This was a blood-slick dark fantasy made even more intriguing with Keanu Reeves at the helm. It fit the archetype of the hyper-masculine hero with a gentle undercurrent embodied by Reeves in other projects—a very enjoyable read.

- Violence, myth, and Keanu Reeves magic—this one hits hard. 🔥📖
- A bloody masterpiece with a beating heart. 🩸✨
- Graphic, gripping, unforgettable. BRZRKR is a ride. ⚔️

Being a huge fan since the first graphic novel was released, I am super honored to have gotten a chance to read and review. BRZRKR: Bloodlines is action-packed, bloody, and totally gripping. Keanu Reeves delivers a wild story that’s brutal yet surprisingly emotional—like watching a movie unfold on the page. Definitely a must-read for graphic novel fans!!!

*BRZRKR: Bloodlines* had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately the execution fell short for me. While the core idea of expanding this universe through a deeper dive into history and mythos is compelling, the delivery felt uneven.

The pacing was inconsistent—sections dragged on with heavy exposition, while action scenes, which should have been highlights, felt rushed and underdeveloped. Characters lacked depth and emotional resonance, leaving their motivations and relationships feeling flat rather than engaging.

The artwork, though gritty and dynamic in moments, at times leaned too chaotic, making panels feel confusing instead of immersive. I also felt the balance between dialogue and visuals was off, with text often carrying too much weight without enough visual storytelling support.

That said, I did finish the volume, and there were flashes of intensity and creativity that showed the potential of the concept. For readers already invested in the BRZRKR universe, this might still provide interesting additional context. However, for me, it ultimately felt more like filler than a necessary or memorable installment.

2.5 star rounded off to 3

BRZRKR: Bloodlines jumps right into the action—lots of gore, slashing, and chaos!! And More slashing and more guts and gore... but it was quite fun. The story digs a bit into the main character’s emotions and questions of identity. I thought the art was well done (but I’m not an expert on graphic novels. I read them but not as often as big fans). The writing switches between funny, blunt, and almost poetic at times, which I think add a bit more depth to the narrative arc... still is not a “deep-thoughtful read” imo. Some parts feel like setup for the next book, but overall it’s a fast and fun read.

Thanks NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for the arc!

I was super eager to get my hands on a copy of BRZRKR & I can say that I was not disappointed.

This was a great mix of a gore, action & the feels. It gave a great backstory to Unute the Berserker. Reading this before getting into the comics is great. It’s sad, there’s a lot of heartbreak and betrayal. Death & lies. There’s just so much happening in this novel. I enjoyed it.

I would definitely read another one of these.

I received an ARC digital copy of this graphic novel/comic from NetGalley.

Record-breaking comic creator, Keanu Reeves (lesser known in his roles as Neo in The Matrix films), brings another great installment to his BRZRKR series.
Check it out before the adaptation on Netflix.

Its an interesting read, super gore btw.
I must confess i fell into the Keanu Reeves trap, however I found it interesting its basically John Wick with monsters instead of guns.
If you are looking for a super deep read, well this is not for you, there is not much besides the gore and pretty basic storyline.
But, in its simplicity is entertaining, and the illustrations are nice.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I’ll caveat this review by starting with: I don’t read graphic novels/comics. A friend has the entire set and when I saw this, I thought ‘Why not take a look?’. I enjoyed this quite a lot. The story moves on (thought it seems only an excerpt from something bigger), which makes it an easy read. I didn’t have trouble following the story through the various cells that comic books use, which has been my biggest barrier to starting one previously.

While the graphics aren’t super quality (I think), I believe the more gritty type images fit the story better, it is not a clean story, so why have clean images? The brief part of a bigger story we get seems like it will be interesting enough to get into, eg. What other creatures are out there that can challenge an immortal? Where did the issues start for the main character, that sort of thing.

This is only just over 100 pages (on my phone anyway), so it isn’t a particularly long read if you aren’t into comic style books but are willing to try dipping your toes into the genre. Worth the effort for sure.

I know this series has been around for quite a while, but I just never thought I would enjoy it. Boy, was I wrong!

While the artwork is mediocre, the story is amazing. I can overlook the art design because of the plot.

This is definitely one to keep on the lookout for, to read the next in the series.

#NetGalley #BRZRKR

BRZRKR: Bloodlines is a fast-paced, gritty addition to the series that deepens the lore while delivering the brutal action fans expect. I really enjoyed the emotional depth added to the main character and the exploration of legacy and identity.

The artwork is stunning and cinematic, matching the intensity of the story perfectly. Some parts felt like setup for future volumes, but overall, it was a solid and engaging read. I loved it and I’m excited to see where the series goes next.

Recommended for fans of gritty action, mythological twists, and emotionally complex antiheroes.

I’m not a graphic novel person but I liked this. Yes lots of violence , but the story was well done and it’s Keanu, how can I not love it. 😂

I enjoyed the first BRZRKR graphic novel and the novel “The Book of Elsewhere”. This one was a little bit more simplistic, but I like the story of showing some history and humanity of Unute. The second story was more engaging than the first, which is a classic “monster of the week” for Unute. The characters are one-dimensional, but that almost adds to the vibes of this being an ancient retelling of a fable.

Just finished Brzrkr: Bloodlines Vol. 1 and while it had a bit more gore than I usually go for, I totally get why fans of the series or darker comics would be into it. The first story felt a bit heavy on the blood and violence for me, but I really enjoyed the second story. It had more emotional depth and character building, which I appreciated. If you’re into intense, action-packed stories, this one might be right up your alley!

This graphic novel is not for the faint of heart, and some of the scenes gave me Attack on Titan vibes, but I greatly enjoyed it.

I really appreciated the variety in writing styles, it was lyrical in parts, while casual and blunt in others. This makes for some interesting dichotomies of the beautiful writing and brutality being depicted and the casual "Nah", and beautiful prose. I was also laughing a lot during the first part of the book (I especially appreciated the pun).

I personally preferred the illustrations in the second part of the book (personal preference). It was incredible the emotion that was conveyed through the characters facial expressions. I also really liked how part of one box would extend into another. I found it really powerful, especially when one of the dying men was almost reaching for the woman's face. In part one I found the illustration style a little odd (distracting) in its depiction of the gore and blood, it almost looked like tentacles for the blood. Other than that it was phenomenal. Some of the artistic choices were really powerful, for example when they depict the battles with the soldiers as art on the wall, while the present battle is happening in front. I admired that page for quite some time.

This one is, obviously, for my violent blood & guts crowd. If that's you, and you haven't jumped on the BRZRKR train yet, what are you waiting for? If that is not you, then this is definitely not for you. Not my fave art style but I enjoyed the storylines. Some of the alternative covers are gorgeous. This one is a no-brainer for the right reader and an absolutely not for the wrong one. I trust you to know which you are. Thank you to everyone involved, the publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC.

This is a prequel story with Keanu Reeves! This book follows Unute a demigod who can’t die, in two different story’s. The first is set in Atlantis and he is the kings protector. A group of cultish priests manipulate the king into betraying Unute and using his blood to open a portal to let Cthulhu into the world. The first part of this story doesn’t start off to well for me. It wasn’t super well written and is just a bunch of mindless killings for shock value. I thought the stuff with the priests was cool and of course the big battle with Cthulhu was awesome. But the first half of the story just didn’t really work for me. I’d give this story a 3/5 stars

The second story seems to be even further in the past. And is a story of love and betrayal. Unute gets captured by the king, and is tortured in the dungeons. The queen sets him free and they escape together. They eventually for in love as they are together out in the wilderness. Eventually she betrays him. she was manipulating him the whole time. And tricked into destroying the king’s enemies. Upon finding this out Unute erases the her and her entire kingdom from history. This one was much better 4/5 stars

Over all I liked this story much better than the first. We got a lot more plot and a lot more from our characters. I also think the artwork looks better in this second story.

Although the first story wasn’t as good I think the book over all was a fun read. I’d compare this to like an action popcorn film. It was entertaining and enjoyed it. But not something that’ll blown your mind.

This is a comic book written by Keanu Reeves and he is also the main character of the book. He is a Demigod that cannot die. There is a good storyline, but I got a bit confused towards the end. The graphics were amazing, except for the way blood was drawn. It didn't look at all like blood, maybe they were more focused on the severed limbs. It was a gory comic book with nudity too. So if you're sensitive to that than don't read it. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this for free!

As a fan of graphic novels, BRZRKR: Bloodlines Vol. 1 was an intriguing start to a new chapter within the BRZRKR universe. The illustrations are striking – atmospheric, dynamic, and filled with memorable details. I especially loved the red armor in the first story, which immediately reminded me of Dracula’s armor from the 1992 film – a fantastic visual touch that added depth to the tone of the story.

I also appreciated the use of classic fantasy elements in that first story, especially the presence of a creature reminiscent of Cthulhu. It gave the narrative a mythological, almost Lovecraftian vibe that really appealed to me.

The ideas throughout this volume are intriguing and suggest a wider universe waiting to be explored. However, some of the stories felt a bit too short – even by comic standards. Just as things were getting interesting, they would often end abruptly, which left me wanting more.

That said, Bloodlines Vol. 1 lays a solid foundation for further expansion of the BRZRKR world. If you're into darker action stories with mythological and historical influences, this is definitely worth checking out – and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes next.

The action-packed, punchy, ultra violent epic about an immortal warrior, B, created by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt continues in this volume, collecting the one-shots Poetry of Madness and Fallen Empire, created by Keanu Reeves with Steve Skroce, Mattson Tomlin and Rebekah Isaacs.

Poetry of Madness finds the immortal warrior in Atlantis, facing Lovecraftian terrors, while Fallen Empire takes place in a desert empire, with the immortal warrior falling in love and facing betrayal.

Both stories are best enjoyed after the main series, and aid in deepening our understanding of B’s past, and what drives him.

Full of action and bloodshed, these stories are not for the faint hearted, but will be loved by action fans.

BRZRKR: Bloodlines offers two intriguing, self-contained stories that delve deeper into the 80,000-year history of the immortal warrior, B. While the artwork is, as expected, nothing short of spectacular, the narratives themselves, while promising, could use a bit more fleshing out to truly hit their mark.

The first story, "Poetry of Madness," throws B. into the legendary city of Atlantis as its brutal protector. The concept of his unparalleled violence being the bedrock of a utopian society is fascinating, and the artwork by Steve Skroce vividly brings the underwater realm and its eventual descent into chaos to life. The pages bleed with the gore and devastation you'd expect from a BRZRKR title, and B.'s struggle against an insidious cult and a "sickly monarch" is compelling.

Then there's "Fallen Empire," a more introspective tale beautifully illustrated by Rebekah Isaacs. This story recounts B.'s past as a "God King" through the eyes of a sole survivor from a kingdom he eradicated. The unreliable narrator element adds a layer of mystery, making you question the truth behind the "fable" of lost love and warring empires. Isaacs's art captures the tragedy and desolation perfectly.

Where Bloodlines falls a little short is in the narrative detail. Both stories are rich in concept and visual execution, but they feel like appetizers when you're hungry for a full meal. "Poetry of Madness" could have benefited from a deeper exploration of the Atlantean society and the cult's origins; we get a tantalizing glimpse, but the swift progression leaves some questions unanswered. Similarly, "Fallen Empire," while emotionally resonant, leaves you wanting more context around the "God King" era and the motivations of the survivor. A bit more world-building and character development would have elevated these compelling concepts to truly cohesive and unforgettable narratives.

Ultimately, BRZRKR: Bloodlines is a worthwhile addition for any fan of the series, especially if you're drawn to the stunning visuals and the expansive lore. It offers thrilling glimpses into B.'s violent past, but a desire for more intricate storytelling keeps it from being a five-star masterpiece. If you're ready to dive into some gorgeously rendered brutality and don't mind filling in a few blanks yourself, this is definitely worth picking up.