Writer & Artist: Steve Skroce
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Cover Artists: Steve Skroce & Andrew K. Currey
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Price: $6.99
Release Date: March 27, 2024
Once Azaes’ heart beat strong and fast. Now, death looms
closer than childhood to the aging King. Can the leader of a new religion
lengthen his reign over Atlantis? Could Azaes even live as long as his champion,
Unute The Berserker? Let’s grab our swords, leap into BRZRKR: Poetry Of
Madness: Pen & Ink #1, and find out!
Story
Time has made King Azaes soft. He doesn't bother with an
army or a squad of personal guards. Why should he? His champion, Unute, has
superhuman senses, reflexes, speed, and strength. To sate Unute’s insatiable
hunger for bloodshed, King Azaes propagates rumors of wealth. Warrior bands,
rapacious tribes, and armies from all over the world arrive at the city gates,
only to fall victim to Unute’s bloodlust.
Zubatai, Azaes’ chronicler and Unute’s squire takes a passing
interest in the surpassing carnage. She must observe, after all. But the
citizens of Atlantis never tire of Unute’s triumphs. They fill the air with
flowers and petals as Unute returns on his chariot. They cheer as his ripped
and hewn body heals. Such displays now bore King Azaes. He’d rather listen to
Vizane’s teachings. The priest promises a new world order. Could Azaes stand
beside the ancient gods? Could he share Unute’s vigor and immortality?
BRZRKR: Poetry Of Madness: Pen & Ink #1 addresses our
desire for ease and comfort. It warns of the dangers of relying on others to
provide our needs. Steve Skroce's story evokes those of his literary forebears
like Robert E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft. The author seasons his story with
humor, contemporary cursing, and plays on words while urging us to be careful
what we wish for. Even if something is for free, we will pay a price for
receiving it.
Yes, a sobering thought indeed. Perhaps it’s time for another
colorful metaphor, Captain?
Art
An army breaches Atlantis’ distant gates and charges toward
the city of gleaming spires. Infantry, cavalry, and soldiers riding elephants
fill the plain from the hills to the coast. Zubatai’s upraised hand stops them.
She points at Unute, surrounded by empty wine jars. An ancient sword stands
embedded in the ground beside him. When army leaders laugh at Zubatai's offer,
Unute grabs his sword and cuts a swath through the army like a butter knife
through hot popcorn.
Steve Skroce lessens the brutal savagery in BRZRKR: Poetry
Of Madness: Pen & Ink #1. Spraying blood, flying organs, and falling limbs
and heads have a pleasing, organic appeal. While Ron Garvey opted for harsh
realism in the original BRZRKR series, Skroce lessens this symphony of violence
with elegant aristocracy, elaborate architecture, MAD Magazine-esque Sword And
Sorcery warriors, and a cult leader whose eyes burn with Sybokian fire.
While readers miss out on Dave Stewart’s vivid foreground
colors cast against neutral backgrounds like gray, beige, and brown, BRZRKR:
Poetry Of Madness: Pen & Ink #1 demonstrates Steve Skroce’s generosity. He
doesn't invade the colorist's domain with crosshatching, dots, gray fills, or
inked shadows. His art style gives the reader two options: 1) to enjoy the
story in Black & White or 2) to use this issue as a 50-page coloring book.
If you take the latter option, be prepared to use a lot of red.
Uppercase black dialogue appears in white balloons.
Zubatai’s narrative stands out in gray narrative boxes. Emotion and volume
swell letters and influence balloon shapes, while immense and energetic black
sound effects help us hear cannons boom, spiked bars surround Unute, and
screams fill the air.
Beneath panels filled with Ed Dukeshire’s lettering, Steve
Skroce’s small-sized commentary shares the history behind his story. From
Skroce's pitch to Keanu Reeves to his views on Brzrkr’s impact on history, his influences
and career, and how the art for this project diverged from Skroce's usual
process, it's all in BRZRKR: Poetry Of Madness: Pen & Ink #1. Thanks to
Boom! Studios for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
In BRZRKR: Poetry Of Madness: Pen & Ink #1, Steve Skroce
ponders befriending a living god. Would you be content with his companionship?
Or would you grow envious and grasp any chance to share in his eternal life?
Rating 9.4/10
For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
