Keanu Reeves' immortal warrior B. will do battle with Lovecraftian horrors in a new BRZRKR spin-off: The Poetry of Madness. ing Reeves for this special one-shot is acclaimed writer and artist Steve Skroce, who storyboarded the Matrix films. BRZRKR: The Poetry of Madness, to be published by Boom! Studios, will pit the titular hero against a horde of Lovecraftian monsters - including Cthulhu himself, making this B's biggest battle to date.
Boom! Studios released more information about the July-shipping one-shot in a recent press release. Reeves and Skroce will be ed by colorist Dave Stewart for BRZRKR: The Poetry of Madness; the book will feature covers by Skroce as well as David Mack, David Aja and Travis Charest. B, BRZRKR’s central character, has found himself the guardian of Atlantis. However, B’s bliss is shattered by forces from within, namely the king of Atlantis. Speaking with Boom!, artist Skroce stated he was a fan of the original BRZRKR series, and was "thrilled" to help Keanu Reeves create a new chapter in the character’s saga. Editor Jon Moisan was also excited about the series, teasing "B. versus Cthulhu." Enjoy the issue's cover art and summary below:
A sea of gore and devastation awaits as B., through a fateful chance encounter, safeguards the advanced and ancient realm of Atlantis as its unstoppable protector. But a sickly king serves as a symbol for the rot inside the kingdom, as the security and bliss created through B.’s violence is shallow… The cracks created by a secret cult might spell a monstrous end for the legendary city, one beyond even B.’s ability to save.
BRZRKR Promises B. vs Cthulhu
Created and co-written by Keanu Reeves, BRZRKR boasts the best-selling comic since 1991’s X-Men #1 - an impressive feat by any standard, but particularly for a new and untested property. Since then, the book has enjoyed widespread acclaim from both fans and critics, and now B. is returning to face a threat unlike any other in BRZRKR: The Poetry of Madness.
BRZRKR and Lovecraft Are the Perfect Match
Readers were thrilled by B's adventures during BRZRKR’s first series, and The Poetry of Madness promises to deliver the philosophical yet action-packed tone readers love. H.P. Lovecraft’s writings - despite their highly-problematic nature - often dealt with philosophical themes themselves, asking questions about humanity’s place in the universe. The answers Lovecraft found were bleak, and have been vastly expanded by the creators who followed, creating the larger Cthulhu Mythos, which BRZRKR now s. Artist and co-writer Skroce called BRZRKR's tone "singular" and "blood-soaked," and stated that The Poetry of Madness would be in this vein.
The Poetry of Madness also opens up the possibility for future BRZRKR spin-offs. B. is an immortal who has traveled the world, opening up vast story opportunities. The Poetry of Madness puts B. at the city of Atlantis, but what about other eras? Fans saw glimpses through the BRZRKR series, and these spin-offs can flesh these out further; it would also give new creators the chance to play in Reeves' sandbox. Keanu Reeves caught lightning in a bottle with BRZRKR, and now his immortal warrior is set to return to battle Lovecraftian horrors.
Source: Boom Studios
