Review - Nailbiter #2Review by Paul Fiander
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At the end of the last issue we found that the infamous Nailbiter was now a free (ish) man. I say freeish as I’m not sure a stigma like that can ever leave you whether you are innocent or not. At the start of this issue we get a flashback of the reading of the numerous charges that Edward Charles Warren (aka the Nailbiter) was alleged to have committed. I say numerous and I really cannot emphasise that enough, the list of charges is measured in the tens instead of by single units. We however do not find out why the verdict is “Not Guilty”, this again points towards Williamson’s slow burn story telling as we are getting the information he feels necessary for the plot and no more. It’s a tight rope he is walking but so far he is managing to give the reader the right amount that they just want more.
We do however do get some back-story about some of the other infamous sons and daughters of Buckaroo and here Williamson shows he has a flair for the dramatic. The names of some of the serial killers feel quite mundane but the imagination that is used to create their acts of violence is pretty ingenious. Usually a serial killer is nicknamed after their acts have been perpetrated but obviously here the acts and names are from the writers mind. I would love to know which came first the name or the act but for now it will have to remain a mystery. Anyway we get to know a little more about the Twins, The Blonde and my personal favourite “The Silent Movie Killer” who probably has the only agenda of any serial killer I can sympathise with. All this information is feeding Finch the information he needs to unravel the ongoing disappearance of his friend. We also find out some rather startling information about Finch and what he does for a living, it feeds in nicely to how we first met him and helps to build the excitement for the rest of the story. Art wise this issue feels a little mixed there are points where it feels average and then there are wow moments thrown into the mix. One panel in particular I looked at for around two or three minutes as I kept asking myself did that just happen. It is a close to that moment in Basic Instinct that I have ever experienced in comics. It could just be me but I really did need time to assimilate the image and think did I really just see that act of violence (instead of Sharon Stones infamous leg recrossing scene). Nailbiter is only two issues old but already you can see the plot building in more than one direction. The nature of both the “heroes” and the “villains” are not clear cut and that is helping to create an uneasy feel to the narrative. In essence this is shaping up to be a thriller that deserves your attention. Issue Rating; 4.5/5 |
The Comic is available in both print and digital from Image comics. Follow this link for more details.
Preview Pages Warning they do contain spoilers.
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Images courtesy of Image Comics
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Comic - Provided by Publisher
