Reviews – Sleepy Hollow: The Witches Of The Western Wood #3 , and Smile: For The Camera #5
From IDW Dark
Horror imprint IDW Dark from IDW Publishing has two comics out this week – Sleepy Hollow: The Witches Of The Western Wood #3 continues the prequel story, and Smile: For The Camera #5 concludes.
Sleepy Hollow: The Witches Of The Western Wood #3
As Sarah Archer sees Mary grow close to the residents of Sleepy Hollow—the very ones who turned their backs on her family in their time of need—she becomes viciously jealous and resorts to stalking her twin, sullying Mary’s good name. Sarah will stop at nothing to protect her sister, even if it means seducing the objects of Mary’s eye.
Author: Delilah S. Dawson
Artists: Jose Jaro, and Luana Vecchio
The tension between the two sisters reaches a whole new level in this issue, and it is fascinating to watch their relationship slowly unravel. From the very beginning, it has been clear that Mary and Sarah have different outlooks on both magic and the people around them, but here those differences become impossible to ignore. Mary continues to show compassion, wanting to help those around her and build genuine connections, while Sarah becomes increasingly consumed by anger, revenge and the lure of darker powers.
As Mary settles further into life with the townsfolk, she begins to carve out her own path, finding acceptance and friendship beyond the bond she shares with her sister. Sarah, however, sees every step Mary takes away from her as a betrayal. Rather than trying to understand her sister’s choices, she becomes increasingly suspicious, spying on her movements and immersing herself ever deeper in the sinister magic contained within the mysterious book. It is a gradual descent, but one that feels completely believable, as every poor decision only pushes Sarah further away from the person she once was.
The emotional conflict is what really drives the issue. Mary’s growing relationship with one of the townsfolk only widens the divide between the sisters, creating a situation where Sarah feels isolated and lashes out in the worst possible way. Her attempt to teach Mary a lesson ends up backfiring spectacularly, and although Sarah certainly learns something from the experience, it is far from the lesson she actually needs. Instead of reflecting on her actions, she seems to take away exactly the wrong message, making it feel as though the darkness already has a firm hold over her. By the end of the issue, it is difficult to see how the sisters can repair the damage that has been done.
The artwork continues to be one of the series’ greatest strengths. It beautifully reflects the contrasting personalities of the sisters, using both the line work and colour palette to reinforce the themes running through the story. Mary’s scenes often feel warmer and more inviting, while Sarah’s descent into darker magic is accompanied by moodier colours and unsettling imagery that perfectly capture the corruption beginning to consume her. The visual storytelling adds just as much to the atmosphere as the dialogue itself.
Overall, this is another excellent chapter that steadily raises both the emotional and supernatural stakes. The relationships feel authentic, the horror elements continue to build naturally, and every page leaves you with the feeling that something terrible is just around the corner. With the sisters now seemingly on completely different paths, the series ends this issue with a genuine sense of dread, leaving me eager—and slightly anxious—to see just how much worse things are going to become.
Get Sleepy Hollow: The Witches Of The Western Wood #3 at Forbidden Planet:
Smile: For The Camera #5
Fashions fade, but a smile is eternal.
With each runway, the Entity has claimed the life of a new model. But a mind-altering, otherworldly creature isn’t the only parasitic force that Ivy is up against—it’s the entire modeling industry, including the famous predator Perry Rickens.
Now, only Ivy remains, and as she approaches her end, she’s hell-bent on bringing down those who have escaped justice their whole lives. Through increasingly disturbing hallucinations, Ivy works with Alana to break the story of the corrupt modeling world wide open.
Will Ivy Monroe get justice for herself and all of her friends before succumbing to the Entity’s power? Find out in the savage final issue of Smile: For the Camera #5, brought to you by horror star Hannah Rose May (The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Rogues’ Gallery).
Author: Hannah Rose May
Artists: Skylar Patridge, and Miriana Puglia
The conclusion of this series and introduction to me for the Smile1 entity give us an entertaining and well-plotted finish.
After everything Ivy has endured over the course of the series, this final issue leaves her as the last one standing. Following the gruesome fates of the other models, she is no longer simply trying to survive—she is determined to fight back. The discoveries she made in the previous issues finally pay off here, with the various threads coming together in a satisfying conclusion. It feels like the story has been building towards this confrontation from the very beginning, and the payoff doesn’t disappoint.
One of the aspects I enjoyed most is the uncertainty surrounding the true nature of the threat. Throughout the series, there has been an attempt to explain what is happening in terms of a disease, infection or parasite, something that can be understood through logic and science. However, the deeper the story goes, the clearer it becomes that this entity operates by its own rules. There is a genuinely supernatural element at play, meaning the usual explanations don’t quite fit. That ambiguity adds to the horror, as both the characters and the reader are never entirely sure what they’re dealing with or whether it can truly be defeated.
Despite facing something seemingly beyond human understanding, Ivy refuses to give in. She manages to achieve a measure of revenge, even if it doesn’t come without significant personal cost. The contrast between what appears to be success within the modelling industry and the emotional damage left behind makes for an effective ending. Even when victories are won, the trauma remains, and the issue doesn’t shy away from showing that some scars cannot simply be erased.
There are also some clever psychological moments woven throughout the story. The comic constantly plays with perception, leaving you questioning what is real and what may simply be another manipulation by the entity. I really appreciated how these moments were translated onto the page, using the strengths of the comic medium to blur the line between reality and nightmare. The layouts, expressions and pacing all contribute to the unsettling atmosphere, making the psychological horror just as effective as the more graphic moments.
The artwork deserves plenty of praise as well. It captures the grotesque nature of the supernatural entity with some genuinely disturbing imagery, while at the same time highlighting the darker side of the fashion industry itself. The glamour and beauty expected from that world are contrasted with fear, exploitation and body horror, reinforcing the themes that have run throughout the entire series. The horror isn’t confined to the monster alone—it’s equally present in the environment surrounding the characters.
The supporting cast also receives some satisfying conclusions. Not every ending is a happy one, but the story provides enough closure that the journeys of the various characters feel complete, giving weight to everything that has happened over the previous issues.
Overall, Smile: For the Camera has been an excellent horror series from beginning to end. It successfully combines supernatural terror, psychological horror and social commentary into a story that remains unsettling throughout. This final issue wraps up Ivy’s story in a satisfying way while still leaving the door open for more tales set within the world of Smile. With more comics already on the horizon, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where this disturbing universe goes next.
Get Smile: For The Camera #5 at Forbidden Planet:
I’m aware of the plot of the movies, just never seen them!