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James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh’s Exquisite Corpses #1 has sold out and goes back to print

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The highly anticipated debut issue of the new horror event series, Exquisite Corpses—crafted by co-creators James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, and the “Corpse Crew” of creators—has slain the competition in its first day of release and sold out completely at the distributor level. In order to keep up with the heightened demand, Image Comics is rushing the first issue back to print this week for a second printing. The second printing will feature a Cover A edition with a special wraparound cover by Walsh, and a polybagged Cover B edition with a secret new cover by Walsh and a new collectible trading card that will be a part of the companion trading card game. 

In Exquisite Corpses, every five years on Halloween, the wealthiest families in America play a game. 12 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 will launch as an initial 13-issue arc/season, but the world will be expanded with additional stories. This Friday, there will be a Halloween-themed bash at Revenge Of for the kickoff of the Corpse Tour ’25.

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.

Exquisite Corpses #1 second printing (a triple-length debut issue, featuring 60 pages of story content) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, June 18 (Final Order Cutoff deadline for retailers is May 26). The Cover B variant not only features the extra-length issue, but also an exclusive Exquisite Corpses: The Game card within a protective polybag for $6.99.

  • Cover A by Michael Walsh – Lunar Code 0325IM885
  • Cover B by Walsh (polybagged with special game card) – Lunar Code 0325IM886
Exquisite Corpses #1 second printing

Exquisite Corpses #1 Introduces a Deadly But Familiar Game

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Exquisite Corpses #1

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

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Image Comics joins digital comic app Sweet Shop

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Sweet Shop

Image Comics will join Sweet Shop ahead of the app’s upcoming launch set for later this Summer. The publisher and new-to-the-scene digital comics store will work in partnership to bring nearly 400 of Image’s bestselling, creator-owned titles to the shelves of the app in time for its debut.

Fantastic new titles like James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh’s Exquisite Corpses and Matthew Rosenberg and Stefano Landini’s We’re Taking Everyone Down With Us will join the catalog alongside popular ongoing series offerings such as the Transformers, Spawn, Ghost Machine comics, Invincible, and The Walking Dead.

Sweet Shop users will be able to read the library of comics on both Apple and Android devices and Manga and North American comics alike will be available on the app. Fans will be able to confidently browse and buy—either in-app or in DRM-free download format—from a variety of Image titles, available globally, with few exceptions. 

The app will support vertical scrolling function—a feature that will delight webcomics readers in particular—and right-to-left and left-to-right reading versatility for relevant titles. Even more features are available for viewing on Sweet Shop’s pre-launch site. Readers can sign up for the mailing list to receive updates on launch, as well as announcements on new features and a growing list of fantastic publishers coming later in 2025. 

James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh play a deadly game this May in Exquisite Corpses

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Horror masters James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh will lead a group of the most exciting voices in the industry in the upcoming Exquisite Corpses. This unique new ongoing series is set to launch on May 14th with its first, 13-issue season—with more story arcs planned for the future—from Image Comics/Tiny Onion.

Readers will experience a comics event like no other. Each issue of Exquisite Corpses will feature the top tier craft of Tynion and Walsh in collaboration—and competition—with a roster of industry-leading talent. Each issue will build upon the last in a true ‘exquisite corpse’-style. In these first, 13 blood-soaked issues the creative crew will determine who wins… and who dies.

Exquisite Corpses will feature the work of comics superstars Adam Gorham, Becca Carey, Che Grayson, Claire Roe, Gavin Fullerton, Jordie Bellaire, Marianna Ignazzi, Pornsak Pichetshote, Tyler Boss, and Valentine De Landro.

Every five years on Halloween, the wealthiest families in America play a game. In Exquisite Corpses, 12 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.

Each issue of the series will showcase variant cover artwork by some of the most lauded artists in the space—with Issue #1 featuring covers by Alex Eckman-Lawn, Jae Lee and June Chung, James Stokoe, Nimit Malavia, and more.

Tiny Onion will also embark on a year-long, national signing tour—dubbed Corpse Tour ’25—with stops to coincide with each Exquisite Corpses issue release. Each event will feature Tynion in conversation with local Exquisite Corpses creators, with a Q&A and signing to follow. Corpse Tour ‘25 will kick off with a release party in May.

  • Cover A by Walsh & Jordie Bellaire
  • Cover B by James Stokoe
  • Cover C by Walsh (polybagged)
  • Cover D blank sketch cover 
  • Cover E “stealth variant” by soon-to-be-announced artist
  • Cover F 1:25 copy incentive by Alex Eckman-Lawn
  • Cover G 1:50 copy incentive by Nimit Malavia 
  • Cover H 1:100 copy incentive by Jae Lee & June Chung

The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos is an LGBTQ+ horror-hero coming-of-age series

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Dark Horse Books and Tiny Onion Studios presents The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos, an LGBTQ+ horror-hero coming-of-age series from New York Times bestselling and multi-Eisner Award-winning writers of Something is Killing the Children, The Department of Truth, and House of Slaughter, James Tynion IV and Tate Brombal. Isaac Goodhart joins the team as penciller and inker with Miquel Muerto coloring and Aditya Bidikar lettering.

In addition to the main cover by Nick Robles, there will also be six other orderable variant covers: two by Nick Robles, one of which is a foil variant; two covers by David Talaski, one orderable and another incentive glow-in-the-dark variant (1:25); and finally, two covers by Isaac Goodhart, one orderable and one a virgin incentive variant (1:10).

Meet teenage mad scientist Christopher Chaos. For all his life he knew he was different. His brilliant mind works in ways that defy logic and enable him to do things that push him beyond his peers. Unfortunately, these abilities have also caused great pain in his personal life—leading others to fear him and leaving Christopher with profound loneliness and guilt.

Then, one day, something cracks. When the cute boy at high school turns out to be a deadly creature, Christopher finds himself pitted in a world of monsters, heroes, and a cult of hunters out to kill them all.

The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos #1arrives in comic shops June 21, 2023.

James Tynion IV is launching a new comic line at Dark Horse

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James Tynion IV has always been fascinated by horror and what he calls “true weird,” or the cousin to true crime—strange and unusual events like supernatural and alien encounters—especially after publishing stories like Something is Killing the Children, The Nice House on the Lake, and The Department of Truth. Now, Tynion, Tiny Onion Studios, and Dark Horse Comics are teaming up to bring deeply weird non-fiction and high concept coming-of-age monster stories to print in a new line! Featuring new and previously published creator-owned work from the mind of James Tynion IV, the new line begins with Blue Book in February 2023 and The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos in June 2023. Both were originally published on Substack, but will soon be available in print for the first time.

In Blue Book, Tynion explores strange but true stories of aliens and the supernatural. The first series details Betty and Barney Hill’s abduction encounter, also known as the first widely-publicized abduction that went on to shape and influence all future encounter stories. Teaming up with Tynion on this tale are artist Michael Avon Oeming and letterer Aditya Bidikar. Included at the end of every issue will be a short comic called “True Weird,” the first of which is called True Weird: Coney Island by Tynion, Klaus Janson, and Bidikar.

The next series to be published will be The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos, an LGBTQ+ horror-hero coming-of-age series that’s Invincible meets Doom Patrol. The concept was created by James Tynion IV and written by Tate Brombal with art by Isaac Goodhart, colors by Kurt Michael Russell, and letters by Aditya Bidikar.

The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos focuses on the lonely teenage mad scientist, Christopher Chaos. When the cute boy at high school turns out to be a deadly creature, Christopher finds himself pitted in a world of monsters, heroes, and a cult of hunters out to kill them all.

The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos #1

Blue Book #1 (of 5) will be available in print starting February 22, 2023 and will include three variant covers: a foil variant by Michael Avon Oeming and variants by Dave Johnson and Jill Thompson. The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos #1 (of 5) will be available June 7, 2023.

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