‘Nailbiter Returns’ #3 Review

While I’ve been a huge fan of this series, issue #3 missed the mark for me on a number of levels.

July 28, 2020

Last month’s issue of Nailbiter Returns ended with Alice Crane being kidnapped by a Buckaroo Butcher-obsessed couple who wanted to see her father.

This week, we hurtle towards that awkward meeting at approximately 80 mph.

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

Snappy Spoiler-Lite Recap

Killing someone in cold blood is wrong, but a tiny bit more understandable if the victim was talking in a theater while a movie is playing.

Okay, I take that back. If someone is still messed up enough to talk during a movie, then they might be crazy enough to commit murder, too.
Whether you’re in the car with a couple of psychos or an FBI agent, backseat drivers are the absolute worst.

Image Comics

On the extremely short list of good reasons to engage in a high-speed car chase with the FBI, the chance of finding your missing mother qualifies.
“My dad is a serial killer. Why do I care what you do to him?”
Okay…of all the messed up things I’ve read in this series, Lil Biter is definitely in the top ten.

Edward Warren is no fan of clowns or imposters.
Not sure getting your throat slashed is a good consolation for not having your nails bitten.
“The Buckaroo Butchers are back…”

The Verdict

While I’ve been a huge fan of this series (both Nailbiter and Nailbiter Returns), issue #3 missed the mark for me on a number of levels.

Mike Henderson’s art is great as always, particularly during the high speed chase during the issue’s first half. In fact, that was by far the best part. Once we got to the issue’s big reveal, things devolved into bizarre jokes, slapstick humor, and more devoid-of-context layers on top of a mystery that still doesn’t make sense.

There’s also a moment with Warren that doesn’t seem possible even in a book where the supernatural might exist.

I will say, however, that the final page did look incredibly cool. It also gave me hope that we’ll get some more information about what’s going on so the impending bloodshed means something (beyond Henderson’s amazing visuals). I also like how writer Joshua Williamson managed to get all the main characters (aside from the missing Sharon Crane) together in one place.

Perhaps Nailbiter Returns #3 will end up being one of those issues that reads much differently/better after the whole story has been put together. For now, though, this one felt like an action-packed shell of what normally makes it the best horror comic on the stands.

‘Nailbiter Returns’ #3 Review

Nailbiter Returns #3

'Nailbiter Returns' #3 provides some great action sequences, but also piles more out-of-context layers onto its already indecipherable mystery.

Reader Rating0 Votes

Mike Henderson's artwork is fantastic, particularly during the issue's high speed chase.

Joshua Williamson does a great job getting all the main characters together in one location.

An already disjointed mystery has more layers piled on top of it without any context.

Lots of slapstick humor and bizarre jokes that don't really make much sense.

There's also a moment with Warren that doesn't seem possible even in a book where the supernatural might exist.

Average

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Comixology/Amazon

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