The birthplace of serial killers gets even weirder and even more disturbing as “Nailbiter” begins lifts the veil on what lingers in Buckaroo, Oregon.
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Mike Henderson
Officer Nicolas Finch doesn’t care about Buckaroo, Oregon’s serial killers or its secrets — he just wants to find his missing friend. With time running out he turns to the one man who has all the answers…the infamous Nailbiter!
The subject of murder has been fodder for fiction ever since we’ve had fiction. The act of killing another just because you can has often been cited as the thing that separates human from animal and the idea has eternally fascinated us. Eventually one murder at a time wasn’t enough for us and with that, came a recurring fascination of serial killers. The fact that a person was compelled to repeatedly kill in a very specific order and often ritualistically. That fascination has culminated in “Nailbiter” from Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson as they shine a light on a town purported to be the birthplace of serial killers. “Nailbiter” #1 was an excellent exercise in creating a story built around atmosphere that propels its characters into a world of killers. With its second issue, Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson (no relation) delve even deeper into Buckaroo, Oregon and the darkness that lurks there.
There is a simple of genius to “Nailbiter”: the fact that Joshua Williamson’s writing can infuse such deft humanity in characters that many other writers would write off as one-dimensional monsters. It’s often a trap in crime writing of this kind for the serial killer to come off tinged by the bias of the writer and completely vilified and stripped of humanity. The brilliance of “Nailbiter” is that the titular killer, Edward Charles Warren, feels so completely human throughout the story thanks to Williamson’s writing. That also makes him genuinely terrifying. There’s a self-awareness to the character that elevates him beyond the generic bad guy that the cops have to catch: because the cops already caught him. That places Williamson in a position to allow the Nailbiter to hide in plain sight, to reference the crimes he committed as alleged and to exist as a person in the world of the story just as full of emotional depth as the cops.
This fact elevates “Nailbiter” and allows the story it is telling to bring the tension big time only two issues in. This comes from both the writing from Williamson that has already built fully realised characters just two issues in and the art from Mike Henderson that has built a small town so ominous it can give “Revival” a run for it’s money. Henderson’s art is perfectly suited to Williamson’s writing as it is not too realistic as to be genuinely disturbing, but there is a tangible atmosphere to page constructed from the simple lines and heavy inks and very precise colour palette. Williamson and Henderson have very quickly built a setting in “Nailbiter” that feels alive like a character unto itself and infused it with the histories of characters that they have only just scratched the surface of.
“Nailbiter” (if you’re thinking that I’m using the title more than usual it’s because the title is just so damn good) feels like the kind of book that a lot of heart and soul has been put into it. It’s tangible on the page, from the writing and the art, and it’s clear these two have a passion not just for the story they are telling, but for the inspirations it has been built on. In fact, there is an homage in this issue that is brilliantly executed in both writing and artwork that is one part Peeping Tom and one part Maniac and all around brilliant. It’s the type of issue that, even though it’s still early days for the series and the focus is on building the characters and the mystery surrounding the town, there is an immediate because of the care put into crafting the story.
Ultimately, this is just as strong an opening as “Nailbiter” #1. While it’s true that the story is still in slow burn mode and it might take a while to get going, once it does there will be no stopping this train. Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson have built a universe for this story that already seems to have untapped hidden depths with the potential to go places few other crime books have dared to go. Teaming that with pure raw talent in both writing and art, that makes “Nailbiter” one of the most well crafted, well told, well put together books I have seen in a long time and it’s only two issues in. This book can go to many great places and you will want to get on board now.
There will be no leaving Buckaroo now.
Final Verdict: 9.1 – Buy
