The blood gets pumping when death is administered to the hospital, and two of the game’s deadliest killers meet-cute at the concert hall.
Story: James Tynion IV, Pornsak Pichetshote Art: Michael Walsh, Valentine De Landro Color: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Becca Carey
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(W) Al Letson (A) Valentine De Landro, Edwin Galmon In Shops: Jul 23, 2025 SRP: $3.99
THE DEFINITIVE ORIGIN STORY CONTINUES! Propelled by a new sense of purpose and a clear target for his vengeance, Mr. Terrific dons his superhero costume (or the closest approximation he can scrape together from his workshop) for the very first time to lay siege to Athena Prescott’s tower at the center of Gateway City. But while he’s got his sights set on Prescott…she’s got her eyes on him too. And the third-smartest man in the world might just find that you can’t bring T-Spheres to a gunfight and expect to walk out alive… Meanwhile, in the present day, Mr. Terrific’s surprise encounter with an Apokoliptian hellhound lands him in some dimension-hopping hot water!
The highly successful, critical hit Exquisite Corpses—by masterminds James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, and the “Corpse Crew” of creators—has sold out yet again at the distributor level. Image Comics will rush both issue #1 and #2 of this hot new thriller from Tiny Onion back to print this week in order to keep up with escalating reorder activity.
In Exquisite Corpses, 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.
Exquisite Corpses #2 features a knife-wielding zealot covered in human skin, a heartthrob with an axe, a pint-sized sociopath with a high-powered drone, and so much more…the killers are descending on Oak Valley—and the body count is rising. Walsh and Tynion IV are joined by rising star Marianna Ignazzi (Catwoman) for this bloody chapter to the story.
The series came together in a writers’ room led by Tynion IV and Walsh and made up of “Corpse Crew” comics superstars Adam Gorham, Becca Carey, Che Grayson, Claire Roe, Gavin Fullerton, Jordie Bellaire, Marianna Ignazzi, Pornsak Pichetshote, Tyler Boss, and Valentine De Landro. Each issue of the series builds upon the last in a true ‘exquisite corpse’ game style, with a passing of the storytelling baton from creator-to-creator in a collaborative and competitive fashion.
Exquisite Corpses begins with a 13-issue story arc, but its world will expand with additional stories. There is also a companion trading card game and fans can collect killer cards early with ones exclusively found in polybagged Cover C variants of each issue. Fans eager to play the game early can collect all 13 polybagged issues to make a complete card deck set.
Exquisite Corpses #1, third printing (Lunar Code 0425IM896), Exquisite Corpses #2, second printing (Lunar Code 0425IM897), and Exquisite Corpses #2, second printing polybag (Lunar Code 0425IM898) will all be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 30.
(W) Al Letson (A) Valentine De Landro In Shops: Jun 25, 2025 SRP: $3.99
MR. TERRIFIC’S PAST AND PRESENT ARE CATCHING UP TO HIM! In the past, Michael Holt violently lost his very last lifeline to the outside world–and he’s certain that it’s entirely his fault. Guilt and grief bring him to the Gateway City bridge in an effort to put an end to the pain once and for all, where the Spectre awaits to render divine judgment…and perhaps even salvation! And in the present, Mr. Terrific’s investigation into a mysterious new rift in his old city brings him face-to-face with an unexpectedly Apokoliptian foe!
(W) Al Letson (A) Valentine De Landro In Shops: May 28, 2025 SRP: $3.99
THE SECRET ORIGIN OF SUMMER’S BREAKOUT SUPERHERO! Brilliant young inventor Michael Holt’s life was destined for greatness…yet everything screeched to a halt when his wife Paula and unborn son were killed in a car accident. The Holts once shared ambitious dreams of using their technology to help others, but after the tragedy, Michael retreats from society and sells Holt Industries to mysterious and craven tech billionaire Athena Prescott. The domino effect of Michael’s actions set off an explosive chain of events that take a not-so-ordinary man from the depths of despair to the heights of heroism! Meanwhile, in the present day, Mr. Terrific continues his research into what became of Darkseid after the events of the DC All-In Special…and comes to realize that his past and the present might be inextricably linked… Discover all the secrets, sorrows, and triumphs of Mr. Terrific and how he came to be in this thrilling modern retelling and expansion of his origin story by DC Writer’s Workshop alumnus and multiple-award-winning TV writer Al Letson (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) and British Fantasy Award-winning artist Valentine De Landro (Black Manta, Bitch Planet)!
Brilliant young inventor Michael Holt’s life was destined for greatness…yet everything screeched to a halt when his wife Paula and unborn son were killed in a car accident. The Holts once shared ambitious dreams of using their technology to help others, but after the tragedy, Michael retreats from society and sells Holt Industries to mysterious and craven tech billionaire Athena Prescott. The domino effect of Michael’s actions set off an explosive chain of events that take a not-so-ordinary man from the depths of despair to the heights of heroism! Meanwhile, in the present day, Mr. Terrific continues his research into what became of Darkseid after the events of the DC All-In Special…and comes to realize that his past and the present might be inextricably linked… Mr. Terrific: Year One #1 is a retelling of the character’s past, expanding his origin and focused on the future.
I honestly don’t know much about Mr. Terrific. He has always been a character that’s been in the background of the comics I’ve read and even when he was more of the title character, it felt like it was more in a team sort of way. So, Holt’s history is rather vague for me and going into Mr. Terrific: Year One #1, I wanted to get a better sense of the character and motivations. I know of the tragedy, at least small details of it, but beyond that very little of the character.
Written by Al Letson, the debut issue answers a lot of questions and lets readers know what type of character Holt is. In the present, he’s attempting to figure out more about Darkseid’s attack on the Justice League Watchtower, a plot point that hasn’t really been dealt with a lot since. It’s the past where things get interesting.
Letson introduces a Michael Holt that’s a shut in. Brilliant, he’s still dealing with the tragedy of the loss of his loved ones, rarely going outside and instead locking himself up indoors. He’s sold his company going with the easy sale instead of the “right” sale. Now, he’s working on a new project, which seems like a fancy fitness/motivational app. There’s something kind of amazing and a hell of a statement being made in the comic taking the brilliance of Michael Holt and focusing it in on such a trivial thing. But that’s sort of the point of the debut issue.
Letson has a big point being made in the first issue. Holt is at the point in his life where his brilliance is being wasted. Instead of big picture problems, he’s making a fancy Peloton. He’s not a hero yet, he’s a tech bro that is focused on mundane small picture commercialism when they can be tackling major problems impacting the world. There’s a lot of growth from that we will hopefully see. Letson starts the comic with what Michael Holt becomes and takes us back to where he started.
The art by Valentine De Landro and Edwin Galmon is solid. Galmon handles the opening present sequence while De Landro’s art takes us to the past. Marissa Louise joins De Landro on color by Lucas Gattoni handles the lettering. Everything looks solid with an interesting style difference between the two time periods. Compared to the present’s style, the past feels like a gritty 70s movie in some ways, almost like we’re watching an old movie on VHS tape compared to the modern times’ 4K high def experience. It’s kind of cool like that really giving the two stories a distinctive feel. The modern times is a typical superhero experience while the past is more heist/crime.
Mr. Terrific: Year One #1 is a solid start to the series. For those that are fans of Mr. Terrific, it expands on his origin and for those that are new, it’s easy to dive in. The team has delivered some depth to the character with a good focus on Holt’s emotional state and where he’s at in his life. This isn’t the story of a hero learning the ropes, this is a broken man learning to climb out of depression and becoming a hero.
Story: Al Letson Art: Valentine De Landro, Edwin Galmon Color: Marissa Louise, Edwin Galmon Letterer: Lucas Gattoni Purchase: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
(W) Al Letson (A) Valentine De Landro In Shops: May 28, 2025 SRP: $3.99
THE SECRET ORIGIN OF SUMMER’S BREAKOUT SUPERHERO! Brilliant young inventor Michael Holt’s life was destined for greatness…yet everything screeched to a halt when his wife Paula and unborn son were killed in a car accident. The Holts once shared ambitious dreams of using their technology to help others, but after the tragedy, Michael retreats from society and sells Holt Industries to mysterious and craven tech billionaire Athena Prescott. The domino effect of Michael’s actions set off an explosive chain of events that take a not-so-ordinary man from the depths of despair to the heights of heroism! Meanwhile, in the present day, Mr. Terrific continues his research into what became of Darkseid after the events of the DC All-In Special…and comes to realize that his past and the present might be inextricably linked… Discover all the secrets, sorrows, and triumphs of Mr. Terrific and how he came to be in this thrilling modern retelling and expansion of his origin story by DC Writer’s Workshop alumnus and multiple-award-winning TV writer Al Letson (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) and British Fantasy Award-winning artist Valentine De Landro (Black Manta, Bitch Planet)!
Let the Exquisite Corpsesgame begin… The twelfth and final hired killer, The Lone Gunman, was revealed. Now all 12 of the hired killers will hit the small town of Oak Valley, Maine, for this year’s bloody battle royale as fans speculate on who will be the last one standing after the gore hits.
Tiny Onion and Image Comics’ Exquisite Corpses—crafted by masterminds James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, and the “Corpse Crew” of creators—launches with the first issue hitting shelves next Wednesday, May 14, followed by the kickoff of the Corpse Tour ’25 at Revenge Of next Friday, May 16, with a Halloween-themed bash.
Exquisite Corpses will launch as an initial 13-issue story arc, but will expand with additional stories in the future. There will also be a companion trading card game launching soon, and fans can start collecting killer cards early with ones exclusively found in polybagged Cover C variants of each issue.
In Exquisite Corpses, 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: the 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 series uniquely came together in a writers’ room led by Tynion IV and Walsh and made up of “Corpse Crew” comics superstars Adam Gorham, Becca Carey, Che Grayson, Claire Roe, Gavin Fullerton, Jordie Bellaire, Marianna Ignazzi, Pornsak Pichetshote, Tyler Boss, and Valentine De Landro. Each issue of the series will build upon the last in a true ‘exquisite corpse’ game style, with a passing of the baton, from creator-to-creator, to unfold the story in a collaborative and competitive fashion.
The first round of hitters was previously revealed, and now a new contingency of cold-blooded killers are entering the game to fill out the roster. In the spirit of March Madness, each issue of Exquisite Corpses will feature playoff brackets that track the in-world competition—and readers will be able to play along at home, guessing who they think will live, who will die, and who will ultimately win the game.
The Lone Gunman is a tall, dark, and mysterious player who never misses his mark. Here’s his official description from the confidential game dossier files:
MASSACHUSETTS selects LONE GUNMAN to wield THE GUN. Kill Count: REDACTED, Height: 6′ 3”. Highly trained and highly dangerous, LONE GUNMAN puts years of combat training to use as he efficiently dispatches his opponents—or any collateral damage who get in the way. Dishonorably discharged for battlefield atrocities now sealed in government records, LONE GUNMAN’S penchant for excessive violence has become a benefit, not a hindrance, to his performance in this tournament…
LEOPOLD STRONG: NORTH CAROLINA selects LEOPOLD STRONG to wield THE HAMMER. Kill Count: 23. Height: 6′ 5″. Some killers might be afraid that an opponent could steal their signature weapon, but not LEOPOLD STRONG. He alone is strong enough to heft the massive mallet that he wields to pound flesh and bone into so much bloodied paste. It’s unknown if he truly comes from the circus or merely likes the theatricality of the look, but what is clear is that LEOPOLD STRONG is easily the most physically imposing murderer in this year’s games. Heave ho!
RECLUSE: RHODE ISLAND selects RECLUSE to wield THE ROPE. Kill Count: 64. Height: 5′ 10″. An artist with wires and ropes, RECLUSE sets her own field of battle, drawing opponents into traps from which few leave intact. Though she’s deadly on the move with a garrote in hand, RECLUSE prefers a patient approach, lying in wait until her razor-wires snare her opponents. Some say her love of ropes borders on fetishism, but few get close enough to find out the truth.
FOX MASK KILLER: NEW YORK selects FOX MASK KILLER to wield THE SWORD. Kill Count: 87. Height: 5′ l”. Among killers-for-hire, there are a select few feared even by other assassins. The enigmatic swordswoman known as FOX MASK KILLER is at the top of that list, having achieved a reputation for completing her jobs with ruthless efficiency–and for chasing increasingly challenging targets. Whether she sees the tournament as just another paycheck, or a chance to push herself past her limits, remains to be seen.
PRETTY BOY: GEORGIA selects PRETTY BOY to wield THE AXE. Kill Count: 36. Height: 6′ 2″. Despite what Hollywood tries to sell the masses, most serial killers are charmless, asocial monsters. Most, anyway. PRETTY BOY, on the other hand, could kill with a wink and a flash of his pearly whites. He prefers an axe, though. Like many a heartthrob, PRETTY BOY takes out his pent-up rage through wanton violence, splattering his six-pack abs with gore with every swing of the axe. He has the honor of wielding the weapon that won the very first game ever conducted, but the significance is lost on him–he’s just here to look good and get bloody.
LADY CAROLINA: SOUTH CAROLINA selects LADY CAROLINA to wield THE ARROW. Kill Count: 7 Height: 5′ 8″. No one from the patron families enters the games themselves. It is simply unheard of. So when LADY CAROLINA stepped foot inside the arena, the other families were aghast. She comes from noble stock and received the best training their money could buy, but it still feels like a transgression. Is she simply seeking a death-defying thrill? Or does she have a more personal reason for aiming her crossbow at this year’s set of killers…
THE CONGREGATION: NEW HAMPSHIRE selects THE CONGREGATION to wield THE KNIFE. Kill Count: 39. Height: 6′ 0″. The only killer in the game to turn down a fee from his patron family, THE CONGREGATION feels that taking a life is a higher calling–a monk-like tribute to whatever dark gods whisper in his ears. And while he’s almost certainly a raving lunatic (you’d have to be, to cover yourself in the sliced-off faces of your victims), THE CONGREGATION’S knife has brought many offerings to his altar, and will no doubt bring many more still before his prayers are finished.
RASCAL RANDY: NEW JERSEY selects RASCAL RANDY to wield THE HANDS. Kill Count: 19. Height: 5′ 11″. There is a man inside the RASCAL RANDY costume, but that man doesn’t matter. That man has never mattered. He was no one until he put the mascot head on for the first time, until he felt the life leave someone’s body through the thickly furred gloves of the suit. The man inside the suit will wear any disguise if necessary, but his true skin is RASCAL RANDY, and god help anyone who sees him coming toward them on a dark night.
LAYLA BLAZE: DELAWARE selects LAYLA BLAZE to wield FIRE. Kill Count: 335. Height: 5′ 3″. They say some people just want to see the world burn, but LAYLA BLAZE will settle for seeing anything go up in flames. It’s unclear if the burn marks that criss-cross her body are the results of fires that got out of control…or LAYLA BLAZE running out of any other kindling. All that can be said for sure is that she burns hot in life, love, and the act of killing, and leaves only ashes in her wake.
SLATER: MARYLAND selects SLATER to wield EXPLOSIVES. Kill Count: 124. Height: 5′ 10″. Tick…tick…BOOM! The hot young thing known as SLATER has never had a problem attracting attention, but his entourages have a habit of blowing up—as does anything else in his vicinity. Under the right circumstances, SLATER might have channeled his fascinations with pyrotechnics into something productive—instead, he’s just a walking powderkeg.
NURSE PETE: VIRGINIA selects NURSE PETE to wield POISON. Kill Count: ???. Height: 5′ 6″. No one would guess that the unassuming, schlubby NURSE PETE had a body count approaching three figures, and that’s just how he likes it. A compulsive killer who endlessly tweaks his deadly cocktails of paralyzing narcotics and tests them on patients around the country, NURSE PETE is usually content to slip from hospital to nursing home to pediatric ward, changing identities just in time to avoid being noticed. But the sum offered to him for joining this game would pay for oh so many tantalizing new chemical components…
G4M3R_KlD & CALVIN: CONNECTICUT selects G4M3R_KlD to wield ELECTRICITY. Kill Count: 9. Height: 4′ 0″. Aww, c’mon—you wouldn’t hurt a little kid, would you? A product of the iPad generation, weaned on slur-filled gaming lobbies, G4M3R_KlD has no business being anywhere near an event like this, but he’s so desensitized to violence that he has no qualms piloting CALVIN, his heavily armed drone, and aiming it at any target in sight. Kill counts are just high scores to this tyke, and he wants to see his name on the leaderboard.
Exquisite Corpses #1 will be a triple-length debut issue, featuring 60 pages of story content for just $4.99, and will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, May 14. The Cover C variant not only features the extra-length issue, but also an exclusive Exquisite Corpses: The Game killer card within a protective polybag for $6.99.
Cover A by Walsh – Lunar Code 0325IM247
Cover B by James Stokoe – Lunar Code 0325IM248
Cover C by Walsh (polybagged with game card) – Lunar Code 0325IM249
Cover D blank sketch cover – Lunar Code 0325IM250
Cover E “stealth variant” by Jenny Frison – Lunar Code 0325IM251
Cover F 1:25 copy incentive by Alex Eckman-Lawn – Lunar Code 0325IM252
Cover G 1:50 copy incentive by Nimit Malavia – Lunar Code 0325IM253
Cover H 1:100 copy incentive by Jae Lee & June Chung – Lunar Code 0325IM254
Exquisite Corpses #2 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, June 18 (Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is May 26):
Cover A by Walsh – Lunar Code 0425IM328
Cover B by Marianna Ignazzi – Lunar Code 0425IM329
Cover C by Walsh (polybagged with Killer card) – Lunar Code 0425IM330
Cover D “stealth variant” by [to be revealed] – Lunar Code 0425IM331
Cover E 1:25 copy incentive by Riley Rossmo – Lunar Code 0425IM332
Cover F 1:50 copy incentive by Martin Simmonds – Lunar Code 0425IM333
Exquisite Corpses #3 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 23 (Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is June 30):
Cover A by Walsh – Lunar Code 0525IM344
Cover B by Valentine De Landro – Lunar Code 0525IM345
Cover C by Walsh (polybagged with Killer card) – Lunar Code 0525IM346
Cover D “stealth variant” by [to be revealed] – Lunar Code 0525IM347
Cover E 1:25 copy incentive by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz – Lunar Code 0525IM348
Cover F 1:50 copy incentive by Joshua Hixson – Lunar Code 0525IM349
Before Mr. Terrific makes his big-screen debut in the upcoming Superman feature film, learn his origin in an all-new DC six-issue comic book series, Mr. Terrific: Year One!
Brilliant young inventor Michael Holt’s life was destined for greatness…yet everything screeched to a halt when his wife Paula and unborn son were killed in a car accident. The Holts once shared ambitious dreams of using their technology to help others, but after the tragedy, Michael retreats from society and sells Holt Industries to mysterious and craven tech billionaire Athena Prescott.
The domino effect of Michael’s actions set off an explosive chain of events that take a not-so-ordinary man from the depths of despair to the heights of heroism! Meanwhile, in the present day, Mr. Terrific continues his research into what became of Darkseid after the events of the DC All In Special…and comes to realize that his past and the present might be inextricably linked…
Discover all the secrets, sorrows, and triumphs of Mr. Terrific and how he came to be in this thrilling modern retelling and expansion of his origin story by DC Writer’s Workshop alumnus and multiple-award-winning TV writer Al Letson and British Fantasy Award-winning artist Valentine De Landro, along with a sequence drawn by Edwin Galmon!
(W) Greg Pak, Evan Narcisse (A) Eder Messias, Valentine De Landro (CA) Taurin Clarke RATED T+ In Shops: Mar 19, 2025 SRP: $3.99
Captain America, Falcon and the unpredictable Josiah X find themselves at the mercy of the sinister forces running Eaglestar. Their escape may depend on the Red Hulk – but where do his loyalties lie?
