You ever just wanna stand up at your job and flip out? Not like JERRY MAGUIRE, where you got some awkward Tom Cruise leg movement going on that would make Elvis Presley cringe. No, more like, take a coworker or manager by the head, forcibly turn it around until it pops, and then yank it clean off the rest of the body with blood splattering all over the place? Well guess what? You’ve got a mild case of berserker in you, and only mild because you’re able to contain it. If you can’t, then start reading this book and live vicariously like me.
BERSERKER – Issues #0 & 1
Top Cow Comics | http://www.topcow.com | Written by Rick Loverd | Art by Jeremy Haun
A refreshing idea amongst the mature yet somewhat violent world of comics these days, BERSERKER sets the tone right away that this is not a comic book for children. Issue zero features main character Farris Jorn trying to work it out with a therapist, only to learn he has violent tendencies to rip people apart with his bare hands. What’s worse? He also learns he killed his good buddy during a war in the same violent fashion. Issue one then widens the “berserker world” a little more, showing us there’s more than one person that can “serk out” at a moment’s notice. And the sad but intriguing part is, right away we have two tragic heroes learning to deal with this other side. This uncontrollable, benevolent urge to hurt people. Whether it’s friendship or love, the berserker knows no bounds to peace. The anger inside is all that can be set free. New writer Rick Loverd has a great idea on his hands, and it would be interesting to see where he leads these two characters in future issues.
Top Cow Comics joins forces with HEROES star, Milo Ventimiglia to bring a cathartic yet head-popping good comic book. Here, if you lose your head, chances are, a berserker ripped it off. Or if you’re out of your mind, chances are you’re the berserker. And I could go on and on until Austin Powers does a nice old “Judo Chop” to my neck area. But the bottom line is... this is a solid book that’s not all about the art as Top Cow aims to be with most titles. Here the story goes hand in hand with the artwork, allowing the reader to really be pulled into the action and live in the world of crazy berserkers. Rick Loverd along with artist Jeremy Haun don’t hold back either, as the story promotes visuals that only a horror movie fan could love. Arms, legs, and heads are all being ripped apart like it was a nicely cooked turkey leg on Thanksgiving. I found myself staring at those pages too, imagining what it would look like on film. But in the moments where violence hides its bloody fist is where the book shows great promise. Loverd can really promote these characters to the next level if he’s focused, and not just allow them to be mindless animals with an itch to break something. But when they do, Jeremy Haun is sure to please us with his blood-soaked artwork. I’m excited for this series, and I hope BERSERKER keeps it under control in the writing department.
GRADE: Issue Zero 
Issue 1
CONTINUE READING? Darn tootin you should. Things are just getting started, and it’s at a great pace thus far.
