Exquisite Corpses #2

Exquisite Corpses #2 belongs to a series of anthology comics edited by Ivan Brunetti and published by Fantagraphics Books. The series draws its title from the surrealist parlor game 'exquisite corpse,' where participants collectively contribute to a composition without seeing the entirety of the previous work. Released in the early 1990s, the project was designed to showcase the work of contemporary alternative cartoonists, emphasizing a fragmented, collaborative approach to storytelling that mirrored the underground comix ethos of the era.

The design and editorial direction were spearheaded by Brunetti, who sought to curate a cross-section of the indie comics scene by inviting various contributors to iterate on each other's themes and panels. This approach was received by critics as an experimental exercise in visual improvisation, highlighting the stylistic tension between the participating artists. While the series remains a niche artifact within the alternative publishing landscape, it is often cited as a distinct example of the era's focus on collaborative artistic autonomy.