Buckaroo, Oregon has given birth to sixteen of the vilest serial killers in the world. An obsessed FBI profiler investigating the town has suddenly gone missing, and now an NSA Agent must work with the notorious serial killer Edward “Nailbiter” Warren to find his friend and solve the mystery of “Where do serial killers come from?”

I’m a fan of crime comics, I love them actually. Give me a good detective tale, or one about a serial killer, throw in a good setting, and I’m pretty hooked. Nailbiter is the new series from writer Joshua Williamson and artist Mike Henderson and published by Image Comics. After reading the first issue, I fully expect this to sell out and the publisher to have another hit on their hands.

Lets start with the obvious, the serial killer. Edward “Nailbiter” Warren is an original. The introduction, and what his calling card is, is something new and interesting. It also stays with you. I myself bite my nails, and since I’ve read the first issue, I keep pausing as I start. So, that’s a good sign. The setting is also solid in Buckaroo, Oregon, and having all of these serial killers coming from this one location is an interesting spin. It’s clear the town is a character unto itself in the series. There’s a creepiness that oozes off the page as you read. Finally we have the NSA agent and FBI profiler, each of which have mysteries of their own and a history we’re only given hints at. Mix all of this with an interesting plot, and an ending that caught me off guard, and you’ve got a comic I eagerly await further issues.

The issue is all set up, but even as it takes us through the impending mystery, and various characters, it moves the story along at a solid pace that drags us with it in a good way. The mood, the characters, the plot, it all goes together perfectly, setting us up for a mystery that you just know is going to pay off in an interesting way.

With a solid mood, some interesting characters, and a plot that should build into a good mystery, Nailbiter is a comic that can’t be missed this week.

Story: Joshua Williamson Art: Mike Henderson
Story: Art: Overall: Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review