Nailbiter (comic)

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Nailbiter
First issue cover.
Publication information
PublisherImage Comics
ScheduleMonthly
GenreHorror, Crime, Psychological Thriller, Drama, Mystery, Police procedural,
Publication dateMay 2014 – March 2017
No. of issues30
Creative team
Written byJoshua 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 BloodISBN 1-6321-5112-X
Bloody HandsISBN 1-6321-5232-0
Blood in the WaterISBN 1-6321-5485-4
Blood LustISBN 1-6321-5682-2
Bound by BloodISBN 1-6321-5892-2
The Bloody TruthISBN 1-5343-0155-0
Nailbiter ReturnsISBN 1-5343-1690-6
Horror in the SunISBN 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]

  1. ^ "Williamson And Henderson On The Killer Secrets Of 'Nailbiter'". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on 2016-05-08. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  2. ^ "Joshua Williamson Stalks 16 Serial Killers in "Nailbiter"". Comic Book Resources. 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  3. ^ "'Nailbiter' Writer Josh Williamson Talks Serial Killers". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on 2016-08-28. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  4. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Williamson & Henderson Talk Nailbiter's New Image Series". CBR. 2020-01-24. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  5. ^ "Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson talk comics and killers with 'Nailbiter Returns'". AIPT. 2020-05-14. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  6. ^ "Nailbiter Returns #1". Image Comics. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  7. ^ "Nailbiter Returns #10". Image Comics. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  8. ^ "Nailbiter Comic Series Reviews at ComicBookRoundUp.com". Archived from the original on 2016-07-08. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  9. ^ "Nailbiter #21 | Project Fandom". 13 May 2016.
  10. ^ "Nailbiter #20 | Project Fandom". 6 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Horror Comics Weekly: Nailbiter #2, Doctor Spektor #1 Reviewed". Shock Till You Drop. 2014-06-08. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  12. ^ "Newsarama | GamesRadar+".
  13. ^ "Review: Nailbiter #1". Comic Book Resources. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  14. ^ Lake, Jeff (8 May 2014). "Nailbiter #1 Review". IGN. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  15. ^ "Comic Book Review – Nailbiter #20". Flickering Myth. 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  16. ^ "Comic Book Review: "Nailbiter" #10 – Marks a Weak Point for the Series". 4 February 2015.
  17. ^ "[Comic Review] "Nailbiter" #12 is Solid & Shocking". 6 May 2015.
  18. ^ "[Advance Review] "Nailbiter" #11 Shows How Buckaroo Makes a Butcher". 3 March 2015.
  19. ^ "2014 in comic books: Snyder, 'Saga' continue greatness". USA Today.
  20. ^ "James' Top 15 Horror Comics of 2015 - HorrorTalk". Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
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