Exquisite Corpses #5

Exquisite Corpses #5

by James Tynion IV, Jordie Bellaire, Claire Roe (Artist)

It’s murder on the dance floor as killers converge at the NoLife concert…but can the sparks of young love between two incendiary psychopaths win out over bloodlust and bounties? Heads will roll as Eisner Award-winning multi-hyphenate JORDIE BELLAIRE (REDLANDS) and red-hot artist CLAIRE ROE (Dark The Hollywood Special) join JAMES TYNION IV and MICHAEL WALSH for the most terrifying meet-cute of the year!

Genres: Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels

32 pages, Kindle Edition

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

[Catalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art presented here is phenomenal! The story never dulls and constantly surprises you in the best way! 🥊 pow 💥

[Harry Palacio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Killers find what appears to be love or lust for a split second then all breaks loose… still the game continues… handless car salesman decapitated now it’s getting good

[Cybernex007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

As we jump into this issue we find Maryland lodging a complaint. The bomb and fire caches were placed too close together and now their killers are distracting each other when they should be killing a bunch of people. But Delaware is also lodging a complaint about how much Maryland is complaining. Off to the side we see South Carolina share a drink with Massachusetts, for the first time over all these years with her sister’s life on the line…it actually feels real. But it seems like Massachusetts actually has some perspective that she worked out a long time ago, she is fully aware of how real it is and must feel on the field every minute.

All the white Audrey is driving very recklessly and clearly in shock from the altercation last issue and trying to help Bruce and his severed hand. Laura ends up finding them in her ambulance as they rolled up to the Sheriff’s office, and she was able to tie up his arm to stop the blood flow. Bruce refuses to go to the hospital before lodging a complaint with the sheriff, oh Bruce I know some people you would love but who would despise you. But as they approach the office the front door has been chained up and locked. Laura grabbed a bolt cutter from her ambulance and made sure they are aware with everything weird going on, they need to stick together and she will even help Audrey find her son. Once inside they found the phones cut and all the officers inside and dead execution style. Bruce immediately went for the gun lockers…and ran right into one of Recluse traps, slicing his head right off and causing Audrey to feint. Laura promises that she will protect her, while also discovering a radio in one of the drawers that is picking up the chatter from the overseers of the game. They are planning on closing the town off with fire and corralling everyone into the pit, that bit party area.

Checking in on Xavi, things are pretty bad as he has arrived back at the club in search of Craig. All the while our two fire bugs are hanging out in the back sum stet where their caches are stored. They have two very conflicting personalities. Slater sees himself as the big man and sees their meeting as fate and that their signatures are aligned, Layla only cares about burning everything down, and while she doesn’t like to be touched…she does like to watch. As they divvy up their caches to work together and head inside to blow the club up with everyone inside. All the while Xavi is desperately trying to find Craig and stop the part before anyone else gets hurt. As the two fire bugs stand on the cat walk, Layla gasps as Slater makes a bomb just for her. As the part doesn’t seem to be dying down, Xavi sets off the fire alarm. This has the great benefit of putting out the fuse for the bomb and sending everyone running out only to go to the pit to continue the party. In the midst of the rain from the sprinklers, Slater makes his move and kisses Layla…only for Layla to respond by pushing him over the balcony right into one of recluse’s traps, before she ran down and basked in the blood flowing from his sliced up body. Like she said, she doesn’t like to be touched but loves to watch. As she spots recluse balancing on the threads just above his body, she dips out before he can kill her and hitched a ride with the band on the way to the pit.

Remember pretty boy and the gas station attendant? Well they are having a grand old time smoking refer as Mike tells Pretty Boy abojt his alien encounter while going 100 mph on a back road, lol. But as they come actions the bend Mike is stopped in his tracks when he sees the fire surrounding the town and all the people he believes to be G-men setting the blaze with their flamethrowers. As the issue comes to an end Maryland is seething about his killer dying and Delaware can’t help but laugh. We once again look in on Mass and SC, as Mass mentions that her sister is safe for now. Sure she is down a weapon, but she would only be out if they were playing the rules from the first game, but they aren’t old fashioned anymore. And while there are still rules, you can skirt them if you are clever. But they aren’t the only ones doing it.

[Machiavelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Exquisite Corpses #5 and this series keeps leaning into its twisted mix of murder, romance, and gore. Two killers circle each other with a mix of flirting and menace, while the rest of the cast tries to survive the chaos. The art is raw and brutal in the best way, with colors that make every bloody panel pop.

A wild, punk-rock comic that’s messy, stylish, and impossible to look away from. Still having a great time with it!

[Colin Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great showcase for Jordie Bellaire! Her colors have been a highlight of every issue (including this one, really bringing Roe’s art to life), and then she also writes one of the tightest, well composed issues of the series to date! The scene in the club between Slater and Layla was perfectly paced, the writing and art working fabulously together.

[Stephen Tizzard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is still my newest favourite.

[Marisol Puga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, lots of gore 🫶

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sid and Nancy with Nancy coming out on top. I genuinely wonder if there could be survivors…

[Wolverinefactor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly better than the previous issue. I liked the one scene with the wires very hostel 2

[Chris Loan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m just so happy for Bruce