When B. finds himself in the middle of a greedy land baron and a runaway daughter, will he play the role of guardian angel, or angel of death? And when she prays for the vengeance she so obsessively clings to, the bloodbath may be more than she bargained for… BRZRKR: A Faceful of Bullets is a one-shot comic that anyone can pick up and enjoy without having read any previous BRZRKR stories.
Created by Keanu Reeves, BRZRKR is the story of B and immortal force of destruction. After its initial series in modern times, we’ve seen B throughout the ages in various spin-off series. In BRZRKR: A Faceful of Bullets, B is in western times as he wanders around the US spreading tales of his uncanny abilities.
Written by Jason Aaron, BRZRKR: A Faceful of Bullets is an entertaining read, though nothing groundbreaking or standing out. It’s a typical tale of revenge with a young woman’s groom murdered by her father and her wanting revenge against her father who sent the men to kill him. B agrees to help her get to her destination but she still longs for revenge. It’s a tale we’ve seen so many times before, the weary warrior dragged into battle against his will by someone who doesn’t know what it’s like to have blood on their hands.
Don’t get me wrong, BRZRKR: A Faceful of Bullets is a solid and entertaining read, but it’s one you’ll get through, put in your pile and move on. While it’s interesting for those invested in the world in that it expands some of B’s history, those who are new will enjoy it for the straightforward story. It’s a familiar one but one done really well.
Part of that is due to the art by Salvador Larroca who is joined by Lee Loughridge on color and Ed Dukeshire on lettering. The visuals capture a weary warrior in a rough land. You can feel the tired nature of B ooze off the page. The team also does an excellent job of delivering the brutal nature of the comic without distracting. There’s some crazy kills and B gets torn apart at times, but it’s not one that crosses a line in being over the top in the gore or too silly and you’re taken out of the story. The visuals deliver a fine balance of death and destruction but also a man who is tired from the killing, the heart of the western genre.
BRZRKR: A Faceful of Bullets doesn’t break ground but it entertains. It’s a comic anyone can pick up and enjoy and nails the tropes and expectations that make the western genre one that endures.
Created by: Keanu Reeves Story: Jason Aaron Art: Salvador Larroca
Color: Lee Loughridge Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read
BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
