BRZRKR: Bloodlines

by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, Ron Garney (Artist)

From cinematic legend Keanu Reeves comes four brutal tales from the bloodsoaked pages of the Immortal Saga.


In The Lost Book of B, the immortal warrior becomes a pawn of none other than Genghis Khan himself. As the berserker is used to destroy, devastate, and pave the way for the Silk Road, he must battle against his seemingly unstoppable violent urges and break free from the hold the warlord has over him.



In Poetry of Madness, a sea of gore and devastation awaits as B. safeguards the advanced and ancient realm of Atlantis as its unstoppable protector. But the machinations of a secret cult might spell a monstrous end for the legendary city, one beyond even B.’s ability to save.



In Fallen Empire, a ruined kingdom has a single living survivor. In this tragic story of death and cataclysm, she recounts a fable of lost love, and bloody vengeance.



In A Faceful of Bullets, B. finds himself in the snowy wilds of pre-Civil War Missouri, and caught up in the conflict involving a land baroness’s father and an abolitionist. After a deadly series of events, he’s mistaken for an angel, one to be used for vengeful purposes…



Collects BRZRKR: Lost Book of B. #1, BRZRKR: Poetry of Madness #1, BRZRKR: Fallen Empire #1, BRZRKR: A Faceful of Bullets #1.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics

224 pages, Hardcover

Published December 2, 2025

About the author

Keanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Born in Beirut and raised in Toronto, Reeves began acting in theatre productions and in television films before making his feature film debut in Youngblood (1986). He had his breakthrough role in the science fiction comedy Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), and he reprised his role in its sequels. He gained praise for playing a hustler in the independent drama My Own Private Idaho (1991) and established himself as an action hero with leading roles in Point Break (1991) and Speed (1994).

Following several box office failures, Reeves's performance in the horror film The Devil's Advocate (1997) was well received. Greater stardom came for playing Neo in the science fiction series The Matrix, beginning in 1999. He played John Constantine in Constantine (2005) and starred in the romantic drama The Lake House (2006), the science fiction thriller The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), and the crime thriller Street Kings (2008). Following another commercially down period, Reeves made a successful comeback by playing the titular assassin in the John Wick film series, beginning in 2014.

In addition to acting, Reeves has directed the film Man of Tai Chi (2013). He has played bass guitar for the band Dogstar and pursued other endeavours such as writing and philanthropy.

Reviews

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, BRZRKR: Bloodlines is okay.

It's enjoyable, some of the art is a blast, some of the stories are compelling, but it didn't really hit for me in a way that I was hoping. It's basically a collection of John Wick stories (Keanu Reeves face and all), but he's an immortal force of violence that exists throughout multiple ages in history and mythology.

If you're a fan of John Wick and want some gory, action-packed stories with maybe a little heart thrown in here and there, it's worth a look at least.

Thank you to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for the review copy!

[Ben A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collecting four one-shot stories that feature Unute across his long life and I’d read two of these before and I still feel like I did then, these are better than the main series and I’d love to see more one-shots like this.

Special Thanks to BOOM! Studios and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

[GONZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two old stories and two new ones, and the usual BRZRKR aka John Wick, who here is called Unute in a couple of stories, and obviously resembles Keanu Reeves. The drawings, although different from each other in the four stories, always manage to bring out the best in the plot, even if my favorites remain those in “Fallen Empire.”

Due storie vecchie e due nuove ed il solito BRZRKR aka John Wick, che peró qui si chiama Unute in un paio di storie, ed assomiglia ovviamente a Keanu Reeves. I disegni, per quanto diversi tra loro nelle 4 storie, riescono sempre a rendere al meglio la trama anche se i miei preferiti restano quelli di "Fallen Empire".

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Peregine · Rating 3 out of 5]

BRZRKR Bloodlines is a collection of stories involving a character who looks like Keanu Reeves with supernatural powers who kills people. In some of the stories he is called Unute, but in others he either has no name or another name. It is best not to think of them as really the same character, because there continuity doesn't really seem to be a major thought and there is no progressive character development. This mostly likely stems from the different authors, so see it as different takes on the same concept. Most of the time, Unute is not the protagonist (although it can be difficult to determine who the protagonist is. The settings vary from historical, to mythical and fictional, but with the exception of one, they are all premodern, being medieval or ancient. A common them is people trying to use Unute for their own ends. Every story has a lot of gore, and some of nudity.

Lost Book of B
This story is set in the time of Genghis Khan. The narrator is a cleric in a cult that watches Unute. They have figured out the cycle of his power and help Bulgars capture him to use against the Mongols., which is only a trick to get Genghis to use Unute to conquer China. It is kinda hinted that this has something to do with trade routes, but the motivation of the group is unclear as they may be trying to fulfill prophecies or have some other religious motivation. The art is most part realistic and the clothes and armour look historical. The unclear motivations of the cult is the weak point, because I think they are supposed to be the protagonists. It comes across as shallow, but trying to be philosophically deep. The epilogue is confusing and doesn't really match the story.

A Facefull of Bullets has a western setting and takes place during Bleeding Kansas. The author has obvious father issues, and in the prologue a father is treated as evil although he just seems to be a drunk who forbid his kid to touch his gun. The immortal warrior in this story is a cowboy who helps the abolitionist daughter of a slave owner escape her father. The daughter narrates and has a character arc.

Poetry of Madness
This takes place in Atlantis and the art style is bit more cartoonish, which I liked. I also found the costumes and armour a welcome change to the others and appropriate to the setting. The narrator this time is Unute's servant. Unute is the immortal champion of Atlantis and mentor to its king. The conflict is then between Unute and the new suspicious advisors to the king. In this story, Unute is actually heroic.

Fallen Empire
A woman finds an order of monks that records history to tell them the story of her people, of which she is the last. The downfall of the proud desert empire begins when Unute is brought into the city for gladiatorial combat. This story is different in that it shows the human side of him, capable of feelings and relationships, only periodically he becomes full of bloodlust, otherwise he is very peaceful. Again a ruler tries to use Unute as a weapon, again a lot of people die.

[Angharad · Rating 5 out of 5]

🗡️I was given this review copy by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own

🗡️Review: B's back, baby!

Last year, Keanu Reeves surprised me with just how good The Book of Elsewhere was: so strange, ethereal, beautiful and horrifying that it was difficult for me to talk about it, but I never stopped thinking about it. The story of B/Unute cemented itself as one of my favorite works of all time.

The literal second I saw the ARC for this go up, I requested it because there's not a lot of fiction like this being written anymore. I am extremely delighted to report that B's life adapts very well to a graphic novel format. It's gritty, gory, sexy, cool, surreal, and fantastical in all the right ways. It appeals to that itch for more stories like Conan the Barbarian or Elric of Melnibone, unafraid to be dark and violent, grotesque and obscene, but also full of beauty and deep meditations on what it means to be human.

This volume collects 4 different short stories set at different times and geographical locations in B's life. I have a hard time picking a favorite between Poetry of Madness and a Faceful of Bullets. The art is beautiful and gloriously gory. B is an immortal killing machine and the graphic novel doesn't shy away for a second from the brutality of war.

I will absolutely one million percent be picking this up when it hits shelves and I highly recommend it for fans of over the top action.

🗡️☆ Fun Factor 5/5 (this is just an adrenaline rush for my eyeballs)
🗡️☆ Writing Style 4/5
🗡️☆ Art Style 4/5 (Different styles for each story but all of them are great)
🗡️☆ Characters 4/5
🗡️☆ Plot 3/5 (Not much here, but still a good time. It's more about the action)
🗡️☆ Setting 4/5
🗡️☆ Feels 4/5 (If being pumped as hell counts)
🗡️☆ Romance 3/5 (It's there a little bit)
🗡️☆ Spiciness 5/5 (On page sex scenes)
🗡️☆ Gore 7/5 (Nearly every page is full of bloody deaths)

🗡️If this were a movie it'd be rated: R for intense violence, intense gore, sexual content

🗡️☆FOR FANS OF: Conan the Barbarian, Elric of Melnibone, and surrealist fiction that blurs the lines between scifi and fantasy. Must love a story with lots of violence and gore.

🗡️Ultimate verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

🗡️☆☆☆Best Character Award goes to:☆☆☆ I loved Unute in The Book of Elsewhere, so I'm beyond delighted to see him again.

[Joe Whitfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

The BRZRKR Bloodlines Hardcover Edition collects all four stories in the spin-off/prequel series of Keanu Reeves’ bloodthirsty action comic. Each story is a self-contained adventure spanning the long life of the Berserker himself, Unute (aka B). Unute is a man who’s been cursed to roam the world in an effort to satisfy his demonic side with violence. The longer he goes without killing, the more unstoppable he becomes, leading to pages full of ultra violence, dismemberment and head squashing.

The original creative team of Reeves, Matt Kindt and Ron Garney are all involved but for the most part. they’ve teamed up with writers Steve Skroce, Mattson Tomlin and Jason Aaron to produce an anthology of four stories set throughout B’s tumultuous and violent past. These are separate from the main series, and while no prior knowledge of BRKRZR is needed, this probably isn’t the book to be jumping in with. If you are au fait with Unute’s journey so far, then this book will flesh out some of his motivations and how his powers work.

Thanks to the copious amounts of violence and blood smattered across most of the 225 pages, reality and accuracy can be suspended in favour of silly fun. BRZRKR Bloodlines might be a spin off from the main series but the four collected stories flesh out Reeves’ undying antihero perfectly. Sure, it’s not the next Alan Moore book with a scathing commentary on social issues but BRZRKR Bloodlines is a comic that knows exactly what it is and unashamedly so. No matter how ridiculous the plot gets, with each page turn, I could vividly see how a BRZRKR film would play out, right down to Keanu’s mannerisms with Unute. Bloodlines might not be for newcomers to the series, but if you’re a fan of Keanu Reeves and his unchained rage monster, then this is a worthy addition to your collection.

I was provided with an advanced copy of BRZRKR Bloodlines from BOOM! Studios in exchange for an honest review.

[Lucsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I jumped at the chance to request "BRZKR: Bloodlines" because I'm a fan of the series. I started it because of Keanu's involvement, but I truly enjoy it, even if it is too male-gazey for my taste, and that continues to be a problem across every issue I have read.

The "Lost Book of B" was the most interesting politically, following the Unute cult, putting him through hell, as he served Genghis Khan. Loved how these cowards drew the men to the sides of the orgies.

"A Faceful of Bullets" is set during the Wild Wild West, and even though I particularly hated the way the heroine's wedding dress was drawn, I loved seeing Unute dressed as a cowboy and the attempt at a moral tale at the end.

I had already read the other two stories, and I think I enjoyed them more.

"Poetry of Madness" was my favourite thanks to the personality of the secondary characters and their humour and levity slowly being snuffed by the tragic plot.

"Fallen Empire" reminded me a lot of reading classic Conan the Barbarian tales. I really loved the world-building and plot twist in this. Pity the way female characters were drawn, barely clothed at almost every point. It really wasn't necessary. This was a great read without having to resort to that.

Thank you to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for this DRC.

[Lila Danisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn!!! That was so good!!!

Graphic novel containing 4 stories about a "creature" of many names but mostly called Unute which represented with Keanu Reeves' face.

To be honest, Keanu Reeves name was the first reason why I picked this book and finding that the story evolving his face, I pleasantly enjoyed this book so much.

Like I said, there are 4 stories in this book. The plots were the same since the stories were all about Unute. But each one has different charms. I honestly liked 4 of them. Though if I can rank them, here's my rank based on overall aspects (story and illustration):

1. In Fallen Empire.
Gah! This one broke my heart. It was beautiful yet heart breaking story.

2. In A Faceful of Bullets.
I could see the "humanity" of Unute and it was being delivered so well.

3. In The Lost Book of B.
The start of Unute story. The story was kinda messy and confusing. I needed time to understand.

4. In Poetry of Madness.
My least favorite. Maybe because the story was around the real event of the losing Atlantis, I am not that fond of retelling story.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. Though the gore was another level. Glad I am not afraid of "little" bit of gore-ness.

Thank you to Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, Steve Skroce, BOOM! Studios, and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actor Keanu Reeves decided to try his hand at writing comic books and the result is “BRZRKR: Bloodlines”. And, by the way, it’s pretty darn good.

This is a collection of stories about a man(?) that can’t be killed or destroyed and the people that try to use him for their own gain. We get anything from Gengis Kahn to the wild west. But no matter the time period, eyeballs are gouged out, people (and animals) are torn in two, limbs and heads go flying, etc. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure this is not.

As the stories progress, we get to see our main character in his complete form and he looks, not so ironically, like his creator, Keanu Reeves. Which can be comical at times consider what is said or going on. Never more so than when a nude protagonist is having sex. I coulda done without that and will never be able to watch John Wick again.

The art is gritty to match the feel of the writing. An enjoyable read. I would actually love for him to write a John Wick style character in his next go-round with comics.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did, and maybe I’m just not the audience for this sort of story. Unute isn’t a person, or even a character. He’s just an immortal man who likes and is good at killing. In between killing he might fuck some people, do some drugs, or wander the world, but mostly he kills people. There’s no real plot to any of these stories, no world building or character building or purpose beyond watching Unute kill people.

And if that’s what you want — a killing machine killing men, women, children and gods — then this will be right up your alley. But if you want something with more depth or nuance, then you’re going to have to look elsewhere.

But, for what it is, it’s a fast read and the art is solid. It’s just repetitive and a bit … well, boring. There’s no climax, no catharsis, and no purpose beyond glorious violence. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Dan Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read "The Book of Elsewhere" these stories give more depth to the experiences of B as he is exploited again and again. "BRZRKR: Bloodlines" collects some tales of his journey, from fighting at the head of Genghis Khan's army to guarding the walls of Atlantis. It gets wild. Available from Boom! Studios on 2 December.

Might miss some folks but this work credits: Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, Jason Aaron, Steve Skroce, Mattson Tomlin, Ron Garney, Salvador Larroca, and Rebekah Isaacs.

Reasons to read:
-Yes it is ultraviolence, but B's attempts to numb himself cycling to trying to live till he is exploited is compelling
-Strangely hopeful in one
-Fallen Empire is intense
-Did not expect that to be something fought
-Accent is important

Cons:
-If folks would just be excellent around him there would be a lot less blood

[Reading Xennial · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am new to this universe so this took me some time to grasp what was going on. I’ve heard of it and I knew generally what it was about, but I haven’t delved into it until now. I didn’t get it until the second story in this collection. This was a wild ride. The artstyle really set the mood and I appreciated what went into it. It was gory, but it felt like the right amount for the story. Much like Keanu’s movies, this felt in the same vein. The main character didn’t have much depth, but you still had to root for him even through all of the violence. It did seem like Keanu placed himself in the story, which if I had his clout I would definitely do the same. I loved this and I recommend this to anyone who’s interested in the premise and artstyle.

Thank you, NetGalley and BOOM Studios for allowing me to read this collection early. The opinion in this review is my own.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

3.5 stars. I like how ridiculous and over-the-top this series is. The quality isn't always consistent, but I do enjoy the range of tones over the different stories. Sometimes, they're brutal in a humorous/campy kind of way (fighting a Lovecraft monster), and sometimes they're brutal in an emotionally devastating kind of way (destroying the one thing the lover who betrayed you cared about). Obviously, there is a ton of violence, but it also focusses on how Unute feels about his situation and how he tries to deal with it.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The four current Brzrkr one-shots collected all in one place. Reeves is letting some other creators get their hands on the character in various places in time. These are actually better than the miniseries even if some of them get pretty crazy. I'm talking to you and that story in Atlantis Steve Skroce.

[frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the over arching story was fun enough i have personally never been the biggest fan of the artist shifting so much on a book.

There were some sections that visually were harder for me to read but if you like the art style will probably suit you just fine.

A face full of bullets was my personal favorite.

Recommended for keanu die hards for sure and a maybe for everyone else

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the stories and the art.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of BRZRKR since the beginning and this did not disappoint. It is violent and so very interesting. I love the walk through time aspect.

5 stars