Exquisite Corpses, Volume 1

Exquisite Corpses #1-3

by James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh (Writer), Pornsak Pichetsote (Writer)

Every five years on Halloween, the wealthiest families in America play a game. Twelve of the deadliest people in the world are dropped into a small town with just one goal: last killer standing wins. For the citizens of Oak Valley, Maine – this year's unlucky arena – the goal is much simpler. They must survive the night.

Experience a comics event like no other from the minds of James Tynion IV (Something is Killing the Children, The Department of Truth) & Michael Walsh (The Silver Coin, Universal Monsters: Frankenstein), as they lead a group of the most exciting voices in the industry.

In this blood-soaked first volume, James & Michael are joined by Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian), Marianna Ignazzi (Catwoman), and Valentine De Landro (Bitch Planet) to collaborate & compete to determine who wins... and who dies.

Collects issues #1-3.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2025

About the author

Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.

Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.

Reviews

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Halloween night in Oak Valley, Maine, and shit is about to get real for its inhabitants. See, every year, the 13 super-wealthiest of the super-wealthy families---the deepest of deep states, if you will---in the country pick a community somewhere in the U.S. where each family's hand-picked assassin fights in a kill-a-thon for one night. The last one standing in the morning gets to "steer the wheel" of the country for the next year. The quiet little Maine town is this year's pick.



If you didn't think James Tynion IV could get weirder, darker, or more violent than his string of excellent horror series ("Something is Killing the Children", "The Nice House on the Lake", "The Department of Truth"), think again.

"Exquisite Corpses" is "The Hunger Games" meets "The Purge". A baker's dozen of psychotic killers with strange supervillain names ("Nurse Pete" is just a dude in scrubs whose weapon is a syringe full of acid; one killer is called "The Congregation" and uses a box cutter) try to off each other and as many innocent townies as they can get. A handful of tough townies band together to survive the night.



This is edge-of-the-seat knuckle-biting suspense. It is just begging to be made into a TV show on Shudder.

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gory, grotesque, and very Tynion. Welcome to Exquisite Corpses, where an elite group of rich (awful) people hire crazed (and I mean crazy!!) serial killers to take over a town (at Halloween of course) and fight one another for highest kill count, and to be the last one standing. This has all the high stakes you could ever want, along with betrayals, petty feuds, and some amazing ‘regular folks’ characters that I’m desperate to see survive. But let’s face it this is Tynion writing (also writes Something is Killing the Children) and it’s clear the body count will be high so no one should be holding their breathe for anyone to survive.

I was enthralled by this, while also totally disgusted at the ick factor of our serial killers. *shudder*

Perfect for any horror buff, a top choice for spooky season, and a must read for any serial killer obsessed reader. If this were to be a movie or limited series I’m not sure I could watch it… the ick factor is seriously that high. I cannot wait to pass this over to by huge horror obsessed husband who will lap it up with glee (just like some of our serial killers do their victims!).

Just remember it’s all fictional… the characters are not real… but you still may never be the same after diving into the perverted heads of those whom hired these maniacs, and the maniacal killers themselves. Happy hunting.

[Sean Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it's a downright travesty that this collection encompasses only the first three issues, this is one entertaining slab of violent murderousness. Looking forward to more shenanigans.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one gruesome game!

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Tynion IV is hands down probably my favorite current comic writer. He's absolutely NAILING every series, and Exquisite Corpses Vol. 1 easily went to the top of my list.

I love the core idea. Having these twelve rich, wealthy pieces of shit families start a serial killer battle royale in the middle of a small town closed off to the public is absolutely insane but so entertaining. The game, held every five years on Halloween, is a brutal contest for five years of unquestioned power, and the families select an unsuspecting town, like Oak Valley, Maine, to be their bloody arena. Each killer, or "champion," has their own unique weapon and style, making for some very creative and brutal deaths as they try to be the last one standing.

It helps that we have sympathetic characters to root for in this chaos of death and murder. The story introduces us to a diverse cast of townspeople, including a working mother and her son, a young couple, and a pair of EMTs. We're right there with them as they are thrust into a horrifying fight for survival against forces they can't even begin to comprehend, making the terror feel incredibly real.

Basically, this is another fucking win for Tynion. The high-concept premise, the distinct killers, the helpless but resilient townsfolk, and the sinister puppet masters behind it all make for a perfect horror-thriller. It's a bombastic, hyper-violent, and deeply satirical look at the callousness of the ultra-wealthy, and it left me completely hooked. A definite 5 out of 5 for me.

[Michael J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise that everything revolves around is absolutely diabolical. I was expecting a quick read, a slasher horror book from a writer I admire - - - and the return for my time/investment was so much more.

A generational group of elite, entitled wealthy from the original 13 colonies meet every five years to determine who will sit at the head of power. The method: a gladiator-like game of death between hand-picked murderers of various stripes and peculiarities until only one representative remains standing. The site: a small town in Maine that can easily be sealed off, the ruling powers and law enforcement bought off, and the unsuspecting residents unaware that they are in the middle of a blood bath and are likely to become innocent victims.

Volume One collects the first three installments of EXQUISITE CORPSES (five issues released so far), including the double-sized debut story. We meet the contestants, their elite bosses, and several of the residents who will become embroiled in the proceedings. There are power struggles within the wealthy game-masters, including several grudges and counter-maneuvers.

I found the various assailants to be quirky and clever, and we meet a few of them in this volume. However, I remain unsympathetic to them as well as their bosses - so I'm not vested in who lives or dies among them. What saves the book for me are the interesting residents who are stuck in this, especially the innocent EMT tech who encounters one of the killers.

Only 12 of the 13 colonies are represented by a killer, as the elite who won the last Battle Royale (Pennsylvania) has to sit out the present contest. Curiously, the current meeting (always held on Halloween) does not occur in any of the original 13 colonies, but is set in Maine. Maybe the elite wish to spare residents of their corresponding states.

Before Volume One ends, several of the combatants have been eliminated (along with some residents). There is a large cast of characters, and those who have been spotlighted so far are detailed enough to become interesting. I expect as the story moves forward, this is going to become even wilder.

SECOND READING, JANUARY 2026
This is my second reading of this offbeat, diabolical horror/crime mashup. I was prompted to pick it up again (and glad I did) because this is the January selection of the Captain Blue Hen
Book Club. After a second reading, I remain impressed and delighted by the incredible premise and potential of this book. I’m elevating my original rating of Four Stars to FIVE STARS and recommend this to all readers who appreciate this genre.

It’s hard to find any of the 13 elites and 12 killers to empathize with; but there are three non-residents that I root for and hope they survive:
1) Laura, the niece of the absent police chief, an innocent EMT tech who encounters one of the killers in Volume One.
2) Audrey, the single parent mother of a five-year old, who’s struggling to make ends meet and works for a demanding and uncaring boss.
3) Craig, the college-aged friend to all, who doesn’t have a mean bone in his body and goes out of his way to help Audrey (crush on an older woman, maybe?) when her work demands get in the way of spending Halloween with her son.

Among the powerful class, I am attracted to two members (but I don’t worry about them. I don’t think author Tynion does either - he hasn’t identified any of them but name, just the states that they represent.
1)The elderly woman from Massachusetts. She seems a bit cynical and somewhat disgusted by her association with the others, and a little ashamed of her family’s history. She seems to be in the game for spite, rather than money or power.
2)The woman from South Carolina, who seems to have the most class and is constantly harassed by New York (the rep that I dislike the most). Her chosen killer is her twin sister, who was tired of watching from the sidelines and has trained for this.

Among the killers, I wish them all to lose. If I have to root for any of them, I’d pick The Fox Mask Killer (New York) because they look cool and I expect a prominent role (based on the cover spotlight). My second choice would be the Lone Gunman (Massachusetts) not because of his background (pretty awful history) but because he’s the pick of the elderly woman.

[Josh]

Gruesome. Dramatic. Utterly wild. And just the beginning. I need more.

Full review on: https://noflyingnotights.com/blog/202...

[Nick Saccareccia · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Tynion IV continues to show that he is at the top of his game when it comes to writing horror comics. After reading all of Something is Killing the Children and loving every minute of it, I did not think it would be possible for a second series to hold up to such a high standard consistently, but I think this series really does. Exquisite Corpses is like Squid Game meets The Purge meets Hunger Games. Essentially 12 killers are dropped in a small town on Halloween, and the last man standing wins and this whole show is put on for the entertainment of the richest families in America. I found all three issues of this collection very entertaining, with good action between the insane characters keeping me turning the pages while the larger plot develops slowly each issue. My favorite killers were Nurse Pete because nurses behaving badly will always have a special place in my heart, and The Congregation who I found to be legit terrifying and original idea for a serial killer and how they display their "trophies". I'm immediately adding this title to my list of things I'll read as soon as they come out along with Something is Killing the Children and Nice House by the Lake.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CAN'T MISS BATTLE TO THE DEATH!

James Tynion IV teams up with an amazing creative team to deliver one of the most jaw-dropping exciting stories that I have read this year! Exquisite Corpses starts with a theme that I think Tynion enjoys exploring: a hidden cabal pulling the strings of our country. Exquisitie Corpses introduces us to the ruling families of the United States, 13 states, each with a stake in controlling the world. However, the terms and conditions require the families to use the darkest killers alive to battle it out to determine which family will get to rule.

The introduction of these characters within this story plays out like the Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter games. You get an introduction to their selected weapon and then the flashy art of the killer. This was genuinely one of my favorite components of this story. It was written in such an exhilarating way. It's also built upon stereotypes that translate into memorable fighter details. From this introduction, readers are also introduced to the environment for this epic battle to play out. A small town in the middle of nowhere will be hosting this battle to the death. There are casualties and destruction that gave me chills (AND THIS IS ONLY VOLUME 1!). There are so many things to enjoy in this first volume and there is so much to anticipate. You do not want to miss this story, and I'll be following closely for more released updates!

[Katie Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick and entertaining horror/thriller read! It took a bit for me to get interested in the book as during the beginning it talks about politics and conspiracy theory stuff which I’m not to fond of but once the wealthy families are introduced and the games are explained it caught my attention. Some of my favorite bits of this story is when the killers are introduced, I thought it was unique and intriguing when their characters were introduced. The pop up introduction art for them during those scenes are my absolute favorite, the art is so eye catching and it really made these characters stick out in my mind. We don’t get too much information regarding the killers but I feel that the basic information that was given about them did its job, all of these killers have such a great air of mystery about them and I can’t wait to see more of them in upcoming volumes. This book is giving good slasher vibes and it has me hooked, the ending for this one is a bit of a cliff hanger but it has me excited to see what’s coming next. If your looking for a quick read with some gory kills, wealthy family drama, and intriguing characters I’d recommend looking into this series! The ending art of the killers was a perfect touch, the artist done a beautiful job on them, and I loved being able to see the killers up close. Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary early release review copy of the book.

[Emily Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This genuinely devoured.

After hearing about the premise for this I picked it up fairly fast. Usually I adore James Tynion’s stuff so I’ve been hyped for this one for a while and luckily it didn’t let me down.

It’s bloody, fun, and fast paced but also still has an intriguing edge with its commentary on politics and class divides within society.

I really enjoyed how unique all the central characters are but what really gripped me was the hyper colour art for each killers entry into the world.

Think The Purge meets Squid Games, in a small, remote American town.

Rep// MLM / Achillian MCs.

TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.







TW// murder, bodies, a fair bit of gore, knife wounds, guns, gun violence, blood, class divides, corruption, elitism, fire/arson, acid burns, eye horror.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exquisite Corpses uses a super overdone concept, but with James Tynion IV at the helm, it's at least a high-quality rendition of the concept. The gist: a cabal of super-rich who control America battle via proxies for who gets to be the latest kingpin/queenpin. The proxies are all various degrees of serial killer/super villain, and the chosen battlefield is small town America.

Over the course of this first volume, we meet a few cabal members, a few fighters, and a few regular Joes, caught up in the murderous mess. It's fun and fast-moving, but again, I've read this plot a dozen times before, at least half of those from Scott Snyder. That said, I'm still on board for more - you kind of have to be since this volume is really just setup.

[Emmanuel Ben Muula · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is Fireeeeee 🔥,,,,,,am genuinely Scared every time the killers interact with the citizens,,,shiii so eerie 😂 Absolute masterpiece

[Alex Sarll]

Exquisite Corpses in the sense that there are exotic killers dropping plenty of bodies on behalf of the impossibly wealthy, but also as in the old party game, with Tynion and Walsh kicking off the story and then handing off each subsequent issue to a new creative team... except that each time they remain involved and credited too, which would seem to undermine the whole idea, especially when even the Big Two have done comics which fully commit to this idea, each writer and artist leaving a tangle for the next guys to get out of. As for the story laid on top of that: every five years, the 13 richest families who've really ruled America since 1776 seal off one small town, send their champions in to fuck each other (and, according to taste, maybe the townsfolk too) up, and the winner is in charge for the next five years. And, sure, some thought has clearly been put into making the killers toyetic, in a gruesome sort of way, but that just means it feels like a waste when they start dropping early. Beyond which, the pitch is basically Black Monday Murders meets Nailbiter, with maybe a pinch of Lazarus, and it's not as if any of those were staggeringly original in the first place. Plus, all of it is looking almost seductive now compared to actual America, whose not so secret rulers have none of the panache displayed here, and aren't so restrained as to confine the action to a single town. There are a lot of people I usually rate working on Exquisite Corpses, but for me it's not clicking, though I would probably read another volume just to check the sweet queer lad and the dog are OK.

(Netgalley ARC)

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced and entertaining, Exquisite Corpses is similar to many other Battle Royale-style plots. It is as if The Hunger Games met Death Race combined with The Purge, with gruesome battles to the death, sponsored by the rich and powerful. Of course, it's a thrilling ride for the reader.

But in this first volume, there was a substantial lack of underlying storytelling. Key character development is focused on side-characters who are stuck within the town. Only one of the 'fighters' is touched on in any detail, and it was more shallow world-building than anything else.

Of course, I am still interested in following the series. The art style and character design are fun, and as I said, the whole thing is damn entertaining. But I really hope future volumes give the story a bit more depth than what has been done before.

Trigger warnings: Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder

Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for the review copy. This does not impact my opinions whatsoever.

[Ink & Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this my usual genre or art style? Absolutely not. But did I enjoy it? Surprisingly, yes! It’s gory, brutal, and unapologetically messy but the story pulled me in. The concept that twelve states secretly control the U.S. and hold a bloody contest every five years to decide who truly rules from the shadows is interesting.

I didn’t necessarily find myself invested in the contestants, but more so the townspeople that were getting murdered or narrowly escaping death.

If you’re into gritty, politically charged graphic novels with a dark edge, I’d recommend Exquisite Corpses.

Thank you Image Comics for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Image comics for this book! Loved this one. James Tynion IV is quickly becoming a favourite of mine and this one didn’t miss. The artwork is great, super intriguing storyline and I loved how the killers were introduced. Can’t wait for volume 2!!

[AJ Easterday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering the whole rich-people-forcing-other-people-to-kill-each-other-for-entertainment premise has been done to death at this point, I'm happy to say this take on that premise seems to be one of the better ones.

For starters, I actually have no clue who is going to win this competition. In so many other of these competition stories, the main character is the winner. If you are only following one character's perspective, they kinda have to survive to the end of the story. But this story is told from many perspectives, so there's no telling who could die at any given moment. The stakes feel much higher as a result.

But I think what really makes this story stand out compared to others with the same premise is that this competition takes place in a town full of innocent bystanders who will inevitably get caught in the crossfire. I already love some of the civilian characters that have been introduced so far, and I know that this series will probably make me so sad when some of the characters probably end up dying in the near future. I am so not prepared for what this series might have in store. I hope to continue it soon.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine “The Hunt,” “Cabin in the Woods,” and “Ready or Not” was morphed together, and the result was this story. Every 5 years on Halloween night, 13 of the wealthiest families that represent the 13 original colonies hire the most psychotic killer to help them win a game. The grand prize is to rule America. Issue 1 hit it out of the park with so many exciting characters from the conspiracy theorist gas station worker to the woman representing Massachusetts. This is definitely a story that is best read as a volume as I kept on flipping back to issue 1 to help me put the puzzle pieces together. Can’t wait to see how Hollywood is going to make this story come to life!

[Nàdia ☽ · Rating 3 out of 5]

pec pec pec

jocs de la fam x la purga yehawww

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ultra-rich play a game for power in an unsuspecting town. It’s hard to read comics by JT4 because everything else just pales in comparison, he’s one of the greatest comic writers of all time. His work just flows, the characters feel real and the stories are always interesting. He’s an absolute master, everything he has written has been more than good to read. I should’ve said hi when I saw him at C2E2!

[Katrina G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review

The blurb wasn't lying. This is literally the demon child that would be created if Hunger Games and The Purge could have a baby. It was super fun to read. For such a short volume, there are a TON of characters to keep track of. But each one is introduced in a way that's compelling enough to get you invested without being overwhelmed by just how much is going on. This is a super violent story, but the art wasn't overly gory. It's pretty much what I would expect from a horror story. I need the next installment immediately. I want ot know how it all ends!

[Derrick Adair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a blast and a fun take on the slasher vs slasher genre. James Tynion IV is easily one of my favorite graphic novel writers out there amd this book helps cement that. I'm excited for the next volume.

[Patricia Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild.

[Marybeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 ½ stars

"This is when we remind ourselves why we should be afraid of each other."

A new & very, very, very dark premise from the creator of the Something is Killing the Children & House of Slaughter series. Those series are dark, but they're (mostly) fighting for good against greater evils. This series so far seems to focus on the evils, both gory & non (more Grimdark, but modern setting).

"They are our toys. Our entertainment. We fatten them up & make our bets on who we think is the strongest. But they are small & we are not."

Vol 1 is only the first 3 issues. & we have a lot of world building to develop. I'm intrigued where this will go, so far. The art is similar to the style from Something is Killing the Children & House of Slaughter, but more electric. The blood splatters stand out here, again.

"One body & the blade's spent. Eleven souls to reap. How am I supposed to work under these conditions?"

Our characters are...interesting. I'm rooting for the townies, & oddly, maybe the Lone Gman? I would like the 13 to all perish, painfully, of course.

"What you know as history is a fiction performed for the masses."

Representation: mlm relationship between two MCs

"New Jersey presents The Hands."

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10

I guess not everything needs to be deep but this feels like Squid Games with even less social/political commentary and reliant on eccentric personalities. The problem is it starts out at 60mph so I don't have any connection to or understanding of these eccentric personalities. The families mean nothing to me. The killers are all variations of gimmicks. This is a turn-your-brain-off action blockbuster type of comic, which is fine. I just kind of hoped for more. It's still fun, and when Tynion puts the effort in to develop characters and relationships, it offers a glimpse of something deeper beyond gimmicky murderous action - the teen couple and the EMT for instance. I also really appreciate that Tynion wrote the gay teens the way he did, as already out of the closet and everyone around them seems to find it perfectly acceptable. No different than were they a straight couple. Maybe as the series goes on we'll get some better character development for both the killers and the elite families but this first volume really felt like just a carousel of shallow personality types.

[Tova Cayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an arc on netgalley. I'm a big fan of James Tynion and was excited to read some of his new work. All in all this was a solid read, but had a lot of room for improvement.

For one thing, while I very much enjoyed the art, the very dark Rich colors were sometimes so oversaturated that it was hard to tell characters apart. When you have a cast this large and diverse, but everybody is drawing the same color, they tend to blend into the background and it's hard to tell one person from another. This might have been a stylistic voice, but I think it's hard to follow the story plot.

As far as the plot itself, I love the setup and the unique characters. I love the dystopian tint with all of the different factions vying for control, and I actually thought that the characters especially the protagonists and the villains were very well thought out and very intriguing. I wish that I got more time with each of them but perhaps is the series progresses we will.

This was very fast-paced, but it was so fast-paced that it was a little hard to pay attention. I have a feeling of being overwhelmed but not in necessarily like an exciting way more in a frustrating way. Because of this it didn't get four stars although overall I enjoyed it. I feel like the ending could have been wrapped up a little more nicely, even though this is a comic and there are more comics that are to come, I feel like it ended so abruptly that there was no real denouement or resolution and I was not a fan of that. Overall I thought the action though was very good and I enjoyed the blood and the violence.

Overall however this was a solid read and I would recommend it especially for fans of his work.
I gave this 3.5 stars on my other platform.

[Eliud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite Corpses is a bold, blood-soaked debut from James Tynion IV and artist Michael Walsh, launching a new horror franchise under Image Comics. This series wastes no time plunging readers into a violent, conspiracy-laden nightmare that expertly blends slasher horror, social satire, and a sprawling ensemble cast.

[Justin Soderberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halloween has descended upon Oak Valley, Maine, but Exquisite Corpses is not your typical spooky night. James Tynion IV, along with Michael Walsh and a slew of comic creators bring together twelve of the deadliest and most colorful killers in the world in this high-octane horror to see who will be the last killer standing.

Every five years on Halloween, the wealthiest families in America play a game. Twelve of the deadliest people in the world are dropped into a small town with just one goal: last killer standing wins. For the citizens of Oak Valley, Maine – this year's unlucky arena – the goal is much simpler. They must survive the night.

The big pull for me was the creative team, beginning with Tynion and Walsh. However, the bigger draw might be the fact Exquisite Corpses takes place in a fictional Maine town, the State I grew up in and have spent most of my life. Being from Maine, we are not rookies when it comes to horror stories set in our great state, as Stephen King has been crafting stories in Maine for over 50 years. But it still is fun to see tales such as these set in our fictional backyard.

This trope of using a game of such evil to entertain or gain power is not unheard of, as we have seen it in such stories as The Hunger Games or The Purge , but Exquisite Corpses carves it's own path, bringing something new to the table. A political horror where characters battle to the bitter end, all for viewing pleasure. The story is about those killers, the people of Oak Valley who have to survive their deadly melee, and the wealthiest families in the world that sponsored the killers and unleashed them in the first place.

Another feature that sets this story apart from the crowd is the characters within the pages. The character designs and specific features are incredible. While the plot is fantastic, it's the characters that will stand out in this new series. In the first chapter we get introduced to all the killers representing each of the states involved with amazing splash pages connecting them to the story at large.

The opening volume includes the first three chapters of the story and features story and art from some of the best in the industry. Tynion and Walsh kicks things off in the first chapter, introducing each of the killers, while the second chapter is scripted by Walsh with artwork from Marianna Ignazzi. The third and final chapter of the first volume is written by Pornsak Pichetshote with artwork from Valentine De Landro. Of course Walsh and Tynion assist along the way.

One might think the inclusion of this number of writers and artists would make the story and artwork feel a bit disjointed. However, the team works together in a way to make Exquisite Corpses feel cohesive and complete.

Exquisite Corpses is a keeps you on the edge of your seat with tension, suspension, gruesome kills, and so much more. The creative team has knocked this one out of the park with a stellar story and incredible artwork. If the rest of the series is even close to this first volume, we are in for one hell of a ride.

Exquisite Corpses Vol. 1 is available at bookstores everywhere from Image Comics.

[Shivesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a packed reading year for me in 2025, I was fortunate enough to catch the early wave of excitement surrounding Exquisite Corpses and bought the original floppies as they released. They sat in my “to‑read” box for a while, but the hype only intensified—unsurprising given that James Tynion IV’s name was attached. When I finally carved out a weekend to sit with the first three issues collected in Volume 1, I devoured them in a single sitting. Tynion has become one of the most consistently inventive voices in creator‑owned comics, and this opening salvo shows exactly why. The premise is sharp, the pacing relentless, and the worldbuilding immediately rich enough to sustain a long‑form narrative. It’s the kind of story that feels engineered for multiple mediums from the start.

The setup revolves around thirteen ancient families who secretly control the world, each represented by a single designated killer trained to protect their lineage and eliminate rivals. Tynion and co‑creator Christian Ward drop readers straight into the political machinations, blood feuds, and generational power struggles that define this hidden aristocracy. When one of the Corpses breaks from their assigned role, the entire system begins to fracture, triggering assassinations, betrayals, and shifting alliances. Ward’s art is a revelation here: his neon‑washed palettes, surreal panel compositions, and fluid sense of motion give the book a dreamlike brutality that feels both mythic and modern. His reputation for visionary, psychedelic storytelling is fully realized, and this might be some of his most cohesive work to date because of the writing.

Reading this after Greg Rucka and Michael Lark’s Lazarus makes for an interesting comparison. Both series explore dynastic families controlling the world through violence, loyalty, and bio‑engineered champions. But where Lazarus leans into grounded political realism and slow‑burn character development, Exquisite Corpses embraces a more operatic, stylized approach. Tynion’s families feel larger‑than‑life and reminiscent of a Guy Ritchie film, while Rucka’s are chillingly plausible. Ward’s art, with its hallucinatory color schemes and kinetic violence, stands in stark contrast to Lark’s gritty, utilitarian linework. Both approaches are thrilling, but Exquisite Corpses feels like the more explosive, high‑concept cousin—less restrained, more willing to push its world into the surreal. The comparison only highlights how strong this new IP is; it stands confidently alongside one of the best family‑power‑structure comics of the last decade.

What impresses me most is how fully formed the intellectual property feels from page one. Tynion has a proven track record of building worlds that extend far beyond the comic page—I favor The Nice House on the Lake and W0rldtr33—and Exquisite Corpses fits neatly into that lineage. The families, their symbols, their killers, and their internal codes all feel robust enough to support multiple arcs, spinoffs, or adaptations. It’s no surprise Hollywood has already taken notice. As a first volume, this is clearly the setup phase, but it’s an exceptionally strong one. The characterization is sharp, the stakes escalate quickly, and the creative team feels completely in sync. I’m genuinely excited to see where Tynion and Ward take this next. If Volume 1 is any indication, Exquisite Corpses is poised to become one of the standout creator‑owned series of the decade.