IDW DARK UNVEILS FIRST-HALF 2026 LINEUP WITH FOUR NEW TITLES: SMILE, A QUIET PLACE, THE SEQUEL TO THE EXORCISM AT 1600 PENN, AND OPERATION: IRON COFFIN

October 7, 2025

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 7, 2025) – Don’t read these comics before going to sleep.

From silent terrors to sinister hauntings, IDW Publishing’s innovative horror imprint IDW Dark is expanding with four new comic book series that are guaranteed to slither under your skin and give you nightmares. First revealed by Entertainment Weekly are the following new comics: SMILE, A QUIET PLACE, OPERATION: IRON COFFIN, and THE EXORCISM AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

Unleashing psychological supernatural scares in comic shops next February is SMILE: FOR THE CAMERA #1. From acclaimed horror writer Hannah Rose May (Rogues’ Gallery, THE EXORCISM AT 1600 PENN) and rising star artist Miriana Puglia (Red Sonja, Gargoyles), the frightening tale 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.

SMILE: FOR THE CAMERA #1 cover by Skylar Patridge

“As a huge fan of Smile, I’m honored to be entrusted with expanding Parker Finn’s terrifying universe into comics,” said 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 modeling industry.”

The horror writer added, “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,” remarked 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!”

Invading comic stores next March is A QUIET PLACE: STORM WARNING #1 from the blockbuster creative duo of writer and layout artist Phil Hester (Gotham City: Year One, Swamp Thing) and artist Ryan Kelly (Lucifer, Stranger Things). 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.

A QUIET PLACE: STORM WARNING #1 cover by Ryan Kelly, Lee Loughridge

“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,” commented 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.”

Spooking shops next March is THE EXORCISM AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE #1, the sequel to the hit IDW original horror series THE EXORCISM AT 1600 PENN (collected edition on sale now). Celebrated series creator and writer Hannah Rose May returns to craft a new demonic saga and is joined by renowned artist Kelsey Ramsay (Godzilla: Heist, Dark Spaces: Good Deeds) to torment London’s royal residence and reveal its shocking family curse.

THE EXORCISM AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE #1 cover by Kelsey Ramsay, Heather Breckel

“I’ve been truly humbled by the response to THE EXORCISM AT 1600 PENN,” said May. “Returning to this world with the team at IDW Dark has been an absolute thrill. THE EXORCISM AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE expands the universe with a brand-new setting, cast and mythology. It’s a fresh entry point for new readers, while rewarding the fans who’ve been with us since the beginning. I’m delighted to have Kelsey Ramsay on board for art and we can’t wait to welcome everyone into the next chilling chapter of THE EXORCISM AT universe.”

Crashing into comic shops next July is OPERATION: IRON COFFIN #1, a new IDW original horror from rising star writer Kenny Porter (Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow, Batman: Urban Legends) and explosive artist Tyrell Cannon (Fantastic Four Fanfare, The Schlub). Based on Dracula by Bram Stoker, this action-packed thriller transports readers to World War II as a British bomber drops an iron coffin onto a heavily fortified Nazi train full of superweapons. Dracula emerges, ready to tear through hordes of enemies and stop Hitler from creating an army of vampires to win the war.

OPERATION: IRON COFFIN promotional art by Tyrell Cannon

“I can’t wait to share this bold new take on Dracula with the world,” exclaimed Porter. “Working with Tyrell is always a dream, and we’ve got a really unique, horror/action take on the character that fans of Castlevania, Metal Gear, and Hellboy are going to love.”

“I’m so excited to collaborate with Kenny again for this wild take on Dracula,” commented Cannon. “As a lifelong horror fan, drawing Dracula verses the ultimate evil is a dream (nightmare?) come true. Get on board for this bloody train ride!”

“At IDW, we love nothing more than keeping readers up at night — and with these new titles, we’re about to unleash a quadruple shot of terror to kick off 2026,” stated Heather Antos, Group Editor of IDW Dark. “From royal hauntings to apocalyptic silence to fashion-week frights, this lineup proves horror can be elegant, inventive, and downright terrifying. Buckle up… because the nightmares are only getting started.“

Want to experience even more fear? The hit horror imprint IDW Dark also features EVENT HORIZON: DARK DECENT, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, RETURN TO SLEEPY HOLLOW, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT: FALLING SUN, and BENEATH THE TREES WHERE NOBODY SEES: RITE OF SPRING.

About Author

First Comics News

Your First Place For Comics News since October 18, 1998

See author's posts