Review - Smile: For The Camera #2
From IDW Dark
From IDW Publishing’s horror imprint, IDW Dark, is Smile #2.
The runway calls... but so does something darker.
After the shocking tragedy that rocked SurFace Agency, Freja and her fellow models are whisked off to London Fashion Week, where the pressure to perform is as deadly as the secrets they’re keeping. As Freja’s nightmares begin bleeding into reality, Ivy lands her first big shoot with notorious photographer Perry Rickens—and discovers why his sets are feared as much as they’re coveted.
Under the blinding lights of fame, every smile hides something monstrous.
The horror behind the glamour deepens in Smile: For the Camera #2 in this terrifying new chapter by Hannah Rose May (Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Rogues’ Gallery) as the Entity continues its gory crusade.
Author: Hannah Rose May
Artists: Skylar Patridge, and Miriana Puglia
This second issue builds really effectively on the unsettling foundation laid in the first, leaning even further into both sides of its identity—the supernatural horror of the Smile entity and the very real, often disturbing pressures of the fashion industry. What stands out most is how naturally those two elements begin to blur together, making it harder to tell where one ends and the other begins.
Following the death in the previous issue, there’s a strong sense that things are escalating rather than resetting. The horror doesn’t pause—it spreads. Freja’s experience is at the centre of this, and the way her nightmare begins to bleed into her waking life is handled particularly well. There’s a creeping ambiguity throughout her scenes, where you’re never entirely sure if what she’s seeing is psychological, supernatural, or some combination of both. The recurring image of the smiles appearing all around her is especially effective—it turns something simple and familiar into something deeply unnerving.
At the same time, the issue digs deeper into the fashion world itself, presenting it as its own kind of horror. The constant scrutiny, the artificiality, and the sense of people always watching or waiting for an opportunity all create an atmosphere that feels just as oppressive as the Smile entity. The chaos of fashion shows, the intensity of photo shoots, and the presence of onlookers and industry figures add a layer of tension that never really lets up. It feels like everything is building toward something worse, and that sense of inevitability hangs over the entire issue.
Introducing Ivy as a relative newcomer is a smart move. She acts as a grounding perspective for the reader, someone who is still trying to understand both the industry and the strange events unfolding around her. Through her, we’re able to navigate this world more clearly, even as it becomes more distorted and dangerous. She also helps bridge the gap between the grounded reality of the fashion scene and the growing supernatural threat, making the transition between the two feel seamless.
Visually, the comic continues to impress. The contrast between the polished, high-glamour surface of the fashion world and the darker, more sinister undercurrents is striking. Bright lights, bold colours, and stylised settings are used to full effect, but they’re constantly undercut by shadow, distortion, and the eerie presence of the Smile. The artwork captures both the beauty and the ugliness of this world, often within the same panel, which adds to the overall unease.
Altogether, this issue strengthens the series in every way. It deepens the horror, expands the setting, and raises the stakes without losing focus. There’s a growing sense that things are spiralling out of control, and it leaves you anticipating not just what happens next, but how much worse it’s going to get.
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