Review - Nailbiter #1Review by Paul Fiander
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If fame is a fickle business then infamy is something even more difficult to understand. Names such as Jeffrey Dahmer, Andrei Chikatilo and even Jack the Ripper are engrained our brains due to the horrendous acts they perpetrated. You can still go on walks around London that will take you to the spots where each of the Rippers victims was found. However London is a very large place and one tour can cause issues but imagine if you lived a small town where a serial killer came from. A place where everyone knows everyone and there is no chance of hiding from anything. Now to really push the boat out give that town a history where 16 mass murders all originate from the same place and what you end up with is Buckaroo, Oregon.
Chief among the infamy list is the subject of Joshua Williamson’s latest title Nailbiter, his name is derived from his habit of chomping on his victims fingers. There are a few images where you can see this is occurring and the cover is perhaps one of the most images you will see on a comic. The art and cover by Mike Henderson are well crafted and appearing to the dark tone matter of this kind deserves. His character models feel authentic with a touch of stylisation, this is brilliantly shown when we first get to meet the man with the nail fetish. The reds show splatter all over a dark room but it’s the contrast with the blood on the Nailbiter himself that really brings home the image. The story starts at a good pace and shows that very little action is needed to make a story. In fact the most action based sequence we get involves a bee and some wonderful art. The main character Detective Finch seems as complex a character as you will meet this year. His slightly odd demeanour is great for putting you off balance and will hopefully keep you guessing from issue what he will do. Buckaroo is also filled with some interesting residents and how their interactions will play out with the detective I think will make or break the story. Thankfully in this issue everything points towards an intriguing blend of normal with just a smidge of crazy. Nailbiter feels like it will be a slow burn but do not let this deter you from what appears to be the start of a story that will have you fighting tooth and nail for the next issue. The art is top drawer and I will happily throw my neck out and say this is looking like another winner from Image. Issue Rating; 4.5/5 |
The Comic is available in both print and digital from Image comics. Follow this link for more details.
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