Exquisite Corpses: Fox Mask Killer #1 — Adam Gorham’s Shadowed Vision of a Hitwoman’s Exit
Che Grayson and Adam Gorham launch a stunning origin story for the most feared assassin in Exquisite Corpses. When Fox Mask Killer wants out, only one person can help—but the price might be her soul.
There is a specific kind of dread that comes with a character who is already legendary before you’ve even met them. In the Exquisite Corpses universe, the Fox Mask Killer isn’t just another name on a hit list; she is the apex predator, the one other killers fear. That reputation makes her next move all the more compelling. She doesn’t want another contract or another victory lap. She wants off the board completely.
Che Grayson, who recently brought that same razor-sharp intensity to Absolute Catwoman, turns his attention here to the woman who defined the franchise’s early terror. The setup is elegant in its simplicity: a career assassin looking for an escape hatch. But in this world, freedom is a currency that is incredibly expensive. The only person who might hold the key to her new life is a figure described as the devil herself, setting the stage for a negotiation that feels less like business and more like survival.
Visually, this debut is a masterclass in atmospheric tension. Adam Gorham, known for his work on Infernal Hulk, brings a tactile, gritty realism to the Fox Mask Killer that feels both familiar and entirely new. His line work has a weight to it, capturing the physical toll of a life spent in the shadows. Jordie Bellaire’s colors deepen that mood, using light and shadow not just to set the scene, but to reflect the psychological state of a woman trying to disappear while the world is still looking for her.
This issue works as a standalone entry point for anyone curious about the Exquisite Corpses world, while rewarding long-time fans with the tragic backstory of its most emblematic villain. It’s a character study wrapped in a thriller, proving that the most dangerous place for an assassin is often her own mind. The creative team has crafted something that feels both intimate and epic, a quiet moment before the storm.
If you’re grabbing this, keep an eye on the variant options. Gorham’s cover art is distinctive and likely to become a collector’s favorite quickly. It’s the kind of issue that benefits from having the physical artifact in hand, given the texture of the artwork. Trust me, you’ll want to see how the ink settles on the page.