Exquisite Corpses is an American action-horror comic book limited series created by James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh, and published by Image Comics and Tiny Onion on May 14, 2025.
| Exquisite Corpses | |
|---|---|
 Cover art for issue #1 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Image Comics Tiny Onion |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Genre | Action, horror |
| Publication date | May 14, 2025 – present |
| No. of issues | 13 |
| Creative team | |
| Created by | James Tynion IV Michael Walsh |
| Written by | James Tynion IV Michael Walsh |
| Artist | Michael Walsh |
| Colorist | Jordie Bellaire |
Premise
editEvery five years on Halloween, the wealthiest families in the United States play a game in which twelve of the deadliest people in the world must kill each other to survive. This time, the game is set Oak Valley, Maine, where the citizens must survive these killers during the night.
List of characters
edit- The Thirteen Families - representatives of the most powerful families in the world from their respective states, each of whom hires a killer to compete in their game every five years. During the game in Oak Valley, Pennsylvania are the hosts and therefore, don't have a stake or a killer in the game.
- Xavi - a high school student working at a local haunted house
- Laura - an EMT who receives a strange letter from her uncle, the town's sheriff, warning her to leave town before nightfall and not look back
- Jason - a young boy who Craig unwittingly agrees to babysit on Halloween
- Audrey - Jason's mother, who works at a car dealership
- Craig - a high school student and Xavi's boyfriend
- Ian - Laura's fellow EMT
- Mike - a gas station cashier and drug-dealer
- Bruce - Audrey's boss
| Assassin | State | Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| Lone Gunman | Massachusetts | Gun |
| Leopold Strong | North Carolina | Hammer |
| Recluse | Rhode Island | Rope |
| Fox Mask Killer | New York | Sword |
| Pretty Boy | Georgia | Axe |
| Lady Carolina | South Carolina | Arrow |
| The Congregation | New Hampshire | Knife |
| Rascal Randy | New Jersey | Hands |
| Lady Blaze | Delaware | Fire |
| Slater | Maryland | Explosives |
| Nurse Pete | Virginia | Poison |
| G4M3R_KlD and Calvin | Connecticut | Electricity |
Publication history
editThe debut issue of Exquisite Corpses was published on May 14, 2025, having first been announced in October 2024 as Project Exquisite.[1][2] The crew of artists included Adam Gorham, Becca Carey, Che Grayson, Claire Roe, Gavin Fullerton, Jordie Bellaire, Marianna Ignazzi, Pornsak Pichetshote, Tyler Boss, and Valentine De Landro.[3]
Sequel & Spin-offs
editIn October 2025, Tynion revealed Exquisite Corpses had sold more than 400,000 copies in its first six months. He added that, although the series itself is a 13-issue maxi, there are locked in plans for a wider five-year run.[4] This larger franchise is partially as a response to Skybound/Hasbro's Energon Universe.[2]
In February 2026 at Tiny Onions ComicsPRO event, Tynion announced three spin-off mini-series Exquisite Corpses: Rascal Randy, Fox Mask Killer and Lone Gunman each focussing on killers from the first series with Rascal Randy debuting in July 2026. Also announced was the one-shot anthology Exquisite Corpses: Book of the Dead focussing on the other killers.[5]
Tynion also confirmed that a second series of Exquisite Corpses would debut in 2027 set in a brand new town with brand new killers and civilians, with Michael Walsh returning to design the new killers.[6]
Reception
editCollected Editions
edit| Title | Material collected | Pages | Released | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exquisite Corpses Vol. 1 | Exquisite Corpses #1-3 | 144 | Sep 17, 2025 | 978-1534331044 |
| Exquisite Corpses Vol. 2 | Exquisite Corpses #4-8 | 128 | Apr 14, 2026 | 978-1534334687 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Brooke, David (February 19, 2025). "'Exquisite Corpses' #1 by James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh to launch May 2025". AIPT. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
- 1 2 "James Tynion IV announces a new horror universe with Michael Walsh from Image Comics, launching with 2025's Project Exquisite". Popverse. October 16, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
- ↑ "James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, and 10 Artists to Construct 'Exquisite Corpses'". icv2.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
- ↑ DeArmitt, Grant (October 20, 2025). "Tiny Onion horror series Exquisite Corpses has sold more than 400,000 copies since launch, and is now confirmed for 5 year run". The Pop Verse. Archived from the original on October 21, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
- ↑ Chin Greene, Jules (February 19, 2026). "Image Comics horror hit Exquisite Corpses expands with three new miniseries and an anthology". The Pop Verse. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- ↑ Johnston, Rich (February 24, 2026). "James Tynion IV & Michael Walsh's Exquisite Corpses' Season Two & More". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Exquisite Corpses Ashcan // Review". You Don't Read Comics. April 12, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ↑ Brooke, David (March 26, 2025). "'Exquisite Corpses' #1 promises action, horror and a razor-sharp edge". AIPT. Retrieved May 23, 2025.