We’ve known the rules of Exquisite Corpses since the beginning. Twelve killers, each representing one of the ruling families of the US, enter a small town, with the last one standing taking all the spoils. But writer James Tynion IV swerves at the last minute, resulting in a final matchup no one could have seen coming.
- Title: Exquisite Corpses #12
- Creatives: James Tynion IV (Writer), Michael Walsh (Artist), Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer)
- Characters: Laura, Audrey, Jason, Xavi
- Villain: Massachusetts, New York, Georgia, Fox Mask Killer, Pretty Boy
- Format: Maxiseries
- Our Rating: 9.5/10 Stars
Which Killers Are Still Standing?
Oak Valley is on fire, and its few remaining citizens can only watch as the final two killers battle it out. New York’s Fox Mask Killer and Georgia’s Pretty Boy are the only ones left, and their fight is fittingly brutal. Artist Michael Walsh spares no detail as they clash in a spree of sickening violence. Fingers fly, bones are shattered, and decapitations ensure one of them isn’t walking away. Page fifteen features a beautifully grotesque scene, showing an axe carving right through someone’s hand, splitting it in a splash of blood and gore. Colorist Jordie Bellaire uses hellish reds to fill the panels around the combatants, giving a visual identity to their sinister intentions.
No character has suffered more than Audrey. Once a mild-mannered secretary, she’s been through hell and back to find her son, culminating in her killing an assassin at the end of the last issue. She rises from the corpse with streaks of dark red blood flowing across her bruised face, only to see how terrified her son is at her actions. Walsh affixes her with a crazed expression, as letterer Becca Carey uses bold and uppercase text that breaks free of their speech bubbles to show just how unhinged she’s become.
The Unfeeling Nature Of The Elites
The elites funding the game couldn’t care less about the damage they’ve done to these innocent lives. Their only concern is winning, with the representative from New York musing that they deserve to be untouchable while everyone else are nothing but bugs. Tynion’s been exploring how people in power are often protected from the horrific decisions they make, while normal citizens pay the price. Never is it more clear than in this issue, as we see the representatives ordering more booze and discussing future political dynamics while the people of Oak Valley continue to melt down.
There’s a twist though, and the representative from Massachusetts is finally ready to play her hand. It’s not the killers who are significant, but their weaponry, and whoever holds these weapons instantly becomes part of the game. One of Oak Valley’s residents, EMT and former military member Laura, now holds Massachusetts’ gun with the powerful woman promising her money and her life. However, Laura’s not the only one who receives this offer, as a different participant soon picks up a weapon and steps into the ring. We’re down to the true final two, and nobody could have predicted this outcome.
Verdict: Should you buy Exquisite Corpses #12?
Ultimately, Exquisite Corpses #12 finds Tynion wisely focusing on the human cost of this terrible game. The elite think we’re bugs, while Walsh’s violent battles, Bellaire’s sinister colors, and Carey’s frantic lettering reinforce the chaos they sow. Audrey’s descent into madness perfectly encapsulates the consequences of the carnage. Who’s going to come out victorious? Your guess is as good as mine.
‘Exquisite Corpses’ #12 Ends Tynion’s Slasher With a Twist No One Saw Coming
Exquisite Corpses #12 finds Tynion wisely focusing on the human cost of this terrible game. The elite think we’re bugs, while Walsh’s violent battles, Bellaire’s sinister colors, and Carey’s frantic lettering reinforce the chaos they sow. Audrey’s descent into madness perfectly encapsulates the consequences of the carnage. Who’s going to come out victorious? Your guess is as good as mine.
