IDW may not be as big as Marvel or DC but, when it comes to genre fare, the publisher has long excelled. That’s in no small part because IDW does exceptional work within pre-existing franchises. Earlier this year, they launched the bold, big interconnected Kai-Sei era of Godzilla, for example. Now, thanks to the recently launched imprint IDW Dark, horror fans have a whole lot more to look forward to within some beloved franchises.
See also: Build Your Horror Comics Library With These 13 Favorites From The Fanatical House Of Horrors
IDW Dark revealed that it was expanding its roster earlier this year to include spin-offs in the Smile and A Quiet Place universes, among others. The lineup is jam-packed full of some of modern horror’s biggest franchises and ones that have been long overdue for continuations, as well as some original titles. Fango is proud to present an exclusive, detailed look at the lineup, title by title, with insight from all of the creators involved. Let’s dive in.
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Smile: For the Camera
Smile: For the Camera (Credit: IDW Publishing). Set in the world created by director Parker Finn in 2022’s smash hit Smile, writer Hannah Rose May is set to take us more of the mysterious monster in an entirely new setting. Smile: For the Camera is a prequel taking place in the world of modeling circa 2005.
The book picks up at Fashion Month 2005. Five young international models have just landed in New York City, ready to tackle four grueling weeks of runways, press, and cameras as they try to make it big. The girls become fast friends. That is until one of them seems to crack under the pressure. Little does everyone know that she is afflicted by the entity, a being bent on destruction and pain as it seeks to destroy lives through its horrific visions.
“I'm a huge fan of the films and getting to play in the Smile universe has been a career high for me,” May said. “Parker has expertly crafted a generation defining terror with his Entity and combined with his streamlined world building it's been so fun to jump in. It's been a dream getting to work with the nightmare fuel that Parker has established.”
May adds that Parker has “given us his blessing” on the book, while noting that Paramount has been great to collaborate with. She also was a model before getting into writing, which gives her some insight into this world. “I wanted to tap into the underlying meta narrative of happiness masking pain and behind many models' smiles is the dark undercurrent of what that industry demands from you,” she said.
Smile: For the Camera #1 hits shelves on February 18, 2026.
A Quiet Place: Storm Warning
A Quiet Place: Storm Warning (Credit: IDW Publishing) A Quiet Place is one of the biggest mainstream horror franchises to come around in some time. It will be continued on the page with a new spin-off entitled A Quiet Place: Storm Warning. While full plot details are being kept under wraps, this won’t center on characters seen in director John Krasinski’s movies, including the upcoming A Quiet Place Part III. Instead, as the title implies, we’re going to see some unfortunate souls contending with not only the sound-sensitive creatures, but a terrible storm as well.
“In the world of A Quiet Place sound can not only be your enemy, but your ally,” series writer and layout artist Phil Hester explained. “With the creatures attuned to every last sound, a raging storm provides a kind of auditory camouflage – a blanket of white noise – in which surviving humans can move relatively freely. But, as with all storms, if they get too intense they are just as much a mortal danger as the creatures.”
Ryan Kelly serves as the main artist alongside Hester on the series. As for the timeline, Hester also revealed that we’ll be seeing what went down the day before the creatures arrived, in addition to seeing quite a few silent sequences in the present.
“Much of the story takes place in a flashback set the day before the creatures arrive,so we get to jump back and forth between silent sequences and dialogue heavy scenes. As a creator, it's fun to stretch both kinds of storytelling muscles. I hope it's equally fun for readers to experience.”
A Quiet Place: Storm Warning #1 hits shelves on March 11, 2026.
Event Horizon
Event Horizon: Inferno (Credit: IDW Publishing) Director Paul W.S. Anderson’s Event Horizon is a true cult favorite of the ‘90s but it fell short of expectations at the box office, meaning it never got a sequel. Fortunately, IDW has amended that. The publisher is wrapping up its hit prequel series Event Horizon: Dark Descent, which shows us what happened to the crew on the Event Horizon on its maiden voyage. The publisher has re-teamed with writer Christian Ward now for a sequel, entitled Event Horizon: Inferno, which will show us what happened 200 years after the events of the movie.
Two hundred years after the Event Horizon was blown in half, a billionaire brings his own private star fleet to the wreckage around Neptune. He's heard stories of the Event Horizon and will gleefully sacrifice any number of employees to uncover its secrets, namely the gravity drive designed for interdimensional travel.
“I always knew this would be a hit. Event Horizon fans are not just a passionate crowd but a crowd who have been hungry for me for almost 30 years,” Ward said. “And I know this because I'm one of them!” Artist Tristian Jones, meanwhile, is blown away by the success.
“I actually still can't quite believe it, in all honesty. I'd been away from comics for a good while and become pretty cynical, so if you'd told me this thing would sell out even the first issue once, let alone three times, I would've scoffed.”
Event Horizon: Dark Descent (Credit: IDW Publishing) As for Inferno, Ward will be joined by a new artist in Rob Carey. He’s also promising to up the stakes. “If Dark Descent was like Ridley Scott's Alien, Inferno is like James Cameron's Aliens with more cosmic terror and excitement,” he teased. “We're only just getting started.” Ward also said that this was all part of his initial pitch as one larger story.
“When I pitched my idea for Event Horizon, Dark Descent was actually just one part of a much, much larger story. So, of course after we finish telling the story of what happened before the film, we want to start telling the story of what happens after. There are many more horrors in hell.”
Event Horizon: Dark Descent is on shelves now. Event Horizon: Inferno arrives in April 2026.
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (Credit: IDW Publishing) When using the words “classic” and “horror” in sequence, it’s hard to find a more prime example than The Twilight Zone. Hailing from the mind of genre master Rod Serling, the original anthology series remains deeply compelling to this day. IDW has revived the concept in comic book form, with the first two issues of The Twilight Zone comic released earlier this year. Also in black and white and in an anthology format from some of the top creators in comics, it seeks to capture that same vibe as the original series. No easy task.
“This isn't my first rodeo working in licensed comics, so I approached it the same way I normally do where I try and figure out what it is exactly about the property that appeals to me, and build it out from there,” issue #3 writer and artist James Stoke said. “If I tried to outdo writers like Serling or Matheson at their own game, I'd fall flat on my butt, so I'm happy to tell my story with my own voice.”
Stoke also explained that he had an interesting process he would go through when it came to nailing down Serling’s narration, a huge staple of the original series.
“One part that I really wanted to feel ‘authentic Twilight Zone‘ was when I was writing the opening/closing narration. I had to read it all aloud in my best (worst) Rod Serling impression to see if I got it right. His line delivery makes me think of a doctor subtly delighting in telling you horrible news, I love it.”
The Twilight Zone #3 (Credit: IDW Publishing) “I think there’s a magic in how all those ingredients went together. That’s the magic I was trying to capture, the ideal Twilight Zone,” said issue #2 writer/artist Thomas Scioli. “What is that? How do you capture it? Is it even possible to replicate that magic all these decades later? It’s an interesting challenge. It’s beyond the scope of this particular project, but I was watching some of the old 1980’s episodes, and they have their own 1980’s brand of nostalgic magic which would be interesting to try to capture in comics form.”
The Twilight Zone #3 hits shelves on January 7, 2026.
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring (Credit: IDW Publishing). Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees looked like something kid-friendly on the surface – almost. Instead, what writer/artist Patrick Horvath delivered was a twisted tale of murder through the lens of cute animals. That continued this year in a sequel series titled Rite of Spring, with a third volume on the way.
The sequel series, Rite of Spring, picks up nearly a decade after the events of the first book. It's not the ’80s anymore. Cuddly brown bear Samantha Strong has solidified herself as the sole serial killer in Woodbrook and the world is entering a new era. As Samantha will soon find out, there are no secrets in the age of the internet. And those who lost loved ones to her massacre haven’t given up the flame of justice.
“When I did the first volume, I thought it would most likely be a one-and-done because I was a pretty unknown cartoonist at the time. I definitely left it open for a follow-up on purpose though just in case. Writing that very first issue, it became pretty obvious that there was a ton more that could be done with the world that was taking shape. Likewise, having a huge time-jump in-between the first and second volumes immediately brought to mind that there's a lot to be explored in what took place during that missing period,” Horvath said. “This is the type of world that could definitely be revisited well beyond the third volume as long as people are still interested.”
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #5 hits shelves on January 14, 2026.
30 Days of Night: Falling Sun
30 Days of Night: Falling Sun (Credit: IDW Publishing). 30 Days of Night is very unique amongst vampire tales and though it was turned into a movie at one point, it started on the page in the early 2000s. After years away, IDW brought the series back to life last year with a new miniseries entitled 30 Days of Night: Falling Sun. Hailing from writer Rodney Barnes in collaboration with original creator Steve Niles, the book returns to the town of Barrow for a new blood-sucking nightmare.
The town of Barrow has moved on from the vampiric terror that happened two decades earlier. Those who remember would rather not talk about it. Those who don’t remember don’t believe the stories. A dark memory stirring in the heart of Romania sets its sights on Barrow, the death place of Vicente. While vampires seek revenge for their fallen leader in Alaska, troubled teen Jalen James seeks sanctuary. After fleeing gang violence in Los Angeles, Jalen needs a fresh start. But he’s unlikely to find it as the sun falls.
“Steve and I had been discussing working together on it for a long time,” Barnes explained. “Over the years, we’d send notes and thoughts back and forth. When IDW greenlit it, the pecking got serious. Development shifted into high gear.”
The good news is that those who haven’t kept up with the series up to this point can easily pick up Falling Sun with no issue, as it’s new-reader-friendly. Per Barnes…
“There are elements and mentions of prior stories, but new readers can jump right in! The water is just fine – couldn’t help it! Seriously, older readers will recognize the mythology, but new folks will get every bloody moment with zero confusion.”
30 Days of Night: Falling Sun issue #1 and #2 are out now.
Return to Sleepy Hollow
Return to Sleepy Hollow (Credit: IDW Publishing). Last but certainly not least, IDW made a specific dream come true for goth kids of a certain age by giving Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow a long overdue sequel. Return to Sleepy Hollow is precisely what it sounds like, with the first issue on stands now. The miniseries hails from writer Casey Gilly and artist Savanna Mayer.
The Headless Horseman hasn’t plagued Sleepy Hollow for 15 years now, but unbeknownst to the residents of the drowsy valley, a deeper evil lurks in the roots of the town, and it will stop at nothing to quench its thirst for blood. Ichabod Crane is a man of science and, despite his indisputable brush with the supernatural, has built a name for himself debunking claims of the occult across the world. However, when he receives a frantic letter urging him to return to Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod must reunite with his now estranged love, Katrina Van Tassel, to investigate a string of strange, unexplainable murders.
“It’s a classic film and it was made by masters of their craft. I completely understand why people are so devoted to it, but even with that? I didn't feel any pressure!” Gilly said. “This book has been a delight to work on and I was excited to usher Ichabod and Katrina into their next chapter.”
“I loved Sleepy Hollow as a story, as a filk song and as a movie, I never once thought I'd be able to add my own verse to the story so it's been an incredible experience,” Mayer added.
Gilly also made it clear that Paramount was very supportive throughout the process. Rather than telling them to do less or what they couldn’t do, it was all about adding more.
“Paramount has been truly wonderful. I've felt so much support and permission from them to explore the world of Sleepy Hollow. Licensors are rightfully protective of their assets and you have to know going into writing a licensed comic that it's about how your vision fits into the existing world. You aren't creating by yourself. Throughout the whole process I've been encouraged to have more gore, more scares, more gallows humor. They really seemed to appreciate my style and let me have fun. I received such positive feedback, thoughtful notes, and felt so welcomed by them.”
Return to Sleepy Hollow #2 hits shelves on December 24.
Return to Sleepy Hollow (Credit: IDW Publishing).
