Exquisite Corpses #9 juggles three main threads, each one more devastating than the last. We see scheming amongst the thirteen, emotional breakdowns, and psychotic killers turned loose. Tyler Boss and James Tynion IV are sharpening their axes with four issues left, and the stakes have never been higher.
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The Politics of Death: Inside the War Room of The Thirteen
The book kicks off in the war room of the thirteen. There’s only four killers left, so the delegates are falling in line behind frontrunner New York. The way they coldly talk about how they should all benefit from this game makes your flesh creep and proves how detached they are. They’ve been watching the systematic destruction of an entire town, and it still boils down to how they can continue to thrive. Jordie Bellaire does an excellent job with the colors in this setting, bathing everyone in an artificial red that makes the participants seem more demonic than human.
A New Threat Emerges: Massachusetts and the Rules Loophole
The most interesting development happens between the representatives from South Carolina and Massachusetts. They’ve stumbled upon a loophole in the rules that could change everything. Massachusetts is fascinating, with Boss and Tynion dropping subtle hints that she’s playing a longer game, and this might be the opportunity she needs to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Despite her age, artists Valentine de Landro and Michael Walsh portray her as menacing. Thick lines etch wrinkles into her face, casting ominous shadows across her expression, while her lips form a twisted grin. She’s not even one of the killers, yet she may be the most terrifying character in the entire book.
Emotional Stakes: Xavi’s Heartbreaking Stand at the High School
Survivors Xavi, Mike, and Jason have made it to the high school, making a beeline for the radio. They scramble to get a message to the outside world, while Xavi goes to retrieve pepper spray from his locker. What follows is a heartbreaking scene on page seven. Xavi breaks down crying when he finds a picture of himself and his recently murdered boyfriend. De Landro and Walsh let these panels breathe, slowly showing the young man’s stoic face transform into an anguished howl. These quiet, human moments hit every time and show the trauma of the thirteen’s violent machinations.
Slasher Horror Perfection: Rascal Randy vs. Xavi
The book shifts into full-on slasher territory when Rascal Randy shows up. He’s cloaked in a mascot costume of a rabbit, looking like a cross between a twisted Chuck E. Cheese and Michael Myers, and stalks Xavi through the school halls. Boss and Tynion IV keep the pace at lightning speed, making each consecutive page more claustrophobic as Xavi struggles to escape. Letterer Becca Carey uses sound effects to enhance Randy’s scare factor. Every step he takes is complemented by a methodical SQUEAK, letting you hear his approach before you see him. He’s been one of the standout killers so far, and his appearance here is a high point.
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Final Verdict: A Strong Chapter with Minor Pacing Issues
This book continues to suffer from one major issue. Besides Rascal Randy, the other killers are barely afforded a page each, while the Fox Mask Killer doesn’t even make an appearance. There’s only four of them remaining, and I want to see more as we near the finale. Otherwise, the eventual winner’s moment of triumph risks feeling unearned.
Exquisite Corpses #9 excels in its human moments. My chest swelled when I read Xavi’s breakdown and Massachusetts’ twisted scheming, while Rascal Randy’s hunt is horror movie perfection. Boss and Tynion need to give the other killers this same attention, but this book still hits hard. It remains an essential addition to any pull list.
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‘Exquisite Corpses’ #9 | Tynion and Boss Sharpen Their Axes
Exquisite Corpses #9 excels in its human moments. My chest swelled when I read Xavi’s breakdown and Massachusetts’ twisted scheming, while Rascal Randy’s hunt is horror movie perfection. Boss and Tynion need to give the other killers this same attention, but this book still hits hard. It remains an essential addition to any pull list.
