If Exquisite Corpses wasn’t ambitious enough, between its writers’ room, many well-thought-out serial killers, and a card game, the series is back with a spinoff series, Rascal Randy, on July 8th. One of the more comically weird killers in Exquisite Corpses, the character gets a full backstory and a new lease on life thanks to Tyler Boss and Dylan Burnett. It also keeps fans of the larger universe fed while we wait for the eventual season two of the series. But can it hold its own with a single killer instead of 12?
With an advance copy in hand, I can say without a doubt that fans of the main series will dig this one. It has a similar attitude and scary vibe to the main series, albeit less an action/horror and more a broody mystery. A major win for this series is with Burnett’s great art and Jordie Bellaire’s colors. The two bring a slightly cartoony, stylized look that makes our human characters realistic enough, but when scares come on page turns, the hairs on the back of your neck will certainly be raised.
Set prior to Exquisite Corpses in Aurora Springs, New York, the story focuses on teenager Lily, who is accustomed to visiting new towns with a father who works in the Navy. Unbeknownst to her, Aurora is the birthplace of Rascal Randy, a character who was once positioned to become a major animated icon, but a mix of greed and tragedy sent things in a darker direction. Given the tragedy of something passionately made falling by the wayside, it’s clear how the mascot became something far more dangerous.
Early on, Lily connects with a local boy who is bullied terribly. That leads to a major confrontation and an excellent jump scare moment by Burnett. All told, there are a couple of good scary moments, one of which is depicted in a nine-panel grid that’s both genius in its first-person perspective and in how it connects to something we’ve all done in our youth.
Satisfying in its jump scares, Boss brings together a good mesh of good guys, clearly bad guys, and some people we can’t be certain about. With Lily acting as the surrogate reader, we’re in the dark just enough with plenty of Rascal Randy lore and history to unpack while killings occur in the present.
Becca Carey’s letters are also great, with sound effects popping up clearly, and a spooky voice at one point delivered in neat, multi-layered offset lettering. The clean word balloons and tails look great alongside Burnett’s line work.
New readers who have never read the main series will have an easy time jumping in as well. There’s no Exquisite Corpses lore needed, as this is more of a self-contained mystery with horror roots. Think of it as X-Files meets Mickey Mouse. Even an opening murder scene is easy for new readers, but it has a fun nod to the main series for fans of Exquisite Corpses to jump for joy.
If there were any gripes, and they are hard to come by, it’s that Lily is such a true stand-in for the reader; she ends up feeling less interesting. There isn’t much to her by the end of the issues, save for the usual Navy bratty demeanor and quiet nature.
Exquisite Corpses: Rascal Randy #1 proves the Exquisite Corpses universe has room to grow beyond its central competition of killers. Boss shifts the focus toward mystery and atmosphere, building tension through local legends, buried history, and an increasingly unnerving mascot. Burnett’s artwork is a major highlight, delivering scares with precision while maintaining a distinctive visual style that feels both inviting and threatening. The issue also succeeds as a standalone experience, requiring little knowledge of the larger universe while rewarding longtime fans with subtle connections. By the final page, Rascal Randy establishes itself as more than a side story, offering a horror mystery that is eager to carve out its own identity.
