Horvath’s variant cover, featuring killer Rascal Randy gone wild at a birthday party, will hit shelves in October, just ahead of Halloween
Tiny Onion is celebrating the release of the upcoming Exquisite Corpses #6 by unwrapping the stealth Cover D by lauded horror creator Patrick Horvath (Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees), featuring bunny mascot killer Rascal Randy sitting upon a throne of bodies at a birthday party. As first unveiled by Popverse, the brand new artwork will grace the October issue from the critically acclaimed, bestselling horror series published by Image Comics, which is hitting shelves just in time for Halloween. Exquisite Corpses masterminds, writer James Tynion IV and artist Michael Walsh, will be joined by contributing Corpse Crew creators Tyler Boss (You’ll Do Bad Things) and Gavin Fullerton (The Closet) on writing and art duties, respectively.
Horvath is known for writing and illustrating the hit horror series Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, a Lynchian Calico Critters-type of story about cuddly animals and the secret serial killers living amongst them. Using his knowledge of killer animals, celebrated cartoonist Horvath has illustrated unhinged bunny mascot killer Rascal Randy, who is one of twelve assassins who fight to the death in the first season of comic book series Exquisite Corpses.
“The Corpse Crew has set-up such a rich cast of characters, and as I was brainstorming cover ideas, it immediately got me thinking about what Randy’s past exploits might have been,” said Horvath. “’Birthday party massacre’ popped into my mind for some reason. It seemed like such a sinister twist on something so wholesome, and it seemed to fit him perfectly. I was thrilled that they loved the idea as well! It’s a major treat to participate with this cool series in a small way.”
In Exquisite Corpses, every five years on Halloween, the wealthiest families in America play a game. 12 of the deadliest people in the world are dropped into a small town with just one goal: last killer standing wins. For the citizens of Oak Valley, Maine—this year’s unlucky arena—the goal is much simpler. They must survive the night.
In Exquisite Corpses #6, “Trick or Treat” has never had deadlier stakes as civilians Craig and Jason unknowingly go door to door with this year’s youngest killer. And a high score for G4m3r_K1d means a very bad night for everyone else. This will be Exquisite Corpses’ most gut-wrenching chapter yet!
Exquisite Corpses came together in a writers’ room led by Tynion and Walsh and made up of Corpse Crew comics superstars. Each issue of the series builds upon the last in a true ‘exquisite corpse’ game style, with a passing of the storytelling baton from creator-to-creator in a collaborative and competitive fashion. Exquisite Corpses begins with a 13-issue story arc, but its world will expand with additional stories.
There is also a companion trading card game and fans can collect killer cards early with ones exclusively found in polybagged Cover C variants of each issue. Fans eager to play the game early can collect all 13 polybagged issues to make a complete card deck set. Some readers may be lucky enough to pull a rare foil variant of the killer cards, found in the polybagged Cover C editions.
Image Comics and Tiny Onion just announced that issues #2 and #3 of Exquisite Corpses sold out completely at the distributor level. Image Comics has fast-tracked reprints of these issues in order to keep up with demand. The Exquisite Corpses #2 third printing, Exquisite Corpses #3 second printing, and a new issue #3 polybagged variant, with a killer card, will be available in comic book shops on October 1, in time for spooky season.
On September 17, the first printing of Exquisite Corpses Vol.1 (Lunar Code 0725IM452; ISBN 9781534331044) will hit shelves, collecting the first three issues. The volume introduces readers to the killers and stage of this season’s game, along with the civilians caught in the crossfire and the state representatives pulling the strings. The volume features contributions by notable Corpse Crew collaborators such as artist Marianna Ignazzi (Catwoman), writer Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian) and artist Valentine De Landro (Bitch Planet). Series colorist Jordie Bellaire, who won the Eisner Award for Best Colorist this year, and star letterer Becca Carey continue to stun with eye-popping visuals and effects.
Exquisite Corpses #4 (co-written by Che Grayson and co-illustrated by Adam Gorham) is available now at comic book shops, with Exquisite Corpses #5 (co-written by Jordie Bellaire and co-illustrated by Claire Roe) hitting shelves on September 17.
Exquisite Corpses #6 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, October 22 (with a Final Order Cutoff of September 29):
- Cover A Michael Walsh – Lunar Code 0825IM0341
- Cover B Gavin Fullerton – Lunar Code 0825IM0342
- Cover C by Michael Walsh (polybagged with a Killer card) – Lunar Code 0825IM0343
- Cover D Stealth variant by Patrick Horvath – Lunar Code 0825IM0344
- Cover E 1:25 copy incentive by Tyler Boss – Lunar Code 0825IM0345
- Cover F 1:50 copy incentive by David Lopez – Lunar Code 0825IM0346
Exquisite Corpses is also available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.
Select praise for Exquisite Corpses:
“Every now and then there’s a piece of horror fiction that feels so real, so prescient, so about-to-oh-my-fucking-god-happen-in-real-life, that you hope the creators are completely full of shit. I have read Exquisite Corpses. I hope James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh are completely full of shit.”—Patton Oswalt (Minor Threats)
“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)
“Exquisite Corpses has everything you could possibly want from a horror series and THEN some. Twelve of the most twisted serial killers battling it out in a series made by comics’ most exciting creators? This book is easily the horror event of the year. My favorite read of 2025!”—Scott Snyder (Absolute Batman, Wytches)
“Exquisite Corpses has already set the stage for a thrilling battle for survival with any number of motivations at play.”—ComicBook (5/5 stars)
“The first issue of Exquisite Corpses may be the single best series start I’ve read in 2025 so far…It’s because Tynion is at the top of his form and the other creators on this book elevate the quality of his work as only those enjoying a project can. Creatively, I’m amazed by how well crafted this is.”—Comics Beat
“I am chomping at the bit to see where this goes. This is an instant pull list addition. I WANT MORE. James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey have made a remarkable horror comic, and it is big and expansive. Its accessibility is truly a master class in how to pull together a large cast into a single work without losing intrigue.”—Monkeys Fighting Robots
“I didn’t just walk away wanting the next issue to come out; I wanted spin-offs and tie-ins. Heck, I wanted to buy all the beautiful variant covers…Exquisite Corpses is such a blast-the-doors-off-the-hinges experience, I cannot wait to see what the rest of the season has in store.”—Gatecrashers
“A gripping horror event filled with high-stakes action and social satire…It promises a blood-soaked spectacle that’s as ruthless as it is riveting”—AIPT
“Exquisite Corpses #1 sets up what promises to be mayhem of the most unhinged order, and offers up a compelling premise that pays homage to its inspirations while carving out a unique space for itself that is devilishly fun to read.”—Macabre Daily