrkr-comic-book-pushed-back-four-months/ |access-date=2020-10-01 |website=Newsarama |language=en}} It raised more than $1.4 million USD in its funding campaign on Kickstarter.{{Cite web |last=Salkowitz |first=Rob |title=Keanu Reeves's Bloody Blockbuster 'BRZRKR' Moves To A New Format |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2021/09/29/keanu-reevess-bloody-blockbuster-brzrkr-moves-to-a-new-format/ |access-date=2022-01-06 |website=Forbes |language=en}} The series was initially announced to be illustrated by Alessandro Vitti, but this was later changed as the art was handled by Ron Garney instead.{{Cite web |author1=George Marston |date=2020-08-27 |title=First non-DC/Marvel work from Ron Garney in decades will be drawing Keanu Reeves comic BZRKR |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/first-non-dcmarvel-work-from-ron-garney-in-decades-will-be-drawing-keanu-reeves-comic-bzrkr/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}
Plot
BRZRKR follows a mysterious, immortal warrior known only as B, a man who has lived for over 80,000 years, gifted—or perhaps cursed—with superhuman strength and speed, godlike regenerative abilities, and an uncontrollable urge to commit unspeakable acts of carnage and violence. In the present day, B works as a weapon for the U.S. government, undertaking black-ops missions too dangerous for normal soldiers. In exchange, they promise to help him unlock the secrets of his origin—and grant him the one thing he wants the most, the ability to finally die.
As B endures each brutal mission, his body quickly regenerates from horrific damage, but the many psychological scars of his unending violent life remain. Between operations for the US government, he's studied and counseled by Dr. Diana Ahuja, a government scientist who seeks to unravel the mystery of his biology and mind. Through her therapy sessions, they develop a strong connection, and B begins to recount his origins: he was born in prehistoric times to a human mother who prayed for a weapon to protect her nomadic tribe from surrounding oppressors, and the being of cosmic energy she prayed to, who impregnated her with B instead, granting them an undying living weapon with monstrous, uncontrollable rage.
From conception, B was very different from the average human. He spent only two months in his mother's womb before birth, his body developed, grew, and healed incredibly fast, and he killed violently without remorse making his people refer to him as Unute which means weapon or tool. This only reinforced and convinced his surrogate father to raise and train him as the tool of war they prayed for to protect their tribe from the relentlessness and savagery of the larger tribes and villages that surrounded them, sending him into battle where he slaughtered and dismembered enemies in increasingly gruesome ways. Eventually, his surrogate father's greed and desire for conquest eventually lead to the tragic demise of B's mother, and their entire tribe. After this, B wandered the Earth alone for centuries, fighting in countless wars, toppling empires, and inspiring a cult-like following of people who revered, manipulated, and followed him for ages, passing their ways and knowledge from one generation to the next. They sought to gain his abilities by all means, and have been trying, but failing for centuries. B was unable to procreate and lost loved ones who aged and died while he remained unchanged. The weight of his curse grew heavier with time, leading him to strongly desire a way to end his suffering and finally die.
In the present, the U.S. government, led by a high-ranking influential figure called Caldwell (revealed to be a member of the above-mentioned ancient cult), who seemed to understand the full extent of B's abilities and his importance to humanity's advancement over the ages. The U.S. government continued to use B as a living weapon, while attempting to replicate his DNA to build immortal super-soldiers. B Is fully aware of this, but remains indifferent to their intention as long as they could find a way to make him mortal. Together with Dr. Ahuja, B begins to uncover his true origin by confronting his repressed memories and emotions about his mother's death, and using a special device to harness his innate energy and connect with the cosmic being responsible for B's creation—his father. This brief connection reveals the location of his birth and an artifact his father gave to his mother before her death, one capable of permanently ridding B of his abilities and making him mortal. Through her close connection with B, Diana also connects with the cosmic entity, granting her abilities of her own, and a psychic connection to B.
B reveals the location of the artifact, heading there with the US military, Caldwell, and Diana. Utilizing their psychic connection to navigate B's memories, he and Diana find the artifact which he activates, summoning a massive bolt of energy from outer space to their location. The U.S. military taps this energy from orbit back to their secret base using a satellite. Caldwell's machinations come to light as he orchestrates events to transfer B's abilities to himself, and Diana activates her psychic connection to B, once again linking to the cosmic entity in an attempt to understand it's intention. The climax unfolds with Caldwell, now imbued with B's former abilities. Now overcome with the urge to kill, he initiates an assault on the surrounding US military officials and B. Despite his newfound mortality, B confronts Caldwell, leading to a decisive battle. Diana's intervention proves crucial, as she utilizes her new powers to aid B in overcoming Caldwell's threat.
Development and publication history
Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR began in 2020 as an original comic series conceived by Reeves and writer Matt Kindt. The two planned it as a 12‐issue action saga about an immortal half‐god warrior, and partnered with BOOM! Studios to publish it. To fund the ambitious project, BOOM! ran a Kickstarter in mid‑2020, hoping for a modest $50,000. The response was extraordinary: the campaign ultimately raised over $1.4 million (far above its goal){{Cite web |last=Arrant |first=Chris |date=2020-09-28 |title=Whoa! Keanu Reeves' lends his voice to trailer for BRZRKR "the highest-selling original comic book launch in nearly 30 years" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/whoa-keanu-reeves-brzrkr-comic-book-pushed-back-four-months/#:~:text=This%20shouldn't%20affect%20the%20planned,more%20than%20its%20$50,000%20goal |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}} and set a new record as the highest‑funded comic book campaign on Kickstarter at the time.{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2023-05-11 |title=Hunt For The Skinwalker On The Kickstarter |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/hunt-for-the-skinwalker-on-the-kickstarter/#:~:text=Skinwalker%20time!%20Since%20setting%20the,in%20the%20Graphic%20Novels%20subcategory |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Bleeding Cool|language=en}} This fan support helped guarantee BOOM! could produce and distribute the series alongside its usual channels.
The creative team was announced shortly thereafter. Reeves co‑writes the comic with Kindt, and BOOM! assembled a veteran art team to match. Originally the art duties had been assigned to newcomer Alessandro Vitti, but before publication BOOM! replaced Vitti with long‑time Marvel/DC penciller Ron Garney. Colorist Bill Crabtree and letterer Clem Robins were also named as part of the core creative lineup.{{Cite web |last=Marston |first=George |date=2020-08-27 |title=First non-DC/Marvel work from Ron Garney in decades will be drawing Keanu Reeves comic BZRKR |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/first-non-dcmarvel-work-from-ron-garney-in-decades-will-be-drawing-keanu-reeves-comic-bzrkr/#:~:text=BRZRKR%20was%20co,the%20previously%20announced%20creative%20team |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}} Reeves later noted in interviews that he and Kindt had already completed scripts for the first four issues before Garney came on board,{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2020-10-09 |title=Keanu Reeves Spills The Secret Origins Of The BRZRKR Comic |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/keanu-reeves-spills-the-secret-origins-of-the-brzrkr-comic/#:~:text=parallel%20worldscome%20into%20this%20moment,hand%20it%20over%20to%20Ron |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Bleeding Cool|language=en}} after which Garney began illustrating the series. In this way, the project combined Reeves' story ideas with Kindt's scripting and Garney's art, under editor Matt Gagnon at BOOM!.
BRZRKR's publication schedule evolved over time. The series was originally solicited for an October 2020 debut, but when Garney joined the production late in the process BOOM! announced a delay. The first issue was rescheduled to reach comic shops on February 17, 2021 (cover‑dated March 2021).{{Cite web |last=Arrant |first=Chris |date=2020-09-28 |title=Whoa! Keanu Reeves' lends his voice to trailer for BRZRKR "the highest-selling original comic book launch in nearly 30 years" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/whoa-keanu-reeves-brzrkr-comic-book-pushed-back-four-months/#:~:text=,week%20publication%20schedule |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}} From there the series rolled out at roughly bi‑monthly intervals through early 2023. In total twelve issues were released, with the final issue hitting stores in March 2023.{{Cite web |title=BRZRKR #12 First Look |url=https://www.boom-studios.com/archives/brzrkr-12-first-look/#:~:text=BOOM!%20Studios%20today%20revealed%20a,a%20million%20copies,%20this%20March |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=BOOM! Studios |language=en-US}} BOOM! began collecting the issues into trade paperbacks as they came out: the first four issues were gathered into a paperback volume (BRZRKR Vol. 1) published in September 2021.{{Cite web |last=Arrant |first=Chris |date=2020-09-28 |title=Whoa! Keanu Reeves' lends his voice to trailer for BRZRKR "the highest-selling original comic book launch in nearly 30 years" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/whoa-keanu-reeves-brzrkr-comic-book-pushed-back-four-months/#:~:text=BRZRKR%20,out%20in%20September%20of%202021 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}} A deluxe omnibus edition of all 12 issues was later announced, scheduled for 2025.
The launch of BRZRKR proved a phenomenon in the comics industry. Issue #1 became one of the biggest comic debuts in decades, selling roughly 615,000 copies to comic shops.{{Cite web |last=Johnston|first=Rich |date=2021-03-30 |title=A Look At Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR #2 For Next Month |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/comics-publishers/boom/a-look-at-keanu-reeves-brzrkr-2-for-next-month/#:~:text=BRZRKR%20,1%20which%20sold%20a%20million |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Bleeding Cool |language=en}} That number required a second printing and led BOOM! to tout the issue as "the highest‑selling original comic book launch in nearly 30 years".{{Cite web |last=Arrant |first=Chris |date=2020-09-28 |title=Whoa! Keanu Reeves' lends his voice to trailer for BRZRKR "the highest-selling original comic book launch in nearly 30 years" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/whoa-keanu-reeves-brzrkr-comic-book-pushed-back-four-months/#:~:text=Update:%20Boom!%20Studios%20has%20released,launch%20in%20nearly%2030%20years |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}} Sales remained strong after the first issue: by comparison, orders for BRZRKR #2 were about 148,000 – an impressive figure given that #2 had far fewer retail incentives and variant covers than #1.{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2021-03-30 |title=A Look At Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR #2 For Next Month |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/comics-publishers/boom/a-look-at-keanu-reeves-brzrkr-2-for-next-month/#:~:text=BRZRKR%20,1%20which%20sold%20a%20million |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Bleeding Cool|language=en}} Over its run the series shipped more than one million copies, underscoring its blockbuster status. In short, BRZRKR's Kickstarter success and its record‑breaking sales made it one of BOOM! Studios' most notable creator‑owned series, cementing the project's place in modern comics history.{{Cite web |last=Johnston|first=Rich |date=2023-05-11 |title=Hunt For The Skinwalker On The Kickstarter |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/hunt-for-the-skinwalker-on-the-kickstarter/#:~:text=Skinwalker%20time!%20Since%20setting%20the,in%20the%20Graphic%20Novels%20subcategory |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Bleeding Cool|language=en}}
Reception and Sales
Issue #1 sold over 615,000 copies,{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=2021-02-04 |title=Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR #1 Sells Over 615,000 Copies To Comic Stores |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/keanu-reeves-brzrkr-1-sells-over-615000-copies-to-comic-stores/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}} making it the top-selling single issue since Star Wars #1 in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Jennings |first=Collier |date=2021-02-06 |title=BRZRKR #1 Is the Best Selling Comic Since Marvel's Star Wars #1 in 2015 |url=https://www.cbr.com/brzrkr-comic-600000-copies-keanu-reeves/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=CBR |language=en}}
The first Volume of BRZRKR—collecting issue 1–4 has gotten mostly positive reviews from the social cataloging website—Goodreads, holding a strong average rating of 3.76 out of 5 stars for 4,683 ratting and 656 reviews.{{Cite web |title=BRZRKR: Bloodlines, Vol. 1 |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/176443608-brzrkr |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Goodreads |language=en}}
The complete 12-issue original series of BRZRKR and the 4 one-shot releases have a strong collective average critic score of 7.1 out of 10 for 77 reviews, and an even higher average user score of 8.6 out of 10 for 383 reviews on the review aggregator website Comic Book Roundup.{{Cite news |title=BRZRKR Reviews |url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/boom-studios/brzrkr# |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241126232629/https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/boom-studios/brzrkr |archive-date=2024-11-26 |access-date=2025-04-13 |work=ComicBookRoundup.com |language=en-US}}
| class="wikitable"
|+PER-ISSUE SALES (DIAMOND INDEXES) !Issue !On-Sale Date !Estimated units shipped (Diamond) !Ref. |
| #1
|March 3, 2021 |321,184 |
| #2
|April 28, 2021 |113,565 |
| #3
|June 16, 2021 |85,743 |
| #4
|July 28, 2021 |69,173 |
| #5
|September 29, 2021 |Unavailable |N/A |
| #6
|November 17, 2021 |Unavailable |N/A |
| #7
|January 26, 2022 |Unavailable |N/A |
| #8
|March 30, 2022 |Unavailable |N/A |
| #9
|June 29, 2022 |Unavailable |N/A |
| #10
|September 28, 2022 |Unavailable |N/A |
| #11
|December 21, 2022 |Unavailable |N/A |
| #12
|March 15, 2023 |Unavailable |N/A |
Collected editions
| class="wikitable"
|+Collections of BRZRKR !scope="col"|Title !scope="col"|Material collected !scope="col"|Published date !scope="col"|ISBN |
| scope="row"|BRZRKR Vol. 1
|BRZRKR #1–4 |November 2021 |{{ISBNT|978-1684156856}} |
| scope="row"|BRZRKR Vol. 2
|BRZRKR #5–8 |September 2022 |{{ISBNT|978-1684158157}} |
| scope="row"|BRZRKR Vol. 3
|BRZRKR #9–12 |{{ISBNT|978-1684157129}} |
| BRZRKR Deluxe Edition
|BRZRKR #1–12 |September 25, 2025 |{{ISBNT|979-8892150521}} |
Adaptations and spin-offs
{{Main|BRZRKR (franchise)}}
On March 22, 2021, Netflix announced it was developing a live-action film adaptation and a follow-up anime series based on the comics with Reeves cast as the lead.{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Angelique |title=Keanu Reeves to Star in and Produce 'Brzrkr' Live-Action Film and Anime Series for Netflix |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/keanu-reeves-brzrkr-movie-anime-series-netflix-boom-studios-comics-1234935704/ |website=Variety |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=March 22, 2021}} In October 2021, Mattson Tomlin was writing the live-action film adaptation.{{cite web|last=Weintraub|first=Steve|title= Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney Discuss Their Comic Series 'BRZRKR' and Reveal Who's Writing the Live-Action Netflix Movie|url=https://collider.com/keanu-reeves-brzrkr-netflix-movie-interview/|date=October 4, 2021|website=Collider|quote=Reeves told me that Mattson Tomlin (writer of Project Power and one of the writers on The Batman) has been hired to write the live-action movie and it's in the early stages of development.|access-date=February 22, 2022}} In March 2025, it was announced Justin Lin would direct and produce the film.{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=2025-03-07 |title=Justin Lin Teams with Keanu Reeves for Gritty Action Movie 'BRZRKR' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/keanu-reeves-brzrkr-movie-justin-lin-1236157199/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
In July 2022, during Keanu Reeves' panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, it was announced that the anime series adaptation will be produced by Production I.G and have two seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-07-22/keanu-reeves-brzrkr-anime-series-animated-by-production-i.g-with-2-seasons-planned/.187929|title=Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR Anime Series Animated by Production I.G With 2 Seasons Planned|last=Loo|first=Egan|website=Anime News Network|date=July 22, 2022|access-date=July 22, 2022}}
On July 23, 2024, a novel entitled The Book of Elsewhere, which is set in the world of the BRZRKR comic book series, was published. The novel is a collaboration between Keanu Reeves and British author China Miéville.
A one-shot spinoff by Keanu Reeves, acclaimed writer and artist Steve Skroce (We Stand On Guard), and Eisner-winning colorist Dave Stewart titled BRZRKR: Poetry of Madness, set in Atlantis and pitting the immortal B. against a Lovecraftian nightmare released on July 26, 2023.{{Cite web |title=BRZRKR: POETRY OF MADNESS #1 First Look - BOOM! Studios |url=https://www.boom-studios.com/archives/brzrkr-poetry-of-madness-1-first-look/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=www.boom-studios.com |language=en-US}}
Another one-shot spin-off comic written by Reeves and Mattson Tomlin, with art by Rebekah Isaacs and colors by Jordie Bellaire, titled BRZRKR: Fallen Empire, set in a fictional desert empire, Olos, where B. finds love and is manipulated, was released on November 29, 2023. The comic had cover variants by Joëlle Jones, Jenny Frison, and Yanick Paquette.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/brzrkr-prequel-keanu-reeves-fallen-empire |title=BRZRKR: Keanu Reeves' Immortal Warrior Returns in Fallen Empire |website=IGN |date=August 23, 2023 |access-date=March 21, 2024 }}
In October 2023, Boom! Studios announced the first volume of the "Bloodlines" spin-off run, written by Keanu Reeves and Mattson Tomlin and illustrated by Steve Skroce. It was released on March 27, 2024.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/brzrkr-bloodlines-boom-studios-keanu-reeves |title=BRZRKR: Bloodlines Vol. 1 Collection Revealed by BOOM! Studios |date=October 19, 2023 |access-date=March 21, 2024}}
A new one-shot spinoff by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, Ron Garney, and Bill Crabtree titled BRZRKR: THE LOST BOOK OF B following B.'s time serving as the ultimate weapon of the warlord Ghengis Khan, released on August 21, 2024.{{Cite web |title=BRZRKR: THE LOST BOOK OF B Announcement|url=https://www.boom-studios.com/archives/brzrkr-the-lost-book-of-b-announcement/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |website= BOOM! Studios |language=en-US}}
In February 2024, writer Jason Aaron was revealed to be writing a "standalone Western story" for the "Bloodlines" run of the series with artist Salvador Larroca, titled BRZRKR: A Faceful of Bullets. It was released on July 24, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Babb |first=Tiffany |url=https://www.thepopverse.com/keanu-reeves-brzrkr-comic-jason-aaron-faceful-of-bullets |title=Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR taps Jason Aaron to write standalone Western story |date=February 22, 2024 |website=Popverse |access-date=February 23, 2024}}
The second volume of the BRZRKR: Bloodlines spinoff series co-written by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, & Jason Aaron, and Illustrated by Ron Garney & Salvador Larroca released on December 18, 2024. It collects BRZRKR: The Lost Book of B, and BRZRKR: A Face Full of Bullets.{{Cite web |title=BRZRKR Bloodlines Vol. 2 |url=https://shop.boom-studios.com/products/brzrkr-bloodlines-vol-2 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=BOOM! Studios |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Boom! Studios}}
{{Keanu Reeves}}
{{Production I.G OVAs}}
Category:Comics adapted into animated series
Category:American comics adapted into films