BRZRKR #2
B remembers more about his life in BRZRKR #2, by writers Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt, artist Ron Garney, colorist Bill Crabtree, and letterer Clem Robbins. This issue is sort of the making of the comic, giving readers a bit of B’s origin and filling in some facts about him.
B tells Diana more about his childhood- how his tribe found a fertile valley before he was born and how surrounding tribes used to come together and attack them every year, taking everything they could. His mother and father asked the gods for a weapon, and she was impregnated. He was born two months and trained to become the one who would protect the village. When he was finally ready, he tore into the attackers… and he loved every second of it.
Reeves and Kindt give a little bit more background on the main character, who Diana calls B at one point in this issue. It’s kind of standard, but that doesn’t mean it’s cliche, and it’s quite entertaining. It leaves a lot open for the future as well- he’s been alive for eighty thousand years, and there are way more gaps to be filled- but it also begs the question of exactly how he was created. Was it really a god that impregnated his other, or was it something else? The comic shows his mother and father gathering all kinds of herbs. Could that have had something to do with it? Was the impregnated by the gods thing just something his mother told him? There are many places to go with that angle, and it’s a lot cooler how it’s done than it might seem.
There are other little interesting little wrinkles to issue as well- for one thing, it reveals that there are times when he loses control and goes berzerk. It’s shown several times over the book- him killing dangerous animals, ripping them apart to sate something inside him. It’s also revealed that he likes that feeling- the ability to lose control, to rip apart his foes is something that brings him pleasure. It gives readers an idea of why he’s working for the US government- he needs an outlet for what he is, whatever that is.
Garney’s art is fantastic throughout this book. He really shines on the action scenes towards the end, but the double-page spread of B’s mother getting impregnated is also very good. Sometimes, the linework is a little thick, but other than that, everything looks excellent.
BRZRKR #2 is an all-around great comic. Reeves and Kindt aren’t reinventing the wheel here, but it’s still an intriguing book with all kinds of directions it can go in. It’ll be interesting to see where they take the book, but one thing is for sure- it will look good getting there; Garney is one of the best action pencillers in the industry. BRZRKR #2 is a cool ride that will leave fans wanting more.
