The Apocalypse Begins in Your Backyard: Exquisite Corpses #1

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Stepping out of my house feels like stepping into a warzone, America at odds right at my doorstep, survival hanging by a thread. So here’s a heads-up about an exhilarating new comic series, Exquisite Corpses, coming this year from Image Comics and some brilliant creators – James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey. This gripping tale offers chilling horror elements, reminiscent of The Hunger Games and The Purge, all wrapped up in one intriguing package. As I turned the last page of issue #1, I couldn’t help but feel captivated, and I can’t imagine you’d be able to resist the pulse-pounding action either!

In the seemingly ordinary town of Oak Valley resides an assortment of individuals simply trying to make the most of their lives. Unbeknownst to them, however, a covert struggle for power over America is unfolding in the background. Regrettably, these innocent townsfolk are about to become the battlefield where thirteen powerful families fight tooth and nail for control.


As a movie critic, I found myself utterly engrossed by Tynion’s gripping debut issue, which masterfully dissects the timely themes of power dynamics within and beyond established systems. From the vantage point of those steering the course, to the perspectives of individuals caught in the crossfire of their decisions, this comic offers a captivating dual view of an ever-evolving landscape. This unique approach provides an immediate, compelling perspective on events unfolding from both sides of the power spectrum.

Investing time with the locals of this town and witnessing their daily struggles, particularly as things reach a climax, creates an undercurrent of tension throughout the book. This feeling intensifies significantly as night falls and violence erupts, causing both the city’s inhabitants and readers to become utterly terrified. Walsh and Bellaire really amplify this sensation as darkness descends upon the city and the carnage commences.

In this story, Walsh, Bellaire, and Carey truly excel at crafting compelling introductions for each character. Each family assigns a representative who enters the town with the goal of outlasting everyone else to gain control of America for their own family lineage. The book showcases 13 such representatives, ranging from unstable individuals like pyromaniacs and eccentrics, to physically powerful figures like strongmen, and self-taught prodigies. Each character is intriguing in their own unique way, making it impossible to look away.

Some sequences are unsettling, some are amusing, while others are incredibly violent. Others border on the grotesque, and there are even some that make you wonder about their effectiveness in future conflicts. Each one excels at something unique, and the typography and coloring in these sequences are extraordinary, making these diverse killers and psychopaths seem to jump out from the page with a chilling allure.

This story wouldn’t function properly without the human touch, and luckily, it’s abundant in this narrative. Although there’s a principal figure who stands out as the main character, there’s an entire town filled with characters that I find myself deeply interested in and emotionally attached to. These personal connections make the forthcoming intense fights carry significant weight.

The book is quite extensive (spanning more than 60 pages), but this length is justified because it allows for a richly detailed world to be established, and the stakes feel genuine given the time spent exploring the town. Exquisite Corpses has already laid the groundwork for an exhilarating struggle for survival, with numerous factors influencing each participant’s actions. I can’t wait for issue #2!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Credits: Image Comics (Publisher)

Authorship: James Tynion IV

Illustrations: Michael Walsh

Coloring: Jordie Bellaire

Lettering: Becca Carey

Exquisite Corpses #1 hits comic stores on May 14th.

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2025-04-18 20:40