Week one of our comic reviews. Pretty slim pickings this week but what we do have manage to make up for lack of quantity with copious amounts of quality. Nailbiter continues to draw us into the strange twisted town of Buckaroo and the casually malevolent eponymous killer and I throw in a review from last week from a series I forgot to mention. Doctor Spektor is a fun, pulpy throwback that’s getting a reboot. Think Dr. Strange shopping at Urban Outfitters and you sort of get the picture. Also, please note I realize that The Wake is not on here and I fully intend to review it, however, considering it is only a month from reaching it’s harrowing climax, I’ve decided to hold off and review the series as a whole.
Published by Image Comics
Written by Joshua Williamson
Art by Mike Henderson
The first issue of Nailbiter might be one of the most intriguing and fantastically grim scenarios presented in print or any other form in the last half decade. What Joshua Williamson has here is special and it’s only getting better. After his old partner goes missing, Nicholas Finch and Buckaroo town sheriff Shannon Crane are trying to track him down. After all, he claims to have discovered why sixteen of the countries most gruesome serial killers, dubbed the “Buckaroo Butchers,” all come from the seemingly quiet little suburban town.In this issue, Williamson starts to do what Stephen King and David Lynch have done so masterfully before: he is building a cast of characters. Not only do we get a deeper insight into all three of our main characters backgrounds but we already get recurring characters from the first issue, making their presence known again to the reader. It allows us to feel more connected to the town and more invested in the story.Edward Charles Warren, our titular killer, is one creepy dude. From his pale complexion and chalk white hair to his distasteful jokes and skin tingling monologues, he is a backwoods version of Hannibal Lecter. (Fun fact, they even poke fun at this comparison to the comics, just further complimenting it’s dark humor.) Henderson is a perfect partner for the comic, balancing the line between stylish and cartoony. He handles a first person pov (a brilliant scene to begin with) masterfully, a classic throwback to slasher flicks. The final page of the comic is beautiful (in the darkest sort of way), with much credit owed to colorer Adam Guzowski, and really just reminds us the chilling atmosphere of this comic.
Published by Dynamite Comics
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Neil Edwards
*published last week
Doctor Spektor is an occult detective and has existed since the early ’70s. This newest revamp is being handled by comic legend Mark Waid and jack-of-all-trades Neil Edwards. It takes the former Doctor Strange knock off and turns him into a hipster modern day reality tv star. And somehow, it works. Some of the comics is a bit too pedantic, dragging it down in the middle, but the beginning and end are by far explosive enough to suck you in initially and leave you wanting more. The supporting cast is a little weak, sometimes you find yourself just wondering where the Doc is exactly, but when he does show up he’s so cool you forgive the somewhat meandering dialogue that fills up some of the panels. Waid is mixing science and occultism, something that is always hard to do (remember Blade: Trinity, anyone?) but so far he’s pulling it off. Edwards art is fitting, pulpy yet realistic although it can come off a bit sloppy. Ultimately, it’s a solid first effort and between his fight with an ancient classically attired vampire and his teleportation ring, it’s a fun read with a promising future.
