Written by Matt Kindt, Keanu Reeves
Art by Ron Garney
Published by BOOM! Studios
Where does Berserker come from? How did it all begin?
In the previous issue, our undying warrior demigod began telling the story of his first life, some 76,000 years ago.
We learned his first name, Unute, meaning “tool” and “weapon,” which his father used him as to build an endlessly expanding hoard of wealth, a village into a kingdom.
In this issue, we learn how Berserker’s first life ended.
It’s a story of betrayals and comeuppances, of needless death and suffering. And how Berserker lost his chance to be rid of the power that is also his curse.
Yes, he cannot die. He can heal from a lump of tissue.
He also can kill anything, with his bare hands.
We see him punch through human beings, rip a horse’s head from its body, grab men by the limps and tear them in half.
But he can’t kill himself.
Inevitably, Unute’s father’s kingdom falls, and Unute’s mother dies in the violence.
Broken by the loss of the one person who truly loved him, and tried to rid him of the life his father pressed him into as a rampaging hurricane of death, Unute walks out into an open field. The invading army surrounds him.
Rafael Grampa, who has drawn unthinkable carnage in this series, draws heartbreak in Unute’s eyes as he lets the invaders take him. He lets them hack, gouge and defile away until he’s a heap of blood, bones and guts on the ground.
But it’s not enough. He’s born again, and thus begins his thousand lives to walk alone.
This story is framed by the researcher Diana, who is listening to their session. She’s ostensibly working for the U.S. government to unlock the secret of Berserker’s biology and make super-soldiers, or something.
But why is she driving to Unute’s home, with a promise to tell him the truth?
Another quality entry in this title. Get on this now and know the original tale before this gets turned into a movie or TV show. Please.
