Exquisite Corpses Comic Review: James Tynion IV’s Brutal Horror Battle Royale

James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh Launch Exquisite Corpses Miniseries Through Image Comics

James Tynion IV and artist Michael Walsh have launched Exquisite Corpses, a thirteen-issue horror miniseries published by Image Comics that centers on a sadistic battle royale held every five years on Halloween.

The Thirteen Families and the Rules of the Death Game

The narrative revolves around the Thirteen Families, described as the wealthiest families in the world who secretly control global systems. Every five years, twelve of these dynasties select a flamboyant killer to represent them in a last-man-standing fight to the death, while the previous winner sits out the contest. Participants draw a designated weapon that their killer must use throughout the night, and onlookers place side bets on civilian casualties and survivor statistics. Among the family members watching from a distance, New York acts as the loudest and most arrogant, South Carolina holds a personal stake because her sister competes as a killer, and Massachusetts attempts to avenge a long string of losses.

Three Simultaneous Narrative Layers in Oak Valley

The conflict unfolds across three simultaneous tiers in Oak Valley, an isolated small town in Maine where the current game takes place. Unaware citizens celebrate Halloween while twelve distinct killers stalk the streets and the elite families observe from afar. The primary civilian focus follows Laura, a former combat medic turned EMT, and Audrey, a desperate mother searching for her son Jason who is trick-or-treating with a couple named Craig and Xavi. Meanwhile, the competing killers feature varied designs and backgrounds, ranging from the Lone Gunman to the bunny-costumed Rascal Randy.

Action, Companion Miniseries, and Creative Roster

The series features brutal action and artwork contributed by a rotating team of creators alongside Tynion and Walsh, including Adam Gorham, Becca Carey, Che Grayson, Claire Roe, Gavin Fullerton, Jordie Bellaire, Marianna Ignazzi, Pornsak Pichetshote, Tyler Boss, and Valentine De Landro. Image Comics collects the thirteen issues across three volumes while expanding the universe through spinoff miniseries centered on specific killers like Rascal Randy, the Fox Mask Killer, and the Lone Gunman.

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