IDW Dark Expands the Worlds of Smile, A Quiet Place, and Original Horror in 2026

Expanding Horror Universes Through Bold New Comic Adaptations

We present an in-depth look at IDW Dark’s major horror expansion for 2026, where cinematic terror collides with innovative comic storytelling. Four high-profile projects anchor this slateSmile: For the Camera, A Quiet Place: Storm Warning, The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace, and Operation: Iron Coffin. Together, these titles redefine how existing film franchises and original horror concepts can evolve through sequential art.

Smile: For the Camera Terror Reframed Through the Lens of Fashion

Set in 2005 against the backdrop of New York Fashion Week, Smile: For the Camera brings fresh narrative depth to the universe established by the Smile films. Writer Hannah Rose May and artist Miriana Puglia explore a world where glamorous façade and supernatural dread collide.
We witness an ensemble of international models stalked by the Smile Entity, their high-pressure industry becoming a catalyst for psychological unraveling. The creative team crafts an atmosphere where beauty standards, performance culture, and parasitic horror feed off each other to elevate the existential menace at the core of the franchise.

May’s vision taps into the early-2000s cultural moment to expand the mythology, while Puglia’s dynamic linework brings anxiety, page-turn tension, and visual irony to the forefront. The result promises a vivid expansion of the Smile universe, maintaining its trademark emotional dread through a new thematic lens.

A Quiet Place: Storm Warning Silence Meets Midwestern Survival

A Quiet Place: Storm Warning transports readers to Pearl, Iowa, delivering a new chapter in the silent apocalypse. Writer Phil Hester and artist Ryan Kelly adapt the franchise’s signature sensory suspense into the comic medium, where visual language becomes the backbone of storytelling.

Here, the Death Angels’ arrival intersects with small-town life and community fragility. We follow survivors navigating an environment where sound equals deathan adaptation challenge met with meticulously crafted panel composition and heightened visual cues.
As lifelong midwesterners, Hester and Kelly root the horror in regional authenticity, grounding the narrative in landscapes, weather patterns, and the isolation of rural life. The team synthesizes the films’ intimate drama with the momentum of sequential art to create a standalone, yet fully integrated, entry in the expanding universe.

The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace Royal Hauntings and Political Horror

Following the acclaim of The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, writer Hannah Rose May and artist Kelsey Ramsay return to expand their demonic-political world with The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace. Ths sequel shifts from the White House to London’s royal domain, introducing a cursed lineage and a sweeping supernatural conspiracy tied to Britain’s most iconic residence.

May and Ramsay craft a narrative that balances grandeur with terror. Royal tradition, national symbolism, and generational secrets converge in a story that amplifies the themes of authority, inheritance, and spiritual corruption. The comic aims to welcome new readers while rewarding longtime fans with deeper lore, refined mythology, and ambitious world-building.

Operation: Iron Coffin Dracula vs. the Third Reich

Perhaps the boldest addition to IDW Dark’s lineup, Operation: Iron Coffin reimagines Dracula in a high-stakes World War II setting. Written by Kenny Porter and illustrated by Tyrell Cannon, this series blends horror, pulp action, and historical fantasy. The premise is striking: an iron coffin containing Dracula is air-dropped onto a Nazi train carrying occult weaponry. Upon awakening, the vampire wages a visceral campaign to prevent Hitler from creating an undead army.

Cannon’s kinetic art style marries monstrous horror with wartime energy, while Porter channels influences from Castlevania, Hellboy, and tactical espionage. The title stands poised to become one of 2026’s most visually arresting horror-action hybrids.

Group Editor Heather Antos highlights the imprint’s mission to create elevated, diverse, and inventive horror experiences. Through cinematic partnerships and original storytelling, IDW Dark consolidates its role as a premier platform for genre innovation.

With new settingsfrom fashion runways to Midwestern storm fronts, royal chambers to Nazi war machinesthis publishing slate demonstrates the imprint’s commitment to pushing horror forward through distinctive narrative voices and art styles.

IDW Dark positions its 2026 lineup as a landmark evolution in horror comics, merging established cinematic myths with daring original concepts. These titles deepen beloved franchises while carving out new creative territory, delivering stories that are atmospheric, character-driven, and visually haunting.

Readers can secure early access to these releases by pre-ordering through their preferred comic book retailers.

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!