Two Paramount horror franchises are set to expand into the world of comic books in the New Year, with IDW Publishing announcing that it will be launching new Smile and A Quiet Place titles through their horror-focussed IDW Dark imprint.
First up in February is Smile: For the Camera from writer Hannah Rose May (The Exorcism at 1600 Penn) and artist Mariana Puglia (Red Sonja), followed by A Quiet Place: Storm Warning from Phil Hester (Swamp Thing) and Ryan Kelly (Stranger Things); check out the info here…
Smile: For the Camera brings readers back to the year 2005 to follow a group of international models as they kick off Fashion Month in New York. They’re dying to smile for the camera, but paranoia quickly creeps in as the mysterious Smile Entity begins to stalk the group.
“As a huge fan of Smile, I’m honored to be entrusted with expanding Parker Finn’s terrifying universe into comics,” said writer Hannah Rose May. “I’ve had a disgustingly good time writing this and I can’t wait for fans to experience the nightmare in a whole new medium. Like how Smile 2 took us inside the world of a present day pop star, our series throws it back to the early 2000s and drops the Entity right into the ruthless world of the modelling industry. Miriana’s poppy art paired with Dearbhla’s evocative colors has created a visual language that’s as seductive as it is sinister. I’m thrilled to be working alongside this excellent team that Paramount, IDW, and editor Heather Antos have assembled. IDW Dark is setting the stage for a new era of horror comics and they’re just getting started!”
“It’s really a pleasure – and especially an honor for me – to work on this project,” added Mariana Puglia. “Hannah’s ability to take us into the context of the early 2000s fashion world is unique. I love the scenes relating to the hectic life of those working in this field, the behind the scenes of a fashion show and the constant need to be aesthetically top notch at all times (even when you are infected by the Entity). I am having a lot of fun imagining each scene, especially the tension and fear of turning the page!”
As spine-chilling creatures create chaos around the globe and slaughter anything that makes a sound, a small island town in the midwest will struggle to survive in silence as the ferocious and seemingly unstoppable extraterrestrial terrors lurk all around them.
“As a franchise, I think A Quiet Place stands out for two reasons. Each movie is a relentless torrent of suspenseful action, but with a genuinely moving drama at its core. Secondly, it’s an innovative formal exercise in visual storytelling without dialogue,” said writer Phil Hester. “With A Quiet Place: Storm Warning, I feel Ryan Kelly and I have replicated those qualities, but in an entirely different medium. We’re both midwesterners living along the Mississippi, so the tiny, creature-besieged island town of Pearl, Iowa in this series is in our blood. Also, as creators, the challenge of largely silent storytelling has inspired us to stretch our skills in new and exciting ways, resulting in a horror series unlike any other book on the stands. Just remember to flip those pages quietly. Something unwanted might be listening.”
