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Exquisite Corpses #4-8
Exquisite Corpses Volume 2
144 pages, Paperback
Published April 21, 2026
About the author
James Tynion IV
1,685 books2,156 followersPrior 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.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 21, 2026
I have never wanted a graphic novel series to be adapted into a Netflix show more than Exquisite Corpses, James Tynion's latest awesome wackadoo defenestration of American culture. My biggest and only complaint is that the series is taking way too long to come out in these compilation volumes. Volume 2 collects issues 4-8.
The plot? A shadow government of the thirteen oldest and wealthiest families (dating back to the original 13 colonies), every five years on a Halloween night, picks a small town somewhere in the United States to play a game. Each family grooms a killer to be dropped into the middle of the town. The winner is the surviving killer who gets the most kills of innocent bystanders as well as the other killers. The winning family gets to make all the important global decisions---what laws to create or destroy, who to go to war with, what new ways to fuck with the lives of the little people (me and you)---for the next five years. Imagine "The Hunger Games" mixed with "The Purge".
Tynion makes it quite clear: we are all just lambs to be slaughtered by the shadow government. And there's nothing we can do about it.
Strange that I find this series so damn fun. What does this say about me?
The plot? A shadow government of the thirteen oldest and wealthiest families (dating back to the original 13 colonies), every five years on a Halloween night, picks a small town somewhere in the United States to play a game. Each family grooms a killer to be dropped into the middle of the town. The winner is the surviving killer who gets the most kills of innocent bystanders as well as the other killers. The winning family gets to make all the important global decisions---what laws to create or destroy, who to go to war with, what new ways to fuck with the lives of the little people (me and you)---for the next five years. Imagine "The Hunger Games" mixed with "The Purge".
Tynion makes it quite clear: we are all just lambs to be slaughtered by the shadow government. And there's nothing we can do about it.
Strange that I find this series so damn fun. What does this say about me?
April 23, 2026
I mean, the corpses aren't all THAT exquisite.
April 26, 2026
Burn it all down 🔥
4.25
4.25
April 24, 2026
Is this series something completely fresh? No. But it is however a bucket load of fun. I don’t mind seeing concepts that feel familiar as long as I’m seated and gripped, and the execution is top tier.
Exquisite corpses is unhinged, fast paced, and intriguing. It looks at elitism and manipulation of world issues, whilst centring around killer games in a small town.
I will say there is a whole lot to the plot and that’s why I marked it down slightly. We’re following a lot of killers which means short bursts of story from each which sometimes doesn’t feel completely cohesive.
However, I bloody love every character in this. Everyone is unique and well crafted, and their quirks leave me intrigued by each storyline. Volume two only expanded upon this, and I can’t wait for three for that reason. Here we started to get more of a glimpse into the fox killer especially, someone who I need to know more about ASAP.
Rep// MLM characters, hinted at sapphic characters (assuming this might be explored more later on.)
TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// eye gore, gore, gun violence, murder, bodies, fire, burns, explosions, decapitation/limb removal, ableist r-slur, mass murder, elitism, blood. (This is a pretty gruesome comic, and there are a fair few heavy triggers. It is slasher leaning.)
Exquisite corpses is unhinged, fast paced, and intriguing. It looks at elitism and manipulation of world issues, whilst centring around killer games in a small town.
I will say there is a whole lot to the plot and that’s why I marked it down slightly. We’re following a lot of killers which means short bursts of story from each which sometimes doesn’t feel completely cohesive.
However, I bloody love every character in this. Everyone is unique and well crafted, and their quirks leave me intrigued by each storyline. Volume two only expanded upon this, and I can’t wait for three for that reason. Here we started to get more of a glimpse into the fox killer especially, someone who I need to know more about ASAP.
Rep// MLM characters, hinted at sapphic characters (assuming this might be explored more later on.)
TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// eye gore, gore, gun violence, murder, bodies, fire, burns, explosions, decapitation/limb removal, ableist r-slur, mass murder, elitism, blood. (This is a pretty gruesome comic, and there are a fair few heavy triggers. It is slasher leaning.)
May 22, 2026
Violent chaos 🔥
May 22, 2026
I really enjoyed this volume. A bunch of killers begin picking off one another, even the hot big titty fox girl goes head to head with another. I also love the crazy chick (Well all crazy, but the harley quinn like crazy) and her moves in the game by the end.
The whole thing wraps up with a chaotic finale featuring some incredibly nasty kills at the end. They really do not hold back, orchestrating these savage showdowns that end up leaving multiple major killers permanently out of the picture. By thinning the herd like that, the book proves nobody has plot armor here. It’s a super gritty, but also over the top fun, it's the type of horror I love!
The whole thing wraps up with a chaotic finale featuring some incredibly nasty kills at the end. They really do not hold back, orchestrating these savage showdowns that end up leaving multiple major killers permanently out of the picture. By thinning the herd like that, the book proves nobody has plot armor here. It’s a super gritty, but also over the top fun, it's the type of horror I love!
Review of advance copy
Read as single issues
April 26, 2026
Not as good as the first book and I still feel like this moves very quickly, but still entertaining. I’m looking forward to the next installment.
May 24, 2026
I always forget this part. The chaos when the little people start to realize there's no way out. All the roads are shut, and they're in terrible danger. It's strange being worried for their safety. One of the killers, I mean. It's never felt real before.
I am quickly becoming a serious fan of James Tynion IV whose work never disappoints, whether it be Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1, The Nice House on the Lake: the Deluxe Edition, W0Rldtr33 Vol. 1, or Nightmare Country, Vol. 1.
This new series is another cracker. It is once again horror but this time it is a bloodthirsty thriller that brings to mind the Purge series of films.
The true rulers of the world gather every 5 years to determine who gets control for the next cycle. Each selects a brutal killer who will be their mascot. A small remote town is chosen to be the battle ground and all hell breaks loose. Last killer standing takes the prize but the families also place side bets on the highest kill counts, who will die first, and civilian casualties.
The first volume was totally brutal and this is no different. The killers continue to face off whilst the majority of the townsfolk remain unaware of the events unfolding. However a few have encountered the mercenaries and survived and are not seeking out loved ones and an escape from the town.
The volume builds to a crescendo of violence and gore, with a small glimmer of hope for those who wish the live through the night.
As with the first volume, 5 stars.
I am quickly becoming a serious fan of James Tynion IV whose work never disappoints, whether it be Something is Killing the Children, Vol. 1, The Nice House on the Lake: the Deluxe Edition, W0Rldtr33 Vol. 1, or Nightmare Country, Vol. 1.
This new series is another cracker. It is once again horror but this time it is a bloodthirsty thriller that brings to mind the Purge series of films.
The true rulers of the world gather every 5 years to determine who gets control for the next cycle. Each selects a brutal killer who will be their mascot. A small remote town is chosen to be the battle ground and all hell breaks loose. Last killer standing takes the prize but the families also place side bets on the highest kill counts, who will die first, and civilian casualties.
The first volume was totally brutal and this is no different. The killers continue to face off whilst the majority of the townsfolk remain unaware of the events unfolding. However a few have encountered the mercenaries and survived and are not seeking out loved ones and an escape from the town.
The volume builds to a crescendo of violence and gore, with a small glimmer of hope for those who wish the live through the night.
As with the first volume, 5 stars.
July 2, 2026
James Tynion IV continues to do what he does best here, and Volume 2 is proof that he’s firing on all cylinders even while navigating the traditionally tricky middle stretch of a longer narrative. Most stories sag in the second act — the doldrums are real, and even great writers struggle to maintain momentum when you’re past the hook but not yet at the payoff. Tynion largely sidesteps that trap entirely.
What keeps this volume alive is sheer relentless energy. This is a high-octane, violent, genuinely psychopathic thriller, and Tynion may be operating at the very top of his game within this genre. The action sequences are top-notch — brutal, grotesque in their slightly sadistic edge, and clearly born from a twisted creative mind working at full tilt. There’s a gleeful darkness running through this book that keeps you turning pages even when things get uncomfortable. Especially when things get uncomfortable.
That said, it’s not a perfect volume, and honesty demands acknowledging where it stumbles. The pacing is uneven in places — not fatally so, but noticeable enough to pull you out of the flow. More problematic is the sheer volume of characters. There are simply too many people moving through this story at once, and keeping them straight becomes work at times. In a thriller this kinetic, confusion is the enemy, and there are moments where the character sprawl costs the narrative some of its punch.
These are real issues, but they don’t sink the book. The ambition here is undeniable, and the execution is more right than wrong. Tynion is clearly building toward something, and I’m along for the ride.
What keeps this volume alive is sheer relentless energy. This is a high-octane, violent, genuinely psychopathic thriller, and Tynion may be operating at the very top of his game within this genre. The action sequences are top-notch — brutal, grotesque in their slightly sadistic edge, and clearly born from a twisted creative mind working at full tilt. There’s a gleeful darkness running through this book that keeps you turning pages even when things get uncomfortable. Especially when things get uncomfortable.
That said, it’s not a perfect volume, and honesty demands acknowledging where it stumbles. The pacing is uneven in places — not fatally so, but noticeable enough to pull you out of the flow. More problematic is the sheer volume of characters. There are simply too many people moving through this story at once, and keeping them straight becomes work at times. In a thriller this kinetic, confusion is the enemy, and there are moments where the character sprawl costs the narrative some of its punch.
These are real issues, but they don’t sink the book. The ambition here is undeniable, and the execution is more right than wrong. Tynion is clearly building toward something, and I’m along for the ride.
May 29, 2026
Pretty compelling story about serial killers descending on a town to compete in a hunger games style competition run by the rich elite.
Some quibbles: I had a hard time remembering some of the characters from the first volume. Since they are killing them off at a good clip, could be a problem long term if some characters don't start standing out.
Some logic problems long term: if you gather a bunch of serial killers for a dangerous game on a regular basis where they kill each other off, how would restock? Is there a huge supply of serial killers out there to draw from?
Probably thinking about this too much, but it did make me wonder.
Some quibbles: I had a hard time remembering some of the characters from the first volume. Since they are killing them off at a good clip, could be a problem long term if some characters don't start standing out.
Some logic problems long term: if you gather a bunch of serial killers for a dangerous game on a regular basis where they kill each other off, how would restock? Is there a huge supply of serial killers out there to draw from?
Probably thinking about this too much, but it did make me wonder.
May 2, 2026
I think that the art and the coloring is very pretty, but there’s only so much you do with this premise. Was it fun? Yes, but it’s nothing you haven’t already seen. I’m sad that the boyfriend died, the final speech with the paramedic needed more set up, and I don’t understand how her embracing her army training correlates to her being her “father’s daughter”. Also, I don’t understand why, out of all the books he’s written, James Tynion decides this is the universe that deserves spin-offs, video games, and shows.
May 27, 2026
It's interesting to see a volume of entirely different writing teams contributing to the series, which makes the differences between the different voices far more apparent. Every time I feel like I get a bead on how the series is progressing, there are some slight shifts that allows the series to be fresh. I don't think it works all the time, though, with certain issues feeling like they have more of an overarching theme or focus than others. I am enjoying myself though, and hesitantly curious to see how the final volume pulls everything together.
Read
January 9, 2026Continues to be an entertaining read month to month, but it's so action-focused that very little seems to happen in each issue beyond a slowly moving needle. Doesn't help that it's proving to be an everyone dies downer of a story and the authors pulled in to script alongside Tynion don't meet the same standard. Still, the premise is fun enough so I'll read it through issue 12 at least.
June 4, 2026
Exquisite Corpses continues to be completely unhinged in the best possible way. I love that this series commits to the chaos!
This premise alone is enough to hook me. Every five years, the world's most powerful families gather to decide who will rule the next cycle. Each family selects a killer to represent them, and an unsuspecting small town becomes the battleground. The last killer standing wins, while the elites place bets on everything from kill counts to civilian casualties.
The violence is nuts but I keep coming back for the characters. Every killer feels distinct, memorable, and interesting in their own way. Volume two expands on several of their stories, and I found myself even more invested than I was in the first installment!! I need to know more!
This series is fast-paced, violent, and ridiculously entertaining while still managing to say something about elitism, power, and the people who treat humans like pieces on a game board. I flew through this volume and immediately wanted the next one.
This premise alone is enough to hook me. Every five years, the world's most powerful families gather to decide who will rule the next cycle. Each family selects a killer to represent them, and an unsuspecting small town becomes the battleground. The last killer standing wins, while the elites place bets on everything from kill counts to civilian casualties.
The violence is nuts but I keep coming back for the characters. Every killer feels distinct, memorable, and interesting in their own way. Volume two expands on several of their stories, and I found myself even more invested than I was in the first installment!! I need to know more!
This series is fast-paced, violent, and ridiculously entertaining while still managing to say something about elitism, power, and the people who treat humans like pieces on a game board. I flew through this volume and immediately wanted the next one.
Review of advance copy
Read these in issue format 4-8, which is probably better honestly. The story is not original or interesting so far. Basically it’s a bunch of rich people killing poor people for entertainment. Kinda sounds like normal life.
2.9 ✨
2.9 ✨
June 4, 2026
While not altogether dropping the momentum from volume 1, volume 2 feels a bit too reliant on the previous volumes pacing to be a self-contained story. I much prefer the card game based on the series, but I plan to finish it out.
July 4, 2026
Murder porn. But some fun along the way.
Not sure if I'm hearing the opening to Pink Floyd's "Money" in my head or that's just James Tynion cashing in big time as Netflix begins preproduction to bring murder and mayhem to your small screen. Wait and see. It won't be long...
Not sure if I'm hearing the opening to Pink Floyd's "Money" in my head or that's just James Tynion cashing in big time as Netflix begins preproduction to bring murder and mayhem to your small screen. Wait and see. It won't be long...
Review of advance copy
Holy shit, the ending of issue #8 was absolutely exquisite. And that twist -- Very well done.
Review of advance copy
entretiene, y con una vuelta de trama no esperada
Review of advance copy
nowhere near as good as the first one but still fun and makes you excited to pick up the next volume.
January 11, 2026
I had to wait way too long for my library to get issue 8 so here we are a month later :/ (obv read in singles)
Review of advance copy
Read in individual issues. Bloody, yet compulsively readable.
Review of advance copy
Great continuing the story and really ramping things up to the max. The final showdowns are gonna be awesome.
Review of advance copy
Not my thing, I can’t really take this premise seriously and I’m not invested in the outcome.
Review of advance copy
Read as single issues.
Read
March 28, 2026(i read the individual issues)
Review of advance copy
Tynion’s stuff is so gnarly! Everything by him I’ve read so far has been so good I read it in one sitting
Review of advance copy
Tynion and Walsh's Fortnite is kinda silly but truly engaging.
April 24, 2026
Fun continuation. Everyone is crazy and the world being plunged into chaos by rich assholes is truly a lil too real 🤪
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews