The number of killers on our Exquisite Corpses bracket is down to five as we near the conclusion of one crazy night in determining who runs America. Issue #9 is all about close calls with death, while the melodrama of the super rich kicks into a new gear. It’s a tense issue that pretty much confirms most of the killers who lie low are in it to win it.
Exquisite Corpses #9 opens in the red-lit room as the super-rich prepare for the final few deaths. Series co-creator Michael Walsh draws these clean-cut folks in a way that reminds us they’re scum and evil at heart. Similar to past chapters, this opening scene reminds us where we’re at with the killers and continues the long game of manipulation and backstabbing to see who will lead America.
From there, the issue gives us a taste of who is still alive and what they’re up to next, but the main focus is on the bunny-suit-wearing Rascal Randy and EMT Laurie’s quick thinking. Laurie has become more of a main character over time, and now, with the knowledge of what is going on, she’s making moves to keep herself and any other civilians alive. She seems to be blossoming into the story’s lone hero.
One of our last killers.
Credit: Image
While Laurie is off sharing info, Rascal Randy goes in for a civilian kill. He’s largely been on the outskirts of the story, so it’s nice to see them go in for a kill. Valentine De Landro draws a solid attack and escape sequence, all in a high school. There’s a tricky fight underwater in a pool that’s effective and tense. Randy has mostly been seen in shadow in ominous ways, and the last we see of them is similar, though his inability to kill in this issue does make you question if they’re a heavy hitter.
After nine issues of Exquisite Corpses, it’s becoming clear this will be an all-timer read when collected. The single issue read does tire you out after so many issues, however. It’s not that each chapter isn’t filled with exciting twists and turns, but with the many subplots, killers, and ongoing drama, it’s hard to remember names and experiences. Most issues give you one lengthier sequence with a couple of check-ins, but at the end of the day, the story feels slow without reading one issue after another.
Exquisite Corpses #9 is a pressure-cooker issue, defined by near-death encounters and mounting dread as the endgame comes into focus. Laurie’s rise as the story’s moral center adds welcome clarity amid the chaos, while Rascal Randy’s spotlight moment heightens tension, even as it raises questions about his lethality. Read on its own, the issue can feel heavy with moving parts, but taken as part of the larger whole, it’s increasingly clear this series is destined to shine brightest when consumed in one relentless, brutal binge.
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