BRZRKR #6
Unute and Jim go on a mission that goes haywire in BRZRKR #6, by writers Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt, artist Ron Garney, colorist Bill Crabtree, and letterer Clem Robins. Even though this issue is action-packed, it has a nice quiet feel to it.
Unute and Jim are sent on a mission to Ukraine that goes bad. Jim is the only survivor of the squad, and he and Unute escape. Their chopper is shot down, and they have to survive in the wilderness. They talk, and Jim gets to Unute better as his survival becomes more and more suspect. Finally, they’re picked up off a mountain. Back in the US, the scientists discuss the recording of Jim and Unute’s conversation and what it could mean to their future.
This issue is a fascinating one. Reeves and Kindt do something that is pretty amazing with this comic- they give readers a quiet, introspective read that’s also full of violence. Much like Unute, readers are dropped into things immediately, with Jim the last survivor in a museum. Readers don’t see how things got that way, but there’s a frenzied feel to the whole thing. From there, the high octane thrills don’t end until after their helicopter is shot down. From there, the book gets quiet, as quiet as the forest they’re walking through. It’s a wonderful bit of writing, capturing the intensity of the violence and juxtaposing it with the quiet desperation of survival.
Tone in comics is important, and Kindt and Reeves perfectly capture it. Most of this issue’s story isn’t really anything new for this series, but the way it’s presented makes it so good. The writers set the scene wonderfully, and it pulls the reader in. This comic is basically the ultimate action movie, but because of its length, it can do things with the story that an action movie couldn’t. The way this issue plays with tone is worth the price of admission. Even if things aren’t exactly new, the story is still a great read.
Reeves and Kindt set the scene, but Garney brings it to life. His pencils are what the tone across. The frenetic feel of the action comes from the way he draws each scene. The quiet of the forest exists for readers because of how he draws it. He captures the glacial calm of Unute and the quiet desperation of Jim as he tries to survive the elements and his injuries.
BRZRKR #6 takes a story readers have gotten before and tells it in such a way that it still works. Reeves and Kindt work well together, and Garney’s art brings everything they put in the script onto the page. This book remains a joy to read.
