Exquisite Corpses is my favorite new comic book title, with so many great twists, turns, and an impressive team of creators that make this a must-read series for any comic book and/or horror fan. We’ve been bringing Daily Dead readers coverage of Exquisite Corpses leading up to the series debut and we’re back with a new set of interviews that focus on the individual creators and their issues. We were thrilled to catch up with Che Grayson, who told us all about their involvement in the series, playing the trading card game, the just-released fourth issue, and more:
How did you first get involved with Exquisite Corpses? What was your initial reaction when you heard about the story and creative approach?
Che Grayson: James initially reached out to me because he knew I was into writing in the horror space. But when he pitched me Exquisite Corpses I was blown away. Some of my favorite films are The Hunger Games and Battle Royale, so to have this amazing premise with a twist on those staples with a heathy dash of Stephen King, I was instantly sold. Knowing that there was an experimental side of the project that involved multiple writers made it all the more appealing since it was such a mammoth story—having a writers room just made sense.
Can you talk about the creative summit and teaming up with others on this story? What has the experience been like working with so many creative folks on a single project? How has your experience working in film and TV translated into working in a comics writers’ room?
Che Grayson: The creative summit in Buffalo with the Tiny Onion team was one of the most reenergizing and inspiring experiences I’ve had as a writer. At the time, most of the writers on the team I hadn’t met before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the chemistry was instantaneous. Because James had sent over a bible and the first issue, there was a great foundation to start from, and over the two days working together, we just naturally played into each other’s strengths. Because of my experience in Film & TV, working with a group of writers and other creatives is something I thrive off of and Exquisite Corpses was such a fun way to see if it worked in comics too. And after a weekend working with James, Michael, Jordie, Pornsak, Tyler and the awesome Tiny Onion team, I think we proved that not only was it possible, but I got to leave with some life-long friends and a boost to my confidence.
This series is different in that it involves multiple creators taking their own turn on issues. What has that process been like collaborating with James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, and Adam Gorham on your issue?
Che Grayson: The process was really smooth in large part because the Tiny Onion editorial team is so damn good. We had this detailed story map that each writer used as a guideline for their issue. And even with communication mainly being emails and video calls, there was such a clear mandate and process in place, that I didn’t have to think about the logistics, I could just write the best issue possible. I loved seeing the pages come back from Adam. He has such a cinematic style, and it really came alive once Becca and Jordie got to bring their artistry to the page as well.
While there are dozens of characters in this world, each issue has primarily focused on a handful of characters. Can you talk about your approach to your part of the story and what interested you in the killers (especially Lady Carolina, Fox Mask Killer, and Recluse) in your issue?
Che Grayson: My family is from North and South Carolina, so I was hoping I’d get the chance to write Lady Carolina. I love her—she’s messy and funny and ruthless and a lot of fun to write. I love characters like her who are so fearless that you can really push them into some unfamiliar territory on the page. It was obvious early on in the creative summit that Lady Carolina and Fox Mask Killer had an interesting history that could be mined throughout the issues. I was just lucky enough to be the one who got to really dig deeper with them. Fox Mask Killer has this great duality about her where she’s fierce but also strangely sympathetic, which is important since most of the killers in the crop are raving mad. Recluse was also a killer that we finally get to see come out of the shadows and I think readers are going to be really happy with the surprises we have planned for her.
When you were working on the series with the Corpse Crew, did you have a particular favorite killer that you hoped would make it to the end?
Che Grayson: The first time I saw Slater, I instantly gravitated toward him. His design—he’s just so cool looking! But I have a sweet spot for Rascal Randy.
Has your experience writing other horror stories, like Dark Spaces: Good Deeds, affected your experience writing for Exquisite Corpses?
Che Grayson: I think one thing that James stressed when we were breaking the story in Buffalo is character first and making sure that while the set pieces are riveting, and the themes are timely, that at the end of the day the reader has to actually care what happens to these characters in order for the story to work. That’s a general rule for me as well when I write my own horror. With Good Deeds, I let the horror come from the characters, not the other way around. I think that’s some of the best kind of horror.
An Exquisite Corpses trading card game is on the way. Have you had a chance to playtest an early version of it yet? If so, what was that experience like?
Che Grayson: Yes. Playing the trading card game was the first thing we did at the creative summit, and it was the perfect ice breaker. It was still in beta at the time, but as a fan of tabletop games, I was so impressed. It’s fun with a large group or a small one. And what makes this game special is that when you choose a killer, there’s a role-playing aspect that goes into it which I love. You kind of take on the reputation of the killer and have to contend with that in each round. It’s great!
Aside from Exquisite Corpses, what projects do you have coming up that you can share with our readers?
Che Grayson: Other than Good Deeds being out in trade, I have some VERY exciting projects that I’ll finally be able to share at NYCC. Stay tuned!
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Exquisite Corpses #4 is now available at your local comic book shop and you can learn more at: https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/exquisite-corpses-4
For the latest on Exquisite Corpses and all things Tiny Onion, visit: https://shoptinyonion.com/
Exquisite Corpses #4: “Audrey is desperate to make it home to take her son trick-or-treating, but she’ll be lucky to make it out alive when Big Bruce’s car lot becomes the battleground for a long-simmering grudge match. The game gets brutally personal as breakout talent CHE GRAYSON (Dark Spaces: Good Deeds) and fan-favorite artist ADAM GORHAM (Hellhunters) join JAMES TYNION IV and MICHAEL WALSH for the next chapter of the horror event of the year!”
Cover A by Michael Walsh
Cover B by Adam Gorham
Cover C by Michael Walsh
Cover D by Puppeteer Lee
Cover E by Dylan Burnett
Cover F by Wes Craig
