Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Michael Walsh
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Cover Artist: Michael Walsh
After thirteen issues of bloodshed, shocking twists, and some of the most memorable killers in comics, Exquisite Corpses reaches the end of its first season with a finale that delivers everything I wanted from it. The series has spent more than a year building toward this conclusion, and while some readers may view this issue as more of an epilogue than a true climax, I found it to be an incredibly satisfying ending. It provides a brutal final confrontation, meaningful emotional payoffs, and a haunting look at the consequences of everything that came before it. Most importantly, it remains completely committed to the themes that have made Exquisite Corpses one of the most compelling comics on shelves.
What impressed me most about this finale is that it never loses sight of what the series is actually about. Yes, the kills are spectacular. Yes, the action is intense. But beneath all of that, Exquisite Corpses has always been a story about power, class, and the way ordinary people are used and discarded by those at the top. James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh bring those ideas to the forefront here, creating an ending that feels both emotionally satisfying and deeply unsettling. By the time I reached the final page, I felt like the creative team had delivered exactly the conclusion this story deserved.
A Final Fight That Lives Up to Expectations
One criticism I’ve seen directed at this issue is that it lacks the intensity of the previous chapter. Personally, I couldn’t disagree more. While issue #12 delivered some incredible action and shocking moments, this finale works because the stakes feel more personal than ever. By this point, readers have spent over a year watching these characters survive impossible circumstances, and every decision they make carries the weight of everything they’ve endured. The final confrontation isn’t just another fight. It’s the culmination of months of suffering, sacrifice, and desperate attempts to stay alive.
The fight itself is everything I wanted from an Exquisite Corpses finale. It’s violent, emotional, and packed with tension from beginning to end. Michael Walsh does an excellent job of making every movement feel impactful, ensuring that readers can follow the action without sacrificing any of the brutality. There are moments that are genuinely shocking, but what makes the sequence so effective is the emotional context surrounding it. Neither combatant feels like a traditional hero, and neither outcome feels entirely triumphant. That ambiguity gives the fight a weight that many action-heavy comics struggle to achieve.
What stood out to me most was how exhausted everyone feels. By the end of the competition, these characters are physically and emotionally broken. The fight reflects that reality in a way that makes every blow feel meaningful. Rather than trying to outdo previous issues through spectacle alone, the finale succeeds because readers understand exactly what is at stake and how much these characters have already lost.
The Real Monsters Were Never the Killers (Though They Were Monsters Too)
One of the smartest aspects of Exquisite Corpses has always been its understanding that the killers are not the true villains. Throughout the series, the wealthy elites orchestrating the competition have remained comfortably detached from the violence they create, treating human lives as little more than pieces in a game. That idea takes center stage in this issue, and it results in some of the most effective scenes in the entire finale.
As the final conflict unfolds, readers are repeatedly reminded that the people pulling the strings remain untouched by the suffering around them. While others fight and die, the elite debate rules, outcomes, and technicalities from positions of absolute safety. These scenes highlight the central horror of the series in a way that feels particularly relevant. The competition may be ending, but the system that created it remains firmly in place.
That underlying hopelessness gives the issue much of its emotional power. Even when characters survive, there’s never a sense that they’ve truly won. The game may be over, but the people responsible for it continue to prosper. It’s a bleak message, but it’s also one that feels completely consistent with the story James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh have been telling from the beginning. The series has never offered easy answers, and this finale remains committed to that approach.
Michael Walsh’s Artwork Has Never Been Better
Exquisite Corpses has consistently been one of the best-looking comics on shelves, but I genuinely think this may be one of Michael Walsh’s strongest issues of the entire run. Every page feels carefully constructed to maximize both the emotional impact and the horror of what’s happening. Whether he’s illustrating a brutal fight sequence or a quiet moment of reflection, Walsh demonstrates a complete understanding of what each scene requires.
The final confrontation is choreographed exceptionally well. Action scenes can often become difficult to follow when artists prioritize spectacle over clarity, but that’s never a problem here. Every movement feels deliberate, and readers always understand where characters are positioned and how events are unfolding. The violence is graphic when it needs to be, but it never feels confusing or excessive.
What impressed me even more were the quieter moments scattered throughout the issue. Walsh excels at facial expressions, allowing grief, exhaustion, fear, and resignation to come through without relying heavily on dialogue. After spending thirteen issues with these characters, those emotional beats land with tremendous force. The artwork constantly reinforces the human cost of everything that has happened, making the finale feel more impactful than it otherwise would.
A Bone-Chilling Look at the Aftermath
As strong as the final fight is, the sequence that has stuck with me the most is the body-disposal montage. It’s one of the most haunting moments in the entire series, and it perfectly encapsulates what Exquisite Corpses has always been trying to say. Watching the bodies of killers and victims alike being collected and disposed of with cold efficiency is deeply unsettling. The fact that so many lives can be reduced to little more than refuse speaks volumes about the world these characters inhabit.
What makes the sequence particularly effective is how detached it feels. There is no ceremony, no respect, and no acknowledgment of the suffering that occurred. The people responsible for this nightmare simply move on to the next step in the process. Michael Walsh illustrates these scenes brilliantly, creating imagery that is simultaneously horrifying and thought-provoking. It’s the kind of sequence that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished reading.
The montage also serves as a perfect thematic conclusion to the series’ first season. Throughout Exquisite Corpses, readers have watched countless people die for the entertainment and ambitions of the powerful. Seeing their remains handled so casually reinforces just how little those lives mattered to the system that consumed them. It’s a devastating sequence, but it’s also one of the most effective pieces of storytelling in the entire run.
Final Thoughts and Rating
Exquisite Corpses #13 is everything I wanted from a finale. The action is brutal and emotionally charged, the artwork is outstanding, the themes remain as sharp as ever, and the epilogue gives the story the breathing room it needs to fully resonate. Rather than simply trying to deliver the biggest fight or the most shocking death, the issue focuses on providing meaningful closure while reinforcing the ideas that have defined the series from the beginning.
What makes this finale so successful is its confidence. Tynion and Walsh understand exactly what kind of story they're telling, and they refuse to compromise that vision in pursuit of easy crowd-pleasing moments. The result is an ending that feels thoughtful, emotionally impactful, and completely earned. Every major beat lands because the series put in the work necessary to make readers care.
By the time I finished reading, I wasn't disappointed that the series was over. Instead, I was grateful that it ended on such a strong note and excited about what comes next. That's about the highest praise I can give any finale.
Rating: 10/10
A brutal, emotional, and deeply satisfying conclusion that delivers a worthy ending to one of the year's best comics. Between its excellent action, unforgettable artwork, powerful themes, and effective epilogue, Exquisite Corpses #13 closes out Season One in spectacular fashion.