Cover Reveal: Jenny Frison for Exquisite Corpses!
Plus: James’s thoughts on the importance of ordering at your LCS
Hola Lil’ Onions
For those of you keeping track, we are officially less than 13 days away from the FOC for Exquisite Corpses #1—April 21st. A date that is tattooed onto the inside of one of my eyelids. The other eyelid is tattooed with the on-sale date. I am nothing if not committed to the work.
We have a lot of great things to share this week! Let’s start off with a new pull quote.
Robert Kirkman was kind enough to read the first issue of Exquisite Corpses. He had this to say:
"Exquisite Corpses reads like the greatest Blumhouse movie never made. Allow Tynion and Walsh to invite you to a fascinating world of enthralling characters that gets you instantly hooked. You won't regret it." - Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, Invincible)
James and Michael have been on a press tour in the lead-up to Issue #1, getting a chance to talk with some of the most thoughtful interviewers in the industry. Alas, we’re still trying to get them on Hot Ones, but I believe in the power of Cat and Kat at Image Comics to make it happen! One day.
We got a Jenny Frison cover!!! LOOK AT IT! BASK IN ITS BEAUTY!
EXQUISITE CORPSES: James Tynion IV Is Bringing Blockbuster Energy To Horror Comics
In one article, FANGORIA manages to reveal our first Exquisite Stealth Variant (Cover E featuring Fox Mask Killer by Jenny Frison!) and interview James about how he and Michael went about creating the event comic of the year.
“There are killers that we thought would die off in the first few issues, but they end up lasting towards the end of the game. I fully believe that the best superhero events come from that kind of profound creative energy in the room with creators working together, and that the creative collaborative power of a bunch of really cool people making cool stuff together translates to a book that reads like an event with the scale and power of anything that the Big Two are putting out.” -James Tynion IV
This beautiful Cover E is now available for pre-order with your Local Comic Shop!
Off Panel #494: Corpse Crew with James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh
David Harper is hosting an Exquisite Corpses week over on SKTCHD! James and Michael were on Off Panel to discuss how they assembled the Corpse Crew behind Exquisite Corpses:
Writer James Tynion IV and artist Michael Walsh join the show to share the story behind their upcoming Image Comics series Exquisite Corpses. They discuss their recent travel, convention experiences, the origins of Exquisite Corpses, the book’s summits, how they shaped the book, its iterative nature, the people and killers in the story, the importance of rules, making it feel cohesive, cosplayability, making it big, navigating this moment, and more.
“That’s What Comic Book Collaboration is About”: Michael Walsh on the Art and Teamwork of Exquisite Corpses
Then, Michael and David chatted about the character designs and art behind Exquisite Corpses. They get into what goes into an iconic cover, with Michael sharing a first look at Cover A for issue #2. Here’s a bit more from David:
“But one of the biggest parts for me as a reader is Walsh. The artist slash cartoonist is one of the most thoughtful creators out there, and his gifts at atmosphere and terror in horror stories are astonishing. I believed in his ability to build a visual foundation for this 13-issue series that will resonate throughout its run, even if it especially pops in the issues he draws. And you know what? I was right. Having read the triple-sized first issue, I can say conclusively that Walsh is doing what he does best here — and then some. The pacing, the storytelling, and, perhaps especially in this case, the design he does on Exquisite Corpses is, for a lack of a better word, exquisite. And that’s true even if it’s aimed at some monstrous folks and the people caught in their way.”
The entire interview is great, getting me excited for Exquisite Corpses, even when I am actively in the back, helping to make the art sausage. That should tell you how good the conversation is!
326: that mean green bird rolling its eyes
Over on his newsletter, Kieron Gillen interviewed James about how he and Michael built Exquisite Corpses, giving fascinating insight into how the writers room worked. It’s a great interview between two of the most prolific writers in the industry, chatting about creation, legacy and audacity. There are too many good quotes, but one that stands out for me is:
“The more I look at Exquisite Corpses, the more I’m fascinated at the gleeful audaciousness of it… It’s got the level of swagger which I love to see in Indie Comics, a book which laughs at the word “indie” and decides why not just take over pop culture. I think this is going to be huge.”
It’s nice to be seen. Thanks, Kieron!
Hello Friends,
You might have noticed, but it’s getting to be that special time again. We are in the last stretch to the Final Order Cut-Off for EXQUISITE CORPSES #1. It’s a really exciting and scary moment. This is when we find out if all of the work we’ve put into exciting all of you has paid off. And if you are excited, this is your moment. Call your local comic shop, and tell them that you want EXQUISITE CORPSES added to your pull list.
Your local shop needs to know that you’re excited about this book, so they can make the tough decisions they have to make each week to ensure they have enough copies of the books you want to read in hand. Help make their job a little easier by knowing they have an eager fan, ready to pick up a copy.
Final Order Cut-Off is Monday, April 21st. The book releases on May 14th. The special polybagged edition will be in stores one week later (it takes a little extra time to get the goodies in those bags for you!). Here at Tiny Onion, we’re going to be banging the drum HARD over the next week to get people excited, and we’d love your help. If you’re psyched about what we’re building here, and how we’re building it, share that excitement!
And then we’ll see you in comic shops next month, when the game begins...
Happy Hunting,
James
Every week leading up to Exquisite Corpses #1, we will be showing you a new Exquisite Killer. This week, we would like to introduce you to The Congregation:
NEW HAMPSHIRE selects THE CONGREGATION to wield THE KNIFE.
Kill Count: 39
Height: 6' 0"
The only killer in the game to turn down a fee from his patron family, THE CONGREGATION feels that taking a life is a higher calling – a monk-like tribute to whatever dark gods whisper in his ear. And while he's almost certainly a raving lunatic (you'd have to be, to cover yourself in the sliced-off faces of your victims), THE CONGREGATION's knife has brought many offerings to his altar, and will no doubt bring many more still before his prayers are finished.
Pre-order Exquisite Corpses #1 with your local Comic Shop! Need to find yours? Find your LCS here. Don’t have a local? Pre-order it on Shop Tiny Onion!
Cover A by Michael Walsh
Price $4.99
Code: 0325IM247
Cover B by James Stokoe
Price $4.99
Code: 0325IM248
Polybagged Cover C by Michael Walsh
Price $6.99*
Code: 0325IM249
Cover E by Jenny Frison
Price $4.99
Code: 0325IM251
*Why is Cover C $6.99? You’ll find out next time! 👀
James and Michael are doing a private retailer talk next week! They’re going to let you in on some of their evil plans for the longevity of Exquisite Corpses, and will be able to answer your questions. Want to join us? Sign up for our retailer list here!
4/13 - Let This One Be a Devil #3
4/21 - Exquisite Corpses #1
5/5 - The Department Of Truth #30
5/26 - Exquisite Corpses #2
4/30 - The Department Of Truth #31
Something is Killing the Children #41
You’ll Do Bad Things #2
5/7 - Let This One Be a Devil #3
5/14 - Exquisite Corpses #1
5/28 - The Department Of Truth #30
ICYMI
Popverse subscribers get to read “Popversations: James Tynion IV peels back the layers on his creator-owned empire with Department of Truth, Something is Killing the Children, and more”
Fangoria names You’ll Do Bad Things, Exquisite Corpses, and Let This One Be A Devil in 35 New Horror Comics That Should Be On Your Radar This Year
Tyler Boss and Matt Rosenberg are on tour!
whew. What a big news week! I’ll be back soon with two more announcements, including the answer to the question ‘Why does Exquisite Corpses have a polybagged variant?’ 👀
How do you feel about candy corn?
Jazzlyn
Seattle | April 10th, 2025
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