Comic Book Review BRZRKR #6

Rob reviews BRZRKR #6...

Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt's BRZRKR has surprisingly been a bit of a slow burn. Over the last 5-issues, we've delved into the Unute's quite brutal and bloody past, whilst only getting glimpses of his present. 

With BRZRKR #6 this dynamic changes as we're now fully into the present day. 

Set during a black ops mission in Ukraine, this issue follows Unute and his handler as they traverse the wilderness to their secondary extraction point. Along the way, we see more of the Unute's past, as we finally learn about what drives him, and his desire for a sense of normality. And yes...that brutal action is also here too!

The overall story of this issue is your regular military affair. The "good guys" are after something and are using a current rebellion to sneak in and get it. Problem is that on the way out their chopper gets shot down, leaving only Unute and his handler Jim as the only survivors. Now tasked with reaching a secondary extraction site that's high within the local mountain range, Unute not only has to battle the local climate - but also to keep his friend from succumbing to it. 

At times the script for BRZRKR can feel a little disjointed. We've had a tonne of exposition, with very little to move it all forwards. Thankfully Kindt and Reeves manage to strike a symmetry this time that builds upon the character's past but doesn't repeat the story. These flashbacks play out via quick single scenes which keeps everything rooted, whilst drawing parallels with the present. It's a welcome change and gives this issue a blistering pace. 

Throughout the series, there's been a lot of questions asked that still need answering. This time around we're finally let into the reasons as to why Unute is working for the US Government. It's not as in-depth as you'd expect and is a means to remain anonymous. As you can imagine, being immortal comes with a certain legend and it seems that Unute has had his time in history and just wants to be forgotten. While this rationalizes his reasoning, he's still being used as a weapon by the Government. 

Naturally, this issue also features a lot of gratuitous violence. This time around things takes on a more superhero quality as we see the United flip tanks, to capture shells in mid-flight. While it may seem a little over the top, these scenes work incredibly well. After all, we are dealing with an immortal, so why can't he have some god-like abilities?

Ron Garney's art is dialled up a notch this time around. Each panel stands out and the action has a very cinematic quality to it. Everything is visually satisfying and has a somewhat brutal superhero aspect to it. Along with Garney's illustrations, Bill Crabtree utilises a gorgeous colour range. This gives everything an Eastern European touch, whilst conveying the underlying tone of regret and redemption. 

Overall, BRZRKR #6 delivers on what the series should have been all along. It's a blend of action and exposition that is well crafted with the right balance between the two. While the action remains a fast-paced tour de force, Matt Kindt and Keanu Reeves utilise some colourful flashbacks to tell a more personal story. We've still got a few more issues to come from BRZRKR, and this issue marks a juncture in that I can't wait to see what comes next! 

Rating - 8/10 

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Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev