Connect with us
Nailbiter #24 Review

Comic Books

Nailbiter #24 Review

Nailbiter’s thrilling ‘Bound by Blood’ story arc continues with an issue that reveals more of the book’s mythology than ever.

Is it good?

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

Nailbiter #24 (Image Comics)

nailbiter-24-cover

Observations

  • Normally, a chilling flashback resets to the present with something a little less creepy. That is definitely not what happens here.
  • Congratulation to artist Mike Henderson for the most disturbing Game of Thrones visual reference ever!
  • Finch is definitely back in his element. That means hard hitting questions, even harder hitting punches, and a tiny dose of uncomfortable sympathy for the person being interrogated…
  • …or maybe not! Good lord!
  • Can’t believe I almost forgot about that guy.
  • Definitely won’t be forgetting about him after that last panel, though.

Is It Good?

Sometimes, the best part of a mystery is the potential and possibilities that can only exist in the unknown. JJ Abrams talks about this a with his Mystery Box concept (or as I renamed it after 10 Cloverfield Lane, the Bag o’ Bulls**t).

Like many of us found out with Lost, pulling back the curtain to reveal major narrative secrets can obliterate what had previously been an intriguing/enjoyable journey.

Thankfully, it looks like Nailbiter is (so far) doing things right.

nailbiter-24-change-the-world

For starters, the revelations we get are genuinely cool/good. They also grow from story seeds planted years ago, which lead us organically to different questions. Not “OH C’MON JUST TELL US ALREADY!” questions, but new plot threads that add to the already fascinating narrative.

That being said, Nailbiter #24 does suffer a bit from being a single issue. It might read a lot better as part of a trade, but in this format, we get a few moments that are a little hard to navigate. One scene in particular is so incomprehensible and grotesque that it almost sinks to the level of slapstick comedy.

Fortunately, the main characters of Nailbiter continue to drive the meat of the story. That’s thanks in no small part to Henderson, who continues to do as great a job with his characters’ expressions and moods as he does with the gore.

Writer Joshua Williamson also deserves a lot of credit for the series’ current pacing. Too little information, and the reader gets frustrated. Too much, and the suspense is gone…

…or maybe that’s me being an impossible to please jerk.

Either way, Williamson strikes a perfect balance of revealing new info and adding new layers to his twisted tale, all of which Henderson portrays with ample amounts of humanity, horror, and hemoglobin.

Every volume of Nailbiter as been strong thus far, but ‘Bound by Blood’ continues to make a case for being the best one yet.

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024 WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024 AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024 AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup