Unute learns the truth about Protocol X in BRZRKR #7, by writers Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt, artist Ron Garney, colorist Bill Crabtree, and letterer Clem Robins. This issue introduces several more little wrinkles into the story, thickening the plot just right.

This issue starts and ends in the same place, but the meat of the issue takes place a week before. Unute meets with Caldwell, and they discuss the artifact he brought back. Caldwell relates the origin of Unute and how it relates to his past and reveals that he’s part of a group that has been trying to reconstruct his movements over the years, the modern descendant of cults that used to worship. After some explanation, he explains what Protocol X is and how it may help them find Unute’s homeland and how to make him mortal. They bury him under the Mojave Desert, and something happens.

BRZRKR, from its beginning, has been building to something, and this issue sees Reeves and Kindt start to reveal a bit of what may be the end game. Caldwell tells Unute he’s out to “help” him, but it also shows him killing other people who have looked for Unute, members of what amounts to a secret society he’s a part of. There’s a tension to these scenes as they go on, as readers start to realize the truth of this whole thing. Caldwell even gives up the ghost when he’s describing the ancient cults devoted to Unute, including the one the artifact comes from, how they worshiped him and wanted to get his power for their own. The fact that Unute doesn’t see through him speaks to how much he wants his mortality back and speaks to who he is. It’s an interesting bit of character building that fits very well.

That’s one of the most interesting ideas in this book so far and actually makes a lot of sense. If a being like Unute existed, there would be whole schools of belief based on him and his exploits, entire sects worldwide devoted to him. Another great idea posed to that Unute has served to move technology throughout the world after the various calamities of the past. Again, this makes perfect sense; he’d survive any such event and want to help the survivors. Caldwell even says something about him knowing his purpose as he asks him questions about everything he knows. Unute clams up, but that silence is pregnant with meaning.

BRZRKR has been an action smorgasbord for Garney. One would imagine an issue as devoted to explanations as this one wouldn’t have much action, but Reeves and Kindt give Garney a few scenes. Beyond that, he does a wonderful job of character acting and setting a scene, especially the panels that trace the artifact back through time.

BRZRKR #7 brings some interesting ideas about Unute’s life while introducing some great new plot developments. Reeves and Kindt take an issue that could have been all exposition and spice it up wonderfully, and Garney and Crabtree do a remarkable job with the visuals. With this issue’s reveals in mind, it will be interesting to see where this book goes.

Grade: A-