Exquisite Corpses #9

by James Tynion IV, Tyler Boss, Valentine De Landro (Artist)

The Groundskeeper’s job is to keep order in the playing field. Killers must be kept in bounds, and civilians under control. But the survivors of Oak Valley have no intention of making the Groundkeeper’s job easy… TYLER BOSS (YOU’LL DO BAD THINGS) and VALENTINE DE LANDRO (BITCH PLANET) rejoin JAMES TYNION IV (THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH, W0RLDTR33) and MICHAEL WALSH (THE SILVER COIN) as the game starts to break all of its own rules!

Genres: Horror, Comics

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2026

About the author

Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.

Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.

Reviews

[Machiavelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite Corpses #9 is the issue where the series really locks in. The chaos feels fully controlled here—unsettling, darkly funny, and sharply paced—without tipping into indulgence. The art does real storytelling work, amplifying the tension and momentum rather than just the shock.

What stood out most is the clarity: motivations sharpen, consequences matter, and the grotesque energy finally clicks into something purposeful. It’s confident, nasty in the best way, and a blast to read.

Easily my favorite issue of the run so far. Love me some Rascal Randy!

[Colin Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

De Landro and Bellaire created a horror movie vibe in comic form - no easy feat. They nail the effect of a killer showing up out of nowhere with Randy’s pursuit of Xavi. The page of their fight in the pool is…exquisite.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so invested!!

[Cybernex007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

OHOHO, that’s what I’m talking about! I love a good bending of the rules and that was such a fantastic issue! We of course start this issue getting reacquainted in the high rollers room. At the moment pretty boy, fox mask killer, recluse, and rascal randy are the only competitors left in the game while South Carolina’s is still alive but weaponless. Everyone is putting their bets behind New York and the Fox mask killer, even Georgia who still has pretty boy is looking to make some side bets as they believe he will take control. But there are others deals in motion that are way more important, as South Carolina is currently going to Massachusetts for help. They both know she has a direct line to all to her sister and wants to know if there is some way for her to win. According to Mass the rules are the rules…and that’s exactly the key to winning all of this.

As we jump back into the field we set our sights on Massachusetts killer, dead, as pretty boy walks up and takes his gold mask to cover his own half burned face. That is quite a fitting use for that. Elsewhere some of the cleanup crews are going around and spreading gasoline to burn down buildings with mass casualties. But in one BBQ joint none other than Laura is hiding behind the counter with Massachusetts’ desert eagle, holding her breath and hoping that they don’t notice her. All the while Mike from the gas station is leading Xavi and Jason inside the school to find the radio equipment. Sometimes it pays off to question the current systems of society and Mike knows all about using the radio equipment to reach out to anyone within a 100 miles to try and find help. Xavi ran off to get some pepper spray from his locker just so they can have some kind of weapon, but as he gets there he finds some pictures of Craig, and I can’t help but breakdown with Xavi as he fall to the floor in tears thinking of his boyfriend. Craig died a hero and he shall be remembered as one. As Mike is getting the radio equipment together and going through the history of using them as a communication method for real people when the government refuses to help, he suddenly reaches out…and gets someone responding to him! It’s none other than Sheriff Hill…oh no. Unbeknownst to Mike he isn’t talking to the Sheriff, but members of the cleanup crew in the BBQ joint with Laura who have their own radios and thought they destroyed all the radios. I have to admit they didn’t really have to try very hard at all to get Mike to tell them where he is located, he was just so filled with hope that he could get out of here alive. Only once Laura moved to an optimal position and put a bullet in one of the guys legs did Mike start to question where exactly the sheriff has been this entire time. As one guy went down bleeding to death, Laura held the gun to the other guy. But they weren’t the only ones listening in and people are already going to be converging. But the. He said something to really set Laura off. $1200. That’s the amount per life they paid the sheriff to sell out the entire town…she dropped the second guy with a bullet for that knowledge and then got on the radio to talk to Mike, explain to him how badly he just messed up, and instruct him to get a ride and get to the town square so they can meet up and get out together. All the while the groundskeeper is listening in on their entire conversation, and I can’t help but think he may not rat them out.

But things are about to go from bad to hell for Xavi as he finally ramped himself back up in the hallway and pulled himself together…only for a giant dirty guy in a rabbit outfit to walk up to him. OMG RASCAL RANDY REALLY JUST APPEARED!! As he began to choke Xavi out and lift him up, I’m not exactly sure what Xavi pulled from his picked but it was sharp enough to stab Randy and drop him long enough for Xavi to run. Unfortunately Xavi ran into the pool area where he was quickly tackled into the water. I’m not exactly sure what those floating lines are called that separate swimmers lanes, but with Xavi’s quick thinking he was able to get Randy fully wrapped up with them to keep him trapped at the bottom of the pool…which is a hilarious sight when he is in a giant rabbit outfit. But we have seen Randy master the water before and as Xavi ran down the hall…Randy was there waiting for him. Xavi pivoted and ran for the roof where he noticed the running school bus ready to go below. Xavi pulled together all the courage he could and then jumped from the roof onto the roof of the bus and got inside via the overhead fire escape!! HELL YEAH!!

As the issue comes to an end we check in on another killer as Audrey accidentally walks right into one of Recluse’s traps. Maybe they will be nice? But the true ending leaves me quite stunned as Massachusetts lays out a plan for South Carolina to win. Mass points out that every family is dealt a card with a weapon they must wield to win, the final killer standing with the final weapon wins the game. The killers are traditionally chosen in advance, but that’s NOT part of the rules. South Carolina’s family can’t win the game, but her sister doesn’t have to win for her family. She can obtain the gun from Massachusetts’ killer and then Mass can declare at any point that is their killer and she can still win the game. Which means they have to get the gun from Laura. What a crazy gambit! I really hope they can get it without getting Laura killed, or imagine how wild it would be if Laura ends up named as Massachusetts’ killer?! I love this series!!

[Neil Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2026 I'm trying to read more comics on the week of release to see if they are more enjoyable in this format than as trade collections at a later date. How accessible are comics to new/lapsed readers?

This was very much a test of accessibility as 9 issues into a 12 issue season 1 is stacking things against the book. That said, I didn't feel too lost, reading this issue. The characters are all distinct in terms of visuals and speech/behaviour and the overall plot looks a bit like "battle royale/squid game" but with serial killers as "champions" and a bit more emphasis on rich elite using it as entertainment. As such it was easy to jump into and I found the pacing fun. I won't be reading the next issue but I will collect the trades for the first season when available.

Overall 4/5
Writing 4/5
Art 4/5

Will I read the next issue? No but I will read the trade collection.

Did I need to read previous issues/series? No, as long as you have a passing familiarity of the "battle royale/squid game" format .

Will I read earlier issues? Yes via trade sales.

Overall 4/5
Writing 4/5
Art 4/5
Will I read the next issue? Yes

Did I need to read previous issues/series? No, but as the last part of a storyline I'm sure my enjoyment would have been enhanced.

Will I read earlier issues? Probably via trade sales.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't beat the dark action and game playing that overpowers a town while the games are being played on their turf and lives are being lost. The Groundskeeper's job is to keep it all in check, but what happens when something happens to the groundskeeper.

Rules are broken, lines are crossed, plenty of bloodshed and treachery. Absolutely one hundred percent locked into this comic series.

[josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Stephen Tizzard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good really plot foreshadowing in this issue. Not a whole lot of action like other issues, but still loving this series. Looking forward to the February release.

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much happened other than the big reveal that a killer doesn’t have to win for the team that picked them, they win for the team whose weapon they have.