“Corpse Talk” joins the YouTube Originals animated line-up this month

By John Freeman on May 4, 2022

Corpse Talk, the “show that brings the dead famous to life” is a highly amusing and clever comic style history book by Adam and Lisa Murphy that introduces the reader to historical figures in a fresh and funny way… And it’s heading to YouTube Originals as an animated series.

First featuring in The Phoenix, then republished as a series of hugely popular books, the animated series produced by Tiger Aspect, announced last year as part of a $100 million slate of new shows, will launch as part of the YouTube Originals line-up on Friday 13th May 2022, with two episodes premiering that day, then new episodes on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Acting as the interviewer, artist and writer Adam, voiced by Joe Sugg in the new series, digs up the bodies of famous people from the past, and interviews them in a talk show style. He asks both about what they are famous for and also how they died. The comic features Adam interviewing the dead, as well as snippets from when they were alive, showcasing the moments that they are known for.

The diverse lineup of guests on the animated, 13-episode first series include Dr. James Barry, Amelia Earhart, Ching Shih, Cleopatra, Frida Kahlo and more.

The collection Dead Good Storytellers, published by David Fickling Books, was recently longlisted for the Information Book Award.

Readers will never think of the likes of Jane Austen, Genghis Khan, or Mozart quite the same again, so let’s hope that translates just as well to the screen!

• YouTube Originals

• Adam and Lisa Murphy are online at www.adammurphy.com Instagram | Tumblr | Twitter (Adam) | Twitter (Lisa)

• Buy Corpse Talk books from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

• Subscribe to The Phoenix

• The authors of Corpse Talk on how to make a really successful comic

Adam and Lisa Murphy share all of their creative top tips – for both adults and children alike!

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.