© Boom! Studios
Vocabulary:
- A-list /EY-list/
[adjective] – used for describing people who are the most famous
Takeru Sato is one of the known A-list actors in Japan.
- niche /nich/
[noun] – a job or position that is very suitable for someone, especially one that they like
Finding your niche at work can be difficult, but is absolutely rewarding at the same time.
- immortal /ih-MAWR-tl/
[adjective] – living or lasting forever
Immortal characters in fiction are mostly portrayed as villains.
- synopsis /si-NOP-sis/
[noun] – a short description of the contents of something such as a film or book
Have you read the synopsis of the upcoming movie? It was breathtaking!
- faint of heart /FEYNT-uhv-hahrt/
[idiom] – to not be strong enough to handle a situation
Jessica personally thinks that Japanese horror movies are not for the faint of heart.
Who doesn’t know Keanu Reeves? An A-list actor, a well-known musician, even a film producer, and now, a comic book writer. Yes, Keanu Reeves has started a new pursuit beyond his niche and has joined forces with Matt Kindt, New York Times graphic novelist. “BRZRKR” (read as “Berzerker”) is bound to hit the market with its first issue on October 7, distributed by Boom! Studios.
The 12-issue limited series, illustrated by Alessandro Vitti, features Berzerker, a warrior (who resembles Reeves himself) who has been wandering the world for hundreds of years. Berzerker works for the US government in present times, taking violent and dangerous jobs in exchange for answers about his immortal existence. The official synopsis reads: “After wandering the world for centuries, Berzerker may have finally found a refuge — working for the U.S. government to fight the battles too violent and too dangerous for anyone else.”
BRZRKR’s summary itself serves as a warning, however. Reeves and Kindt share the same intensity of the comic’s violence, and the series may not be for the faint of heart. BRZRKR is described as a mixture of various fictional elements including action, violence, conspiracies, and “a heartbreaking discovery.” Vitti expresses his enjoyment in illustrating the fight scenes in the comic: They “really gave me sense that I was in a Hollywood movie set.”
Reeves, 55, says that he started getting drawn into comic books when he was about 10 years old, but had never shown interest in writing or drawing one, not until this year. He did, however, dream of playing as Wolverine. So, what about BRZRKR? Reeves’ answer is “I’d love to play Berzerker!”
Comprehension Questions:
- Who does the main character of BRZRKR resemble?
- What is the story of BRZRKR?
- According to Reeves and Kindt, what does the comic book include?
- When will BRZRKR have its first issue released?
- What was Reeves’ dream when he was 10 years old according to an interview?
Discussion Questions:
- What is your opinion about Keanu Reeves writing his own comic book series?
- Based on the synopsis, do you think BRZRKR will become a hit in the US? Why or why not?
- Are Western comic books popular in Japan? Please tell me more about it.
- What genre of comic books do you prefer reading?
- For you, what makes a comic book entertaining to read?
[adjective] – used for describing people who are the most famous
Takeru Sato is one of the known A-list actors in Japan.
[noun] – a job or position that is very suitable for someone, especially one that they like
Finding your niche at work can be difficult, but is absolutely rewarding at the same time.
[adjective] – living or lasting forever
Immortal characters in fiction are mostly portrayed as villains.
[noun] – a short description of the contents of something such as a film or book
Have you read the synopsis of the upcoming movie? It was breathtaking!
[idiom] – to not be strong enough to handle a situation
Jessica personally thinks that Japanese horror movies are not for the faint of heart.
The 12-issue limited series, illustrated by Alessandro Vitti, features Berzerker, a warrior (who resembles Reeves himself) who has been wandering the world for hundreds of years. Berzerker works for the US government in present times, taking violent and dangerous jobs in exchange for answers about his immortal existence. The official synopsis reads: “After wandering the world for centuries, Berzerker may have finally found a refuge — working for the U.S. government to fight the battles too violent and too dangerous for anyone else.”
BRZRKR’s summary itself serves as a warning, however. Reeves and Kindt share the same intensity of the comic’s violence, and the series may not be for the faint of heart. BRZRKR is described as a mixture of various fictional elements including action, violence, conspiracies, and “a heartbreaking discovery.” Vitti expresses his enjoyment in illustrating the fight scenes in the comic: They “really gave me sense that I was in a Hollywood movie set.”
Reeves, 55, says that he started getting drawn into comic books when he was about 10 years old, but had never shown interest in writing or drawing one, not until this year. He did, however, dream of playing as Wolverine. So, what about BRZRKR? Reeves’ answer is “I’d love to play Berzerker!”