It may be highly stylized and brutally violent, but Exquisite Corpses’ real strength lies in its social commentary. Writers Pornsak Pichetshote and James Tynion IV are settling into a perfect balance of action and depth that we rarely see in comics these days. Issue eight is another strong chapter that turns its attention to the power structures of our modern world.
Chaos reigns in Oak Valley as characters scramble for survival. The thirteen rage over their cut feed, squabbling amongst themselves and threatening the Gamemaster. Audrey continues searching for her son in the wake of Pretty Boy’s rampage, as Laura comes face-to-face with the Lone Gunman. Xavi fights through a cornfield fire trying to find his boyfriend, while Mike does his best to hold everyone together. Juggling this many plot threads causes some minor problems with pacing, but the quality of storytelling is so high that it makes up for it.
The 13 vs. The Working Class: Examining Power Dynamics
This issue continues to examine power dynamics between the elite and working class by portraying it in visual terms. The thirteen are cold and unfeeling, desperate to enjoy the chaos they sow despite its impact on innocent lives. Their competition is one of the many minor games they play, allowing them to indulge their worst impulses because they’ve already won the game of life. Their wealth and institutions protect their power, while the people of Oak Valley are just pawns on their chessboard. However, Pichetshote and Tynion make sure to show the other side of the coin. There’s power in community, and we see the townspeople come together on more than one occasion. The way Mike selflessly charges into a raging fire to help Xavi reminds us of the power we have as long as we stick together and stand up for ourselves.
Laura’s Defiance: A Standout Character Arc
Laura earns some impressive character moments here. Her defiance of the thirteen and the story of her widowed father superbly enriches her character arc. When she refuses to claim the Lone Gunman’s mask, she’s showing that she’s not operating on anybody’s terms but her own. It’s a triumphant scene as she clicks a magazine into her gun, joining the game in a way neither the thirteen nor the reader could have expected. The hunters may have just become the hunted.
This book oozes with style thanks to the artwork by Adam Gorham and Michael Walsh. Each character has their own distinct flair, and the backgrounds form a potent setting for their actions. The facial expressions burst through every panel. Every emotion is clear as panicked-stricken eyes and screaming mouths mingle alongside menacing sneers and furrowed brows. The sequence where Pretty Boy slaughters a group of party-goers is an outstanding visual that showcases the viciousness of our killer and the fear in his victims. The eye rip on page nine is especially brutal; Gorham and Walsh spare nothing as they render the violent moment in extreme detail.
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Visceral Visuals: The Art of Gorham, Walsh, and Bellaire
Jordie Bellaire is doing some of the best color work in the industry. It feels like a scene change in a movie each time the character’s perspective shifts. The wild oranges of the flaming cornfield complement the dystopian red of the thirteen’s viewing room, while the graveyard confrontation between Laura and the Lone Gunman is appropriately shaded with creepy blues and greys. Becca Carey remains a strength on letters, utilizing dynamic font size based on the character and what they’re doing. It greatly enhances the scenes between Laura and the dying Lone Gunman, the former’s dialogue full of exclamations and bolded words, while the latter’s speech bubbles are smaller and wobbly.
Final Verdict: Is Exquisite Corpses Essential Reading?
Exquisite Corpses #8 is a fantastic entry in one of comics’ best ongoing series. The way Pichetshote and Tynion weave social commentary into visceral action elevates it beyond typical thrillers. Laura’s defiant choice and the townspeople’s solidarity prove that even at the mercy of elite manipulation, community power can fight back. Pacing issues and missing characters remain minor frustrations, but the thematic depth and visual spectacle continue to make Exquisite Corpses essential reading.
‘Exquisite Corpses’ #8 Delivers Guns, Guts & Shadowy Organizations
Exquisite Corpses #8 is a fantastic entry in one of comics’ best ongoing series. The way Pichetshote and Tynion weave social commentary into visceral action elevates it beyond typical thrillers. Laura’s defiant choice and the townspeople’s solidarity prove that even at the mercy of elite manipulation, community power can fight back.
