Nailbiter Vol. 1

By Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson

"Where do serial killers come from? " and why has Buckaroo, Oregon given birth to sixteen of the most vile serial killers in the world? NSA Agent Nicholas Finch needs to solve that mystery in order to save his friend, and he 'll have to team up with the infamous Edward "Nailbiter " Warren to do it. JOSHUA WILLIAMSON & MIKE HENDERSON deliver a mystery that mixes Twin Peaks with the horror of Se7en! Collects NAILBITER #1-5.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Image Comics, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781632152176

Book preview

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Reviews for Nailbiter Vol. 1

[tobinelliott · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

UPDATE: Five years after I wrote the review below, I was once again told I have to read this series. "You only read the first one," I was told. "You have to read more than that!"

I argued that, if the story isn't set up and written in a way that the first volume doesn't suck me in, then why should I continue to invest in it? Regardless, as I was going on vacation, I reluctantly agreed to take all six volumes and dutifully read them.

Having said that, the art has grown on me a touch, primarily because it now feels like a slightly less cartoony Chew style. It's tolerable. So, the initial mystery is set up, the overly violent FBI guy is sent in. The sheriff, it turns out, dated the titular nailbiter killer. And he's given a slight twist at the end.

Still not spellbinding. I pretty much stand by my original review below...



I had high hopes for this one. It came highly recommended. In fact, the person's exact words were, "Read the first one, you'll go the next day and buy up all the other volumes."

Unfortunately, no, this isn't going to happen.

I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it.

The art, by Mike Henderson, is this newer, sketchy style that seems to be the logical offspring of the renaissance brought on by Bill Sienkiewicz and Dave McKean, and in many cases it works. But here, for whatever reason, it just stuck me as okay.

The big downfall here is the writing. While the concept is brilliant--there's a town that's spawned a bunch of serial killers over the years, including one who somehow managed to avoid prison and lives in the town, and the sheriff is his ex-girlfriend--the actual page-by-page execution (pardon the pun) leaves a lot to be desired.

I found that the characters are being thrown from one fast moving action scene into the next with nary a moment to catch their breaths or consider the ramifications of what they'd learned from the last one. There was at least one massive reveal that was seemingly forgotten for the rest of the volume.

Like I said, it wasn't horrible, but the storyline seemed to try and do too much too soon. And I just didn't care.

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ah, serial killers. The one thing that I am both completely terrified of, and yet utterly fascinated with. I can think of nothing worse than the evil that you don't see coming. A person who blends seamlessly into society, but is nothing but darkness beneath the surface. It might be a bit macabre, but I rather like throwing back the covers and peering under the bed. Straight into the eyes of what scares me most.

Which is why Nailbiter Volume 1: There Will Be Blood soared to the top of my to-read list the minute I read a review of it on a comic website that I frequent. Imagine a place where these killers are born. A place brimming with an unnaturally high count of blood-soaked murderers. That, my friends, is Buckaroo, Oregon. A town that came to life on the page in all its gritty and rundown glory. I admit, I was hooked from the moment my eyes fell on the first full page spread of this graphic novel. It's dark. It's bloody. It's so well done.

I was introduced to NSA Agent Nicholas Finch, a man with his own dark secrets in the past. Williamson does such a great job of creating a character that, despite any darkness he might have inside him, is just too good of a person to dislike. I was rooting for him the entire time. His need to find his friend, his inability to let any person that he had the chance to save die, all of it made him a character that I could get behind. As the mystery grew around him, I found myself worrying more and more about his well being. Nailbiter isn't a happy story by any means. People die. Violence is normal. I just wanted Finch to survive it all.

The absolute only reason I gave this 4, rather than 5, stars is because I really believe that there could have been a little more tied up at the end. I'm all for clues and cliffhangers. For the most part, Nailbiter excels at laying out just enough to keep you eagerly following along. However the ending made me a little cranky. Yes, I know this is only the first volume. There's more out there. I just wanted a little more resolution. Still, this is a great first volume! You can bet I'll be back for more.

[katesherrod · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An engrossing, multilayered mystery plot in a sickly amusing setting. Mike S. Henderson's trademark toothy grins are especially effective on the creepy faces of a town full of serial killers. A bit of a gross-out, but all the more effective for that 8)