Nailbiter is “hands down” one of my favorite reads. Pun intended. I knew I wanted to read it as soon as I saw the cover.
My friend Joey, a fellow collector, informed me that he had issues 1 through 20 and that I could have them. That night, I think I read 8 issues alone. I was hooked on the story, the characters, and the visuals. As a horror fan, I loved seeing nods to the genre sprinkled in.
“Joshua Williamson (Ghosted) & Mike Henderson (Venom, TMNT) deliver a mystery that mixes TWIN PEAKS with the horror of SE7EN!
Nailbiter #1 back-cover
Buckaroo, Oregon has given birth to sixteen of the vilest serial killers in the world. An obsessed FBI profiler investigating the town has suddenly gone missing, and now an NSA Agent must work with the notorious serial killer Edward ‘Nailbiter’ Warren to find his friend and solve the mystery of ‘Where do serial killers come from?'”
- Published by Image Comics, Inc. May 2014.
- Story by Joshua Williamson
- Art by Mike Henderson
- Colors by Adam Guzowski
- Letters and Book Design by John J. Hill
- Edited by Rob Levine
- Logo by Tim Daniel
Upon opening the first book, you’re confronted with a swat team entering a run-down home in Riverside, California. Here you meet Buckaroo Butcher #16, Edward Warren. His method of killing was to chew his victim’s fingers to the bone before killing them. The scene paints a vibrant picture of his activities.
Shortly after, you are introduced to Nicholas Finch and Elliot Carroll, two old friends caught up in separate, but equally desperate situations. Carroll has asked for help solving a case he has given his life to. Traveling to Buckaroo, Oregon, NSA Agent, Nicholas Finch is expecting to be greeted by his buddy, only to find him missing when he arrives. He encounters a local sheriff named Shannon Crane informing him she had plans to meet with Carroll and he never showed.
Number 1 does a fantastic job of setting you up to scan the panels for clues or hidden gems that pop culture fans would recognize. I can’t express how exciting it was to see a Scooby-Doo reference dropped in the first few pages. The writing pairs so well with the art that I couldn’t stop looking through the books. I find myself picking up these books like a comfort item. A new piece to put together each time.
I felt suspicious of each character, trying to unravel who may really be responsible. By book 5, you are buried in evidence that points the finger in every direction. You will see several of the Buckaroo Butchers, learning about their crimes, and their family, as well as history of the town.
This series inspired me so much creatively that I felt compelled to write a brief review. If looking to purchase it, I suggest popping by your local comic book store or eBay. I was lucky to find it on my Hoopla account to finish reading beyond issue 20.
If you have read the Nailbiter series, please let me know what you think below. Feel free to suggest other books you like below.
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