Nailbiter #9

By Joshua Williamson, Mike Henderson & Adam Guzowski

Nailbiter knows how to really sell the atmosphere of unease and fear within its already morbid premise and storyline. Some little nuggets of plot are craftily seeded throughout, but for a good portion of the issue Joshua Williamson explores the idea of killing for the betterment of society or to protect innocence; no doubt a heavy theme!

It’s because of these daring explorations that Nailbiter still captivates its audience. Williamson makes readers see things from the perspective of the killer, something most writers would shy away from, and dares them to empathize with him. With the artistic aide of Mike Henderson and Adam Guzowski, this is pulled off.

Henderson depicts well how living in Buckaroo can make one jaded or even sadistic over time. His use of panel transitions depicts Joshua’s material well. Perhaps this is a big clue into the overall mystery of the town, how can people who are surrounded by a murder culture hope to maintain some semblance of what we consider normality?

Guzowski’s continues with his dreary color palette, which heightens the disturbing material. Setting the story during rain and overcast allows Adam to flesh out the shadows and set the stage for tense, dramatic imagery. Everything comes together to form a dark, cryptic whole. Oh and there is one panel that will send chills down the spine! Apparently, the creative team was very proud of it.

This series continues to shine a light on the dark side of humanity and examine the various pathologies it entails. It’s a bold comic that consistently merits attention. The first trade paperback is available for a reasonable price, so there is no reason not to jump into this book. Also on the horizon is the Hack/Slash crossover!