When we talk about Keanu Reeves’ immortal saga, we don’t mean that he’s aged almost as well as Paul Rudd. (Though he has.) It’s a reference to his smash hit comic co-written with Matt Kindt and drawn by Ron Garney, BOOM! Studios’ BRZRKR. That comic is why Reeves was around to crash a panel about directors on directing; he was already backstage at Hall H after making a key appearance in the first ever comics panel held in that 6,500 seat arena.
Put that in the proper perspective. A few years ago, Reeves pitched BOOM! Studios executive editor Matt Gagnon and president of development Stephen Christy with the idea for an immortal warrior who may actually be a god of violence. All the character eventually known as B wants is to die. By connecting Reeves with Kindt and Garney, the chemistry evolved the concept into a book that deserves every inch of its success. But no doubt the reason it reached Hall H level was because Reeves is one of the most popular actors/action stars in the world. As he proves over and over, he’s also one of the kindest.
The BOOM! team joined Reeves onstage, also bringing executive editor Eric Harburn and screenwriter Mattson Tomlin. Because even though they couldn’t actually show anything beyond artwork already published — and moderator Coy Jandreau tried mightily to get more — BRZRKR will, unsurprisingly, become a film. And an anime series. Because even though the comic book seems to be hurtling toward a conclusion, the structure of it allows for thousands of years of human history still to be explored. Though similar characters have captured readers’ imaginations, not even Wolverine has had this kind of impact in a single title.
Speaking of Wolverine, it’s well-known that Reeves had hoped to play Logan at some point. But this way seems better. A semi-regular comics reader, Reeves has created a character with some of the same attributes, but unique to this story. Just to make sure, though, Garney draws B to resemble Reeves.
Tomlin has some experience with comics himself, currently writing Batman: The Imposter for DC Comics. He has to keep three different storytelling rhythms in his head: comics, film, and anime. Reeves’ hope had always been to expand BRZRKR into other media, though in his usual way he demurred that it was only a dream.
At that point, Gagnon announced that a major author had just signed on to write a novel to be released sometime in late 2023. Despite wanting to keep the author’s identity completely secret for now, Reeves couldn’t help blurting out at least that he was one of Reeves’ favorite authors, and he couldn’t believe they’d gotten him onboard. Though it seems crazy, I’ll wager it’s either Joe Hill or Stephen King, just to stir up some gossip.
With all those media announcements, it was refreshing that the majority of the panel stayed focused on the comic itself. They acknowledged that they’d also like to turn the concept over to other creators for one-shot specials or mini-series focusing on corners of B’s history. Though the immortal saga may be drawing to a close in its first run, it will definitely continue.
As a rising tide raises all ships, it would be cool to see other comics get the spotlight in Hall H. Leave it to the affable and kindly Reeves to open the door to remind people that it doesn’t matter that we call it a “Celebration of the Popular Arts,” the name is COMIC-Con International.
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