“Smile: For The Camera #1” – A Great First Outing

Writer: Hannah Rose May

Art: Miriana Puglia

Color: Dearbhla Kelly

Design/Lettering: Brian Kolek

Senior Group Editor: Heather Antos

Associate Editor: Bixie Mathieu

*Spoilers ahead*

Sharp, Cutting Writing

Now, I’m going to say right off the bat that I’m no fan of the “Smile” franchise. That isn’t to say it’s a bad franchise, I just haven’t seen the movies… yet. I wasn’t sure I ever would, but this issue alone has sold me on wanting to watch them. Writer Hannah Rose May has made me so intrigued as to what’s going on here that I need more pronto.

In a different approach from what I’m used to, the first character we meet is actually a side character! She’s affectionately called “Crazy Cami,” and we follow her little side story throughout the issue, leading to a massive payoff in the end. To lend credence to the name, it becomes increasingly difficult for her to determine reality from insanity. As such, it makes it hard for us as readers to do the same, slowly guiding us into the horrors to come.

As we find out, Cami’s one of the roommates of our main lead, Ivy, a veterinary student using modeling to pay for school. Through her eyes, we learn and see just how slimy the world of modeling is and how passive some of those in it can be. Hannah Rose May brings readers into this twisted world, and I’m unsure I ever want to leave it.

Bloody by Design

Upon seeing the first page, I was immediately thrown back to my middle school MySpace days. This was such a creative way to not only introduce us to Cami but also show off the usual comic book credits and copyrights. The colors pop, and the whole thing completely gives the vibe of a “mid-20s fashionista”.

However, Miriana Puglia and Dearbhla Kelly are very quick to remind us that this is a horror comic. Only two pages later, we’re treated to a gory feast for the eyes that isn’t for the faint of heart. In bloody red and striking detail are guts strewn across the ground, the remnants of someone having their life cut short by a jet turbine. The level here is grotesque yet genius. That level of detail is carried throughout the book, violent and non-violent moments alike. That isn’t even mentioning the final panel, where I had to look away in terror from the grotesqueness before looking back again.

As for the cover art… it was the first thing that immediately grabbed my attention and hooked me. The contrast of the red and white on black is pure perfection. The scissors forming a smile are beyond creative, and the blood running down them is such a neat added detail.

Final Thoughts

From the writing of Hannah Rose May to the artwork of Miriana Puglia and Dearbhla Kelly, this is easily a piece that any horror fan will gain a smile from! Absolutely stellar from start to finish and I can’t wait for more.

Overall grade: 9/10

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Are you a fan of the “Smile” franchise? Did you love this comic and can’t wait for more? Let us know in the comments below!