Jayson’s Reviews > BRZRKR #6 > Status Update

Wait, Keanu Reeves wrote a comic?!

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Wait, Keanu Reeves wrote a comic?!"

Yes, or at least co-wrote it. It's certainly his story and idea. Apparently, it's being made into a film, which was probably the main objective all along. Comics are often used as cheap proof of concept material for movies.

Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Wait, Keanu Reeves wrote a comic?!"

Yes, or at least co-wrote it. It's certainly his story and idea. Apparently, it's being made into a film, which was probably the ma..."

That's all a lot of very interesting information right there.

First of all, I would have never imagined Keanu Reeves writing a comic but it somehow doesn't really surprise me that he did, in whatever capacity he did.

Second, comics are used that way? That feels a bit offensive to be honest but, again, it doesn't really surprise me.

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "First of all, I would have never imagined Keanu Reeves writing a comic but it somehow doesn't really surprise me that he did, in whatever capacity he did."

Apparently, he's a comic fan. I saw an interview where he said it started as a film pitch he made, which was pitched back to him as a comic, probably, as I mentioned, as a proof of concept.

I'd post a video link, but Goodreads doesn't allow that anymore. If you're interested, you can just search for "Keanu Reeves Introduces Fans to BRZRKR" or "Keanu Reeves Shares Origin Story Of His New Comic Book, 'Brzrkr'". Those are titles of two videos on YouTube where he talks about it.

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Second, comics are used that way? That feels a bit offensive to be honest but, again, it doesn't really surprise me."

Yeah, especially modern day. I'd expect the majority of creator-owned indie comics are made with the intention and hope of being adapted for live action. It's why Amazon's currently doing exclusive comics with Scott Snyder and why Netflix bought Mark Millar's entire catalogue. They're streaming platforms desperate for content, and comics not only test the waters, but are essentially premade storyboards.

Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "First of all, I would have never imagined Keanu Reeves writing a comic but it somehow doesn't really surprise me that he did, in whatever capacity he did."

Apparently,..."

Huh, I check them out. Honestly, I've never really watched anything by Reeves, though I want to, but when I saw this I did think of my brother who has really liked the John Wick movies so I figured he would be interested XD Cool of Reeves to be interested in the comics and all that.

I don't know if comics being a proof of concept is a good thing or not. I mean, comics getting adapted is objectively a good thing as it brings attention to the comics themselves and the dying industry but I also think there's something sad that TV writers need to go to other media to find stories and cannot create new ones. I don't know, I have complicated feelings over it all and have been pondering this for a while now XD

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "I don't know if comics being a proof of concept is a good thing or not. I mean, comics getting adapted is objectively a good thing as it brings attention to the comics themselves and the dying industry but I also think there's something sad that TV writers need to go to other media to find stories and cannot create new ones."

Well, this isn't anything new in the grand scheme of things, nor is it limited to comics. TV and film has struggled to create new properties for a long while now. I mean, when's the last time there was a blockbuster film that wasn't based on a property with an existing fanbase? Frozen or Avatar maybe? Especially with high-budget action films, there has to be some security in the financial investment.

You mention comics being a dying industry. That's definitely part of this. The fact is that DC and Marvel no longer have the financial means to hang on to their big-name creators. So, those creators, particularly writers, leave for the creator-owned sphere and indie comics. Purely from the standpoint of making a living and the most income possible, the money is in getting work adapted. So, books are geared toward that goal.

This, of course, coincides with comic book and superhero films being the hot thing, as well as the rise of streaming platforms that are fairly low-budget but hungry for content. So, we get a lot of indie comics now that cater toward that low-budget aesthetic. Just having read BRZRKR, I wouldn't expect that it'd cost very much to make, and I'd think deliberately so.

So, this new trend is a combination of comic writers needing a place to ply their trade, and new media platforms springing up that need cheap content. Comic book are already inexpensive to make, and having been already produced, means it's the most economical option right now. Especially when you have examples like The Walking Dead providing a template for success.

Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "I don't know if comics being a proof of concept is a good thing or not. I mean, comics getting adapted is objectively a good thing as it brings attention to the comics ..."

Yes, that's exactly my point. I get it that making a huge investment in something that has already proved to have a fanbase and been well-liked is a good idea but it is sort of sad that there isn't much content being created exclusively for the big screen like that. Books, comics, and TV/Movies are vastly different media that require different things to make for enjoyable and gripping entertainment - as we can see from the many unsuccessful adaptations - and I would think that having content created specifically for the screen format would only benefit the industry.

Of course, at this point, all the entertainment industries have become, sort of, the same beast, and that can be a good thing as, as you mentioned, it helps pay authors and creators and keep certain interests but I cannot think is a sustainable idea and strategy.

In a way, I think that's why I find animation much more interesting these days, as they usually do their own thing, though anime and manga have much of the same co-dependent nature as western TV does XD

All that's to say that I'm of two minds in this whole mess, I like it and see its value at the same time that it worries me and irritates me with what I perceive as a lack of interest - or maybe it's more accurate to say a lack of backing and support - in the original creation of new ideas for screens.

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "All that's to say that I'm of two minds in this whole mess, I like it and see its value at the same time that it worries me and irritates me with what I perceive as a lack of interest - or maybe it's more accurate to say a lack of backing and support - in the original creation of new ideas for screens."

I think that studios are increasingly turning to adaptations over original concepts because we're in an age where movies have been on the decline. COVID basically shut down the cinema business for the better part of two years. So, film studios and television networks have become more risk averse when it comes to deciding on programming. While successful properties in other mediums aren't exactly a sure thing, they're more of a secure investment than something entirely unproven and with no name recognition. It used to be that you could attach a big-name celebrity to a film and it would succeed on the strength of the celebrity. But movie stars aren't what they used to be, and there are far fewer household names to ride the coattails of.

Adaptations are inherently problematic as well, because you're in a situation where you're playing to two different audiences. You have the original fans who you hope to appease, and then you have a new moviegoing fanbase that you hope to grow. While sticking strictly to the source material may not be ideal for a live action adaptation of limited length, straying too far from the source material risks alienating that loyal fanbase, and potentially making the end product an adaptation in name only, selling the film on the brand rather than the story and characters that elevated and popularized the brand to begin with.

I think the Harry Potter films walked that tightrope perfectly, for example. The stories there were still eminently recognizable and what they did change was relatively minor. On the other end, you have Russel Crowe's Noah, which strayed so far from the source material that it ended up alienating and insulting most of the religious audience that would have been its natural and most ardent demographic.

So, I agree with you about original stories lacking support and backing. I think that's mostly financial at this point, and it could possibly change with a healthier entertainment industry. Alternatively, once the comic book fad dies away, like the juvenile fantasy fad that was popular in the wake of Harry Potter, things will change again, and something new will take its place. Possibly that "something new" will be the emergence of a genre with no existing properties, and so, like reality TV before it, new and original ideas will become popular again.

Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "All that's to say that I'm of two minds in this whole mess, I like it and see its value at the same time that it worries me and irritates me with what I perceive as a l..."

Very good analysis. Yes, I see, we are already seeing the decline and death of the comic book adaptations as Marvel is losing popularity, rapidly from what I've seen, and the latest TV shows have not done too well either. What will replace it will be an interesting thing to see.

I agree with every you said. I don't think movies will die out, as watching something in theaters is a completely different experience than anywhere else, but I can presume they are seeking how to keep what happened with Covid from happening again. TV has had its safety plan with Streaming working for a while and thus didn't hurt as much but it certainly is a time for entertainment to change if it wants to continue.

As for a healthier industry... well, I don't think there's much hope there XD It might change and evolve and change skins but it'll remain, at its core, the same beast, I think.

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "As for a healthier industry... well, I don't think there's much hope there XD It might change and evolve and change skins but it'll remain, at its core, the same beast, I think."

Yes, I think you're right about that. Television and films are two fundamentally different forms of entertainment. As you mentioned, television, especially streaming, succeeded during COVID where film didn't. Going to the movies is a social activity. People don't often go to the movies alone, and even if they do they're surrounded by other moviegoers. It's fundamentally a communal experience.

Television is more or less a solitary experience. The series binge is a relatively recent phenomena, and difficult to manage for more than one person. It's often done, but requires a set window of time and synchronicity of schedule that's difficult to coordinate. It's not surprising that streaming services are where the mega corporations are putting their money. It's also a medium that thrives on amount and variety of content. So, to get back on track, one big evolution I see is that adaptive content that would have been meant for film a decade ago, more naturally finds its way to streaming now, for the simple fact that it's pre-tested and requires less development.

Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "As for a healthier industry... well, I don't think there's much hope there XD It might change and evolve and change skins but it'll remain, at its core, the same beast,..."

Indeed, and we've seen some really good quality, well-written shows grazing our screens recently so we know that it can happen, having a great story told in this smaller, per se, format; so that's a plus for the entertainment industry right now.

However, movies are not something that I see disappearing at all, or at least not soon, as the experience they provide is so unique. They are, for one, as you pointed out, a communal, social activity, and that in and of itself creates a sort of synergy that is infectious and enrapturing; getting to experience something with a lot of people that also enjoy this one specific thing is a wonderful, head-rushing experience but I think the movie theater experience goes beyond that. By virtue of the equipment they have, they can provide better sound and the big screens make for wonderful showings of the movies. Putting it all together, there is something just unique about the movie experience that cannot be captured anywhere else and I don't think it'll disappear, though I do hope they get more inspired by the content they put out there.

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Putting it all together, there is something just unique about the movie experience that cannot be captured anywhere else and I don't think it'll disappear, though I do hope they get more inspired by the content they put out there."

I agree. I don't think the movie industry is in danger of going away. All I heard during lockdown was people wishing they could go out to the movies again. I do think the film industry is ripe for change. Right now, all the buzz is with TV. I think the success of the recent Top Gun movie shows that old-fashioned blockbusters are still very possible, even though the superhero genre is on the decline. Like you, I sort of wish this sort of success was sparked by something wholly original rather than another sequel or derivative, but you never know where the next big trend is coming from, and as I mentioned previously, there's every chance that it's something new and unprecedented.

Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Putting it all together, there is something just unique about the movie experience that cannot be captured anywhere else and I don't think it'll disappear, though I do ..."

Indeed, only time will tell us how it'll go down. I hope it's fun XD

Also, I do love how we started on a topic completely separate from this and yet we both wrote diatribes on this one topic XD Chatting with you is always very thought-provoking and tons of fun!

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Also, I do love how we started on a topic completely separate from this and yet we both wrote diatribes on this one topic XD Chatting with you is always very thought-provoking and tons of fun!"

Likewise. Always a pleasure chatting with you as well :)