Nailbiter (comic)
| Nailbiter | |
|---|---|
 First issue cover. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Image Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Genre | Horror, Crime, Psychological Thriller, Drama, Mystery, Police procedural, |
| Publication date | May 2014 – March 2017 |
| No. of issues | 30 |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Joshua Williamson Mike Henderson |
| Artist(s) | Mike Henderson |
| Letterer(s) | John J. Hill |
| Colorist(s) | Adam Guzowski |
| Editor(s) | Rob Levin |
| Collected editions | |
| There Will Be Blood | ISBN 1-6321-5112-X |
| Bloody Hands | ISBN 1-6321-5232-0 |
| Blood in the Water | ISBN 1-6321-5485-4 |
| Blood Lust | ISBN 1-6321-5682-2 |
| Bound by Blood | ISBN 1-6321-5892-2 |
| The Bloody Truth | ISBN 1-5343-0155-0 |
| Nailbiter Returns | ISBN 1-5343-1690-6 |
| Horror in the Sun | ISBN 1-5343-1865-8 |
Nailbiter is a horror comic book series that was created by Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson, with art by Henderson.[1][2] The series is published by Image Comics and its first issue was released on May 7, 2014.[3] As of May 2017, the series has been collected into six volumes. The final monthly issue, number 30, was published in March 2017.
Synopsis
[edit]The series centers around the fictional town of Buckaroo, Oregon, which has produced sixteen of the United States' worst serial killers, dubbed the Buckaroo Butchers by urban culture. Its most recent creation is Edward Charles Warren, otherwise known as "Nailbiter" due to his predilection for chewing off his victim's nails and part of their flesh. By the series's start Warren has been caught by FBI agent Charles Carroll, but Carroll has since gone missing, leaving it up to his friend and NSA agent Nicholas Finch to search for him. Nicholas decides to start his search in Buckaroo, where he begins to question why the small town has produced so many murderers.
Collected editions
[edit]The series is primarily collected in trade paperbacks. The first twenty issues have been republished in hardcover format entitled Nailbiter: The Murder Edition, which includes extra material such as sketches and script pages.
| Trade Paperbacks | Hardcover Editions | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Title | ISBN | Release date | Collected material | # | Title | ISBN | Release date | Collected material |
| 1 | Nailbiter: There Will Be Blood | ISBN 1-63215-112-X | October 1, 2014 | Nailbiter #1–5. | 1 | The Murder Edition Volume 1 | ISBN 1-63215-475-7 | July 11, 2016 | Nailbiter #1–10. |
| 2 | Nailbiter: Bloody Hands | ISBN 1-63215-232-0 | March 17, 2015 | Nailbiter #6–10. | |||||
| 3 | Nailbiter: Blood in the Water | ISBN 1-63215-485-4 | September 15, 2015 | Nailbiter #11–15. | 2 | The Murder Edition Volume 2 | ISBN 1-53430-754-0 | March 20, 2018 | Nailbiter #11–20. |
| 4 | Nailbiter: Blood Lust | ISBN 1-63215-682-2 | April 12, 2016 | Nailbiter #16–20. | |||||
| 5 | Nailbiter: Bound by Blood | ISBN 1-63215-892-2 | November 8, 2016 | Nailbiter / Hack/Slash Special, Nailbiter #21–25. | 3 | The Murder Edition Volume 3 | ISBN 1-53431-206-4 | May 7, 2019 | Nailbiter #21–30 |
| 6 | Nailbiter: The Bloody Truth | ISBN 1-53430-155-0 | May 9, 2017 | Nailbiter #26–30 | |||||
| 7 | Nailbiter: Nailbiter Returns | ISBN 1-53431-690-6 | October 28, 2020 | Nailbiter Returns #1–5 | |||||
| 8 | Nailbiter: Horror in the Sun | ISBN 1-53431-865-8 | March 24, 2021 | Nailbiter Returns #6–10 | |||||
Sequel series
[edit]Williamson and Henderson teamed up to produce a sequel series entitled Nailbiter Returns.[4] It begins one day after the conclusion of the original series and delves further into the mythology surrounding the Butchers of Buckaroo.[5] The first issue was released on June 3, 2020,[6] concluding with issue #10 on February 24, 2021.[7]
Reception
[edit]Critical reception for the series has been mostly positive.[8][9][10][11] Newsarama called it a "masterful bit of horror".[12] Comic Book Resources panned Nailbiter's first issue, as they felt that the work did not live up to its premise's potential despite good coloring and artwork.[13] In contrast, IGN praised Nailbiter #1, stating that it was "an impressive and eerie debut that's sure to turn your sweetest dreams into the stuff of nightmares".[14] Flickering Myth has written predominantly negative reviews for later issues in the series, criticizing it for its pacing and story lines.[15] Bloody Disgusting gave mostly favorable critical reviews.[16][17][18]
Nailbiter was awarded "Best Horror Comic" by USA Today in both 2014[19] and 2015. It was also the #1 comic on Horror Talks "Best of 2015."[20]
References
[edit]- ^ "Williamson And Henderson On The Killer Secrets Of 'Nailbiter'". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on 2016-05-08. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "Joshua Williamson Stalks 16 Serial Killers in "Nailbiter"". Comic Book Resources. 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "'Nailbiter' Writer Josh Williamson Talks Serial Killers". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on 2016-08-28. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Williamson & Henderson Talk Nailbiter's New Image Series". CBR. 2020-01-24. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson talk comics and killers with 'Nailbiter Returns'". AIPT. 2020-05-14. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "Nailbiter Returns #1". Image Comics. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- ^ "Nailbiter Returns #10". Image Comics. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- ^ "Nailbiter Comic Series Reviews at ComicBookRoundUp.com". Archived from the original on 2016-07-08. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
- ^ "Nailbiter #21 | Project Fandom". 13 May 2016. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ "Nailbiter #20 | Project Fandom". 6 February 2016. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ "Horror Comics Weekly: Nailbiter #2, Doctor Spektor #1 Reviewed". Shock Till You Drop. 2014-06-08. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "Newsarama | GamesRadar+". 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Review: Nailbiter #1". Comic Book Resources. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ Lake, Jeff (8 May 2014). "Nailbiter #1 Review". IGN. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "Comic Book Review – Nailbiter #20". Flickering Myth. 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
- ^ "Comic Book Review: "Nailbiter" #10 – Marks a Weak Point for the Series". 4 February 2015.
- ^ "[Comic Review] "Nailbiter" #12 is Solid & Shocking". 6 May 2015.
- ^ "[Advance Review] "Nailbiter" #11 Shows How Buckaroo Makes a Butcher". 3 March 2015.
- ^ "2014 in comic books: Snyder, 'Saga' continue greatness". USA Today.
- ^ "James' Top 15 Horror Comics of 2015 - HorrorTalk". Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2016-06-26.