Exquisite Corpses #1 delivers an opening salvo that’s drenched in pop punk video game inspired visuals with a story that feels familiar but a hell of a lot of fun.
Story: James Tynion IV Art: Michael Walsh Color: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Becca Carey
Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site
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 #1 delivers an opening salvo that’s drenched in pop punk video game inspired visuals with a story that feels familiar but a hell of a lot of fun.
Written by James Tynion IV, Exquisite Corpses #1 feels like a comic inspired by today’s popular video games. Fortnite with its battle to the death arena and colorful characters is the one that jumps out as inspiration to this series which delivers a flashy start that sucks you in. It’s a mish-mash of familiar concepts and stories but presents it all with a flair that has you wanting to come back for more.
The concept of families secretly controlling the world and battling it out is a concept that’s been done over and over as well as colorful characters dropped in an arena to battle to the death. It feels like the two have been mashed together as well but Tynion deftly focuses in on the flash and the characters impacted by the deadly game.
While just having a comic about random characters with message board handles killing each other would be entertaining enough, Tynion gives us something more by adding a touch of depth to the characters we meet and even the killers themselves. What makes the comic feel unique is that it takes place in a small town chosen by the ruling families to be used as a board for their avatars to battle in. Some are playing to win while others have side bets as to the kills they can wrack up. It’s eSports being LARPed with high stakes. But Tynion introduces us to residents and get us to care about them to have an emotional connection to see what happens to them next making the comic more than just entertaining kills. And, Tynion makes sure to not just give the killers entertaining extreme personalities but a little something extra as well. One at the end of the comic makes a surprising statement showing there’s more to him than just murdering others.
The art by Mirchael Walsh, color by Jordie Bellaire, and lettering by Becca Carey is fantastic. They give a style that’s both grounded at times but also feels like intro screens just before you enter the virtual battlefield. The characters all come off as creepy and deranged with a comic that bounces from grounded to extreme in its deliver. While the residents of Oak Valley are grounded, normal, and somewhat bland in a way, those battling are all caricatures or feel like downloadable avatars to PWN the noobs with. It’s a fun blend of comic infused with video game visuals.
Exquisite Corpses #1 is a solid start that seems to be having fun with its over the top concept and delivering on it in both story and art. It might feel familiar and not totally original, but it’s executed in a way that stands out from the pack.
Story: James Tynion IV Art: Michael Walsh Color: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Becca Carey Story: 8.5 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
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
In an extraordinary collaboration between two celebrated voices in comics, DC has announced the addition of an original story, “Master Planner” by writer Jenny Blake and artist Sara Soler with lettering by Jodie Troutman, to DC Pride 2025. This new story, like Kevin Conroy’s personal story “Finding Batman” (art by J. Bone) in 2022 and Phil Jimenez’s autobiographical story “Spaces” (art by Giulio Macaione) in 2024, is a poignant exploration of Blake’s identity, authenticity, and the universal quest for self-understanding. Blake is a co-creator of Black Lightning, along with Trevor Von Eeden, among other accomplishments.
Jenny Blake, a trailblazing figure with over five decades of contributions to the comics industry, shared her heartfelt reflections on the project:
When I came out as transgender, the comics community was overwhelmingly loving and supportive. Being asked to contribute to this anthology was unexpected and so affirming. I’ve done a lot of cool things in my 50-plus years in comics, but this story is one of the things I’m most proud of. I see myself in this story and I hope readers see something of themselves in it. I had a wonderful time writing my story, and I hope the readers enjoy it as much as I did.
The story, brought vividly to life by the extraordinary artistry of Sara Soler, invites readers into a journey that is both deeply personal and widely relatable, bridging human experiences of transformation, resilience, and belonging. Soler’s style beautifully captures the essence of Blake’s narrative, creating a perfect harmony between words and visuals.
Additionally, DC’s editorial team has selected a handful of letters, cosplay, and fan art to be published in a letters column within the pages of DC Pride 2025. Originally shared on the DC Official Discord server, fan contributions to DC Pride 2025 reflect how the legacy of DC’s storytelling has impacted, or reflected, their LGBTQIA+ identity, journey, or experience.
DC Pride 2025 will publish on June 4, available wherever comic books are sold. Contributors include writers Vita Ayala, Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Maya Houston, Sam Maggs, Tim Sheridan, and Josh Trujillo; artists Don Aguillo, Vincent Cecil, Derek Charm, A.L. Kaplan, Giulio Macaione, Alex Moore, Skylar Patridge, Emilio Pilliu, Max Sarin, and Phillip Sevy; colorists Eren Angiolini, Jordie Bellaire, Tríona Farrell, and Marissa Louise; letterers Aditya Bidikar, Frank Cvetkovic, Lucas Gattoni, Ariana Maher, Morgan Martinez, and Jodie Troutman for main story “The Heart Wants”; along with Blake, Solar, and Troutman for “Master Planner.” The 96-page Prestige format comic will feature a main cover by Kris Anka and variant covers by Sozomaika, Julia Reck, and Jack Hughes (1:25), all priced at $9.99 US (card stock).
Duke vs Cobra Commander. It’s all been leading to this. And the ending no one will see coming.
Story: Joshua Williamson Art: Tom Reilly Color: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Rus Wooton
Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site
G.I. JOE has suffered massive losses at the hands of Cobra, and now their backs are against the wall. Is this their last stand? How far will the Joes go to finally stop Cobra’s plans?
Story: Joshua Williamson Art: Tom Reilly Color: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Rus Wooton
Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site
Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro have revealed interior pages and the lineup of variant covers for G.I. JOE #6. From the chart-topping, critically acclaimed creative team of writer Joshua Williamson, artist Tom Reilly, and colorist Jordie Bellaire, the first arc finale of the comic book introducing a bold new vision of G.I. Joe and Cobra to the Energon Universe will hit comic books shelves on April 16, 2025.
Duke vs. Cobra Commander. It’s all been leading to this. And the ending no one will see coming.
In addition to the main cover by Reilly, G.I. JOE #6 will feature an open-to-order variant cover by Derrick Chew; an open-to-order variant cover by Lorenzo De Felici; the completion of the 1:10 incentive connecting cover series by Karl Kerschl; a 1:25 incentive variant by Travis Moore and Adriano Lucas; and a 1:50 incentive variant by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
The full list of variant covers is below:
– G.I. JOE #6 Cover A by Tom Reilly (Lunar Code: 0225IM340)
– G.I. JOE #6 Cover B by Derrick Chew (Lunar Code: 0225IM341)
– G.I. JOE #6 Cover C by Lorenzo De Felici (Lunar Code: 0225IM342)
– G.I. JOE #6 Cover D (1:10 Copy Incentive) (Connecting) by Karl Kerschl (Lunar Code: 0225IM343)
– G.I. JOE #6 Cover E (1:25 Copy Incentive) by Travis Moore & Adriano Lucas (Lunar Code: 0225IM344)
– G.I. JOE #6 Cover F (1:50 Copy Incentive) by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer (Lunar Code: 0225IM345)
The hit post-apocalyptic series launch—Assorted Crisis Events—by writer Deniz Camp and artist Eric Zawadzki, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou has hit big and sold out completely at the distributor level. Image Comics will rush the debut issue of the series back to print this week in order to keep up with escalating customer demand.
Time has no bounds in this world, and readers will follow in the footsteps of normal people who are just trying to get through a normal day, but instead have to deal with time loops and space portals, confused time travelers from different eras, and alternate dimensional versions of themselves…all while just taking a stroll down the street. Meanwhile, the overarching story dives into what caused the rules of time to suddenly shift, and if it’s possible to reverse the damage. Fans of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Black Mirror, and Doctor Who will enjoy this time-bending, clock-shattering new series.
A teaser trailer for the series reveals a set of mysterious clocks ticking…but in what direction? Only time will tell!
Assorted Crisis Events #1, second printing (Lunar Code 0125IM879) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, April 9.
Time has become unstuck, forcing various timelines to collide with each other. You might run into Nazis on the way to work. You wake up to find apocalyptic raiders and medieval knights battling outside your New York City apartment. Your double from another future reality might show up and kill you and take your place. All you can hope to do is survive and try to live for another second. Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadzki’s Assorted Crisis Events #1 mirrors our reality where you cannot keep track of anything anymore and feel that everything has gone to chaotic hell, and you try to live for one more day despite the overwhelming odds.
Following Ashley as she heads to her job at a restaurant, Camp and Zawadzki immediately drop us into the world, and we first experience how accustomed she has become to it. Hearing a crying woman begging for help to help her husband frozen in reality, she walks on. She sees a man’s chest burst open and explode due to his guts, but it does not phase her. Even the notion of her parents’ graves switching places with another set never makes her bat an eye. Despite how horrible and horrific all of these events appear to us as readers new to this world, it reinforces how numb Ashley has become to all of it. Seeing subway pirates may have initially freaked her out, but this has become her new reality. This “new normal” is just normal now. Just look at your phone and move on with your life despite the world breaking apart.
Ashley’s story of trying to fix her clock also feels like a grand, tragic, cosmic joke. On a surface level, the need for a clock when time has become uncontrollable and wild is unnecessary. Still, the sentimental aspect of its connection to her family ties her to a specific moment. Acting as an anchor that connects her to the world, she has nothing else to tie her to it. But that emotional aspect holds no value to the horologists she begs to repair it. This simple activity exists as this grand twisting odyssey that constantly shuts her down at every turn. Even trying to escape by jumping through a crater in the earth painfully reveals it as a painting on the road. Left with a destroyed clock and a collapsing world, she ponders if anything is left. “Is this how it really ends?”
Camp and Zawadzki also do an excellent job of portraying a reality that shifts between the real and the unreal. The presence of various film crews utilizing the destruction and crisis events for their work blurs the line between the unreal and the real. More specifically, they commodify this horror to a more consumable and marketable form, i.e., films. Instead of reckoning with the unraveling of time, they would make a quick buck off it. Similar to how Ashley and others ignore death and destruction, these movies provide an outlet and a false comfort to the population. Spend money to forget the world’s troubles for an hour or two. The pair highlights how easy and normalized it becomes to ignore reality’s pain and horror and focus on the more consumable version. Outside of the filmmakers, the cops failing to help the crying woman and even arresting the Broken Man before beating up Ashley reinforces this desire to protect and project a desired reality. Why do you need a few people to alert you to the smoke outside your door when you can keep inside your pretty bubbles?
Zawadzki’s art and paneling with Jordie Belaire’s colorsand Hassan Otsmane-Elhou’s lettering solidify and expertly portray the varied tone and densely written story. Zawadzki’s phenomenal art and panel structure that bleeds outside of it towards the edges of the pages show how barely contained time is. The three portray a reality buckling under the weight of its unruly madness. Making me laugh, cry, and scared at the same time, Zawadzki, Belaire, and Otsmane-Elhou grasp and convey the emotional rollercoaster of this profoundly human narrative.
Assorted Crisis Events #1 by Camp and Zawadzki is a great first issue that demonstrates how deeply unpredictable and human this anthology series will be. It is an expert reflection of how we attempt to live and deal with our current reality, which threatens to drag us and kill us. The world will not end with a bang but with a cut as we look for the cameras to help us escape from reality.
Story: Deniz Camp: Art: Eric Zawadzki Color: Jordie BelaireLetterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhou Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Read
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
(W) Deniz Camp (A/CA) Eric Zawadzki In Shops: Mar 12, 2025 SRP: $4.99
Series Premiere. Time is having a crisis. Mingling in the red-light district, you can find actual cavemen, medieval knights, and cyborg soldiers on leave from World War IV. Victorian debutantes amble their way into cell phone stores, confused and bewildered (what is a data plan?). On their way to work, bleary-eyed commuters get trapped in time-loops, assaulted by alternate-reality versions of themselves, and try to avoid post-apocalyptic wastelands. And LOOK: the 3:15 bus just took a wrong turn… into the neolithic era. Rising stars Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadzki and Eisner-winners Jordie Bellaire and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou are proud to present Assorted Crisis Events, an ongoing, zig-zagging anthology series about the compromised clicks of our clocks-full of one-shot stories both beautiful and ugly, tragic and redemptive, surreal and somehow all too familiar.
