In this review of the Exquisite Corpses Ashcan Edition, we get a sneek peek into the new universe of James Tynion IV bringing some great horror stories from his imprint, Tiny Onion.
Exquisite Corpses Ashcan Edition
Writer: James Tynion IV
Art: Michael Walsh
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Pages: 32 pages
Release Date: April 9, 2025
This review contains spoilers
In the Exquisite Corpses Ashcan Edition, we get a great introduction to the idea behind the series with insights of what to expect from this newly devised universe from Tynion. Having recently cemented himself amongst the Horror Genre with the likes of Something is Killing the Children and House of Slaughter, we know we are in for some great story telling and character building as the series and Universe progress and expand.
Although Exquisite Corpses Ashcan Edition only provides 9 real pages of comic art and story from Exquisite Corpses, I feel it sets up the first issue Brilliantly. We’re provided with the first location of this Arc which is Oak Valley, a Small American Town full of Halloween Tradition. First couple of Characters we’re introduced to is that of a Gas Station Clerk and the Town’s Sheriff.
The Gas Station Clerk seems to have a bit of a ‘wokeness’ to him, interested in Conspiracy Theories etc, which he’s discussing with the town Sheriff who seems a bit more on the tentative side when it comes to believing everything he’s coming out with. After hearing the Clerk’s piece, the Sheriff asks the clerk to pass a letter on to someone named Laura, I’m sure this will lead to a better explanation in issues to come and will probably play a pivotal role at some point.
We now get to the interesting part in the somewhat limited story for this ashcan issue. The sheriff has met up with someone who has been able to provide him with a new identity and set him up for life with a handsome sum of money in which he’ll never have to worry about anything financial again. It was at this point I was very drawn in to the story with many, many questions running through my head.
Why is the Sheriff being almost pushed out of town? Who is this guy who has provided this all for him? I was definitely made to flip the pages to get the bigger picture as to what was going on. Once the Sheriff had departed to start his new life, the mysterious guy who had gave him all this looks on until he’s far from view.
The Mysterious guy puts out a phone call to who I can only presume are his bosses by the way in which the next unknown character at this point is dressed, full suit and in what seems to be a control/viewing room. Next thing we know, Phonelines are being tampered with and drones are being released into the sky above this quiet American Town. What could be happening?
Exquisite Corpses Ashcan Edition ends with the boss announcing that players are soon to be arriving at the location. By this point, I was hooked, I wanted issue #1 right there and then. So many questions, but not in a negative way. What is actually going on here? Why this town? Who are the players? And what are they playing?
Tynion addresses a couple of these questions in the form of a text page, basically outlining the premise for the series in that there are 13 Wealthy families that have effectively controlled the goings on of the American people for the last 250 years. They basically play a deadly game, the winner of which, whoever they were representing then get to take control for 5 years, similar to that of a Presidency/Government.
Having this text page outline where this series is going was great. Simply for the reason that when I first heard of this title being released that it would be similar to that of the movie The Purge, and after reading this I see some slight similarities but glad to see that the idea itself hasn’t been taken straight from that movie.
Once we come to the end of that text page, we then get 12 pages of Character profiles for each ‘Player’ of the game, denouncing their strengths and what their weapon of choice is. Then after that a lovely double page piece set out like that of a Tournament, where the winner of a round goes through to play the winner of the last round.
Final Thoughts
Exquisite Corpses Ashcan Edition is a great way in which to set up this newly derived universe from the wonderful mind of James Tynion IV, the art from Michael Walsh, although only 9 real pages of art, was fantastic and fit well with the horror style, with lots of different uses of perspectives and close ups, it felt almost as if I was skimming over the storyboard for a new Movie, which was complimented wonderfully by the colours of Jordie Bellaire.
Although I would of loved some more pages of comic story and art, I do think Tynion has made the best choice in keeping things under wraps in preparation for the release of the first issue in May. Cannot wait to pick it up. I urge all of you horror fans to give this ashcan a go and to pick up the first issue when released in May!
