Hometowns are strange beasts. They’re full of everything that made you who you are: failures, successes, and dark secrets. Now imagine the dark secrets are so awful they’ve driven 16 people to murder.

Welcome to Buckaroo, Oregon.

Nailbiter

Nailbiter by Joshua Williamson, Mike Henderson, and Adam Guzowski (and Image Comics) is a strange series. Over 30 issues, broken FBI agents and a small-town sheriff delve into what could create a town full of suspects, multiple murderers, and one serial killer in particular: the titular Nailbiter, Edward Charles Warren.

The series didn’t always hit the mark, but I give the creators credit for ambition. I’d recommend reading Nailbiter the way I did: in bursts of multiple issues or whole arcs rather than one issue at a time. The series wrapped up with most of the questions answered and the killers all (seemingly) dead. However, after one final shock, the series finale reminded us there were still stories left to tell.

Nailbiter Returns

And return it has. The first issue of Nailbiter Returns is a nice summary for anyone who hasn’t read the previous series and a nice refresher for those of us who have. A new serial killer with an eye obsession seems to be getting the serial killer band back together, dead or alive. Sharon, the police chief from the first series, is missing; her daughter Alice and Nicholas Finch (also a returning cast member) are trying to find her.

Neither the original nor Nailbiter Returns is for everyone and definitely not for the squeamish. I’m enjoying it so far and am even considering a reread of the original. Not for the squeamish, Nailbiter Returns delivers on the horror and murder by the truckload.

Nailbiter Returns (published by Image Comics) is written and illustrated by Joshua Williamson (Flash) and Mike Henderson (Dead Man Logan), with colors by Adam Guzowski.