Get ready to face your fears all over again – the Smile curse is back, and this time it’s haunting the pages of a comic book! But here’s where it gets chilling: Smile: For the Camera isn’t just another adaptation; it’s a time-traveling horror tale that drags us back to 2005, long before the events of the film. If you thought the Smile Entity was terrifying on screen, wait until you see what it does in the cutthroat world of high fashion. And this is the part most people miss—this isn’t just a rehash of the movie; it’s a bold, psychological dive into paranoia, fame, and the dark side of beauty. Controversial take alert: Could this comic series actually outshine the film by exploring themes the movie barely scratched the surface of? Let’s dive in.
Last year, horror fans got a treat when IDW Publishing, the powerhouse behind comic adaptations of iconic franchises like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, and Godzilla, announced their new imprint, IDW Dark. This line promised to deliver spine-tingling horror stories, both original and tied to Paramount Pictures’ chilling properties. Think A Quiet Place, Event Horizon, The Twilight Zone, and Sleepy Hollow—all reimagined for the comic book medium. IDW Dark kicked things off with Event Horizon: Dark Descent, a prequel to the 1997 sci-fi horror film, and now they’re doubling down with Smile: For the Camera, set to hit shelves in February. But what makes this series stand out? It’s not just the nostalgia of the early 2000s setting; it’s the way it blends supernatural terror with the high-stakes drama of the modeling industry.
Written by acclaimed horror scribe Hannah Rose May (Rogues’ Gallery, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn) and illustrated by rising star Miriana Puglia (Red Sonja, Gargoyles), Smile: For the Camera follows a group of international models as they kick off Fashion Month in New York. These women are at the top of their game, but their smiles hide a growing dread. As the Smile Entity begins to stalk them, paranoia takes hold, and the line between reality and nightmare blurs. May describes the experience as “disgustingly good,” and Puglia’s vibrant, almost seductive art style, paired with Dearbhla Kelly’s haunting colors, creates a visual experience that’s as alluring as it is unsettling.
In a statement, May shared her excitement: “As a huge fan of Smile, I’m honored to expand Parker Finn’s terrifying universe into comics. Our series throws it back to the early 2000s and drops the Entity into the ruthless world of modeling. It’s a nightmare in a whole new medium, and I can’t wait for fans to experience it.” Puglia added, “Hannah’s ability to capture the hectic, high-pressure world of fashion is incredible. The tension and fear of turning the page? That’s what makes this project so much fun.”
Smile: For the Camera isn’t just a comic—it’s a commentary on the pressures of perfection, the cost of fame, and the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of glamour. Bold question: Is this the most thought-provoking horror comic of the year? Or is it just another cash grab riding on the success of the film? Let’s spark some debate in the comments.
If you’re a fan of Smile or just love seeing movie franchises expand into new mediums, this series is a must-read. IDW Dark is setting the stage for a new era of horror comics, and Smile: For the Camera is just the beginning. Will you be picking it up? Let us know below—and while you’re at it, tell us: What other horror properties would you love to see get the comic book treatment? The floor is open!
