We finally have a winner. Exquisite Corpses has been one of Image’s best titles since it debuted last year, and writer James Tynion IV makes sure no one walks away unscathed. It’s been a brutal game, but it all comes to a close in a finale that will stick with you long after you’ve put the book down.
Title: Exquisite Corpses #13
Creatives: James Tynion IV (Writer), Michael Walsh (Artist), Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer)
Characters: Laura, Audrey, Javi, Jason
Villain: The Thirteen, Rascal Randy
Format: 13 Issue Maxiseries
Our Rating: 9.5/10 Stars
Who Wins the Game?
We open on a standoff between the final two contestants, Oak Valley residents Laura and Audrey. They may not have been part of the competition initially, but they’re in it now. Audrey is teetering on the edge of madness, with artist Michael Walsh making her look almost feral as he contorts her face into a series of scowls and bulging eyeballs. She’s finally reached her breaking point, vowing to win the game to save the life of her son.
Meanwhile, Laura is trying everything she can to find a loophole. She doesn’t want to kill Audrey, but The Thirteen demand a winner. Laura desperately tries to convince her opponent to stop, but it’s too late for that. You can tell how far Audrey will go in a gruesome panel on page eight, when she frantically bites into Laura and rips off a piece of her neck. Colorist Jordie Bellaire covers the contestants and gore in sinister reds, using a simple green background to make the scene pop off the page.
It’s not long before Massachusetts issues a final ultimatum. One contestant has to die, or Audrey’s son and his teenage protector, Javi, will be shot. This snaps Audrey out of her stupor, and in a moment of tragic lucidity, she tells Laura to kill her. Walsh lets the tears flow from her face, cutting through the blood, as she makes Laura promise to watch out for her son. My chest tightened as Laura slowly raised her gun and pulled the trigger. Letterer Becca Carey punctuates the tense moment with a sickening BLAM sound effect that’s surrounded by scattered flecks of blood.
The Sinister Nature of The Thirteen
It’s chilling how casually The Thirteen’s crew cleans up afterward. We watch as they dispose of the destruction, nonchalantly piling the victims’ and killers’ bodies together. There’s a panel of someone wearing the Fox Mask Killer’s mask, trading jokes with a colleague as if they’re sitting around the water cooler. Laura doesn’t even get to meet Massachusetts. The powerful woman’s rep gives Laura her winnings before remarking that Massachusetts is simply too busy to show up.
The last page ties everything together. As Laura, Javi, and Jason drive away, we see a fly splatter on their windshield. The characters don’t even notice–it’s just a fly after all–but it’s a damning metaphor for the entire series. The thirteen obliterated a whole town, shattering numerous lives, all in pursuit of their vile game. They’ll likely have forgotten it all by morning. Just like us with the insects that die on our windshields.
The Brilliance of a Bleak Ending
It’s reasonable to be upset by the ending. The Thirteen got away with everything. Oak Valley is gone, and only Laura, Javi, and Jason made it out. They have to adopt new identities, and The Thirteen threaten them to keep quiet about what occurred. There are no moral victories here. But that’s life. The people in charge rarely get what’s coming to them. It’s a sobering reminder of our own world, and it fits the tone of this book.
Verdict: Should you buy Exquisite Corpse?
Exquisite Corpses ends with a chilling message. Tynion IV makes you feel like a fly on the windshield as The Thirteen get away with everything. At least Walsh’s feral expressions, Bellaire’s blood-soaked colors, and Carey’s violent lettering make the hopelessness look beautiful. This was only the first season of Exquisite Corpses, as Image has already confirmed a sequel is on the way. Season two has big shoes to fill.
‘Exquisite Corpses’ #13 Review: Just Another Fly on the Windshield
Exquisite Corpses ends with a chilling message. Tynion IV makes you feel like a fly on the windshield as The Thirteen get away with everything. At least Walsh’s feral expressions, Bellaire’s blood-soaked colors, and Carey’s violent lettering make the hopelessness look beautiful. This was only the first season of Exquisite Corpses, as Image has already confirmed a sequel is on the way. Season two has big shoes to fill.
