After witnessing the savage death of a bookie, Max Dupree has another thing on his plate as he enters the biggest game of his life. But now he isn’t just outrunning the defense, or shady underworld types, he’s got to outrun whatever this evil curse is. At the same time, Rita Nash a reporter for the St. Augustine Tribune, is putting the pieces together on this rash of suicides that is connected to betting and organized crime. But she isn’t really ready for what is actually happening in Florida five days before the big game.
Any Given Smile #2 - Written By Stephanie Williams – Art By Pablo Collar – Colors By Tríona Farrell - Letters By Ariana Maher – Edited By Heather Antos - Published By IDW Publishing
Credit: IDW Dark
***POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING***
WRITING:
As we go deeper down the rabbit hole, it becomes harder to see the light. Stephanie Williams is luring us further down the trail in this crazy and insane world we find ourselves in. Let’s start with Max, he is all up in arms, not just because he has a gambling problem that is making him have to throw the biggest game of his life. But more importantly, due to this he has witnessed something that will be what can take his life away as a whole. Williams shows us how his mental state is crumbling and how both angles are competing to destroy his mental state. At the same time, she uses Rita Nash as the readers’ eyes and ears on this journey. As Rita unravels the story, we find out more about what exactly is happening. This leads to more of a slow burn effect keeping the story measured and moving at a consistent pace. This slow burn style that Williams is employing is really good for a horror story as it naturally builds suspense and tension. The only concern with slow burn storytelling is you have to keep the pace in the Goldilocks Zone, or it can become uninteresting and negatively affect the story. Personally, I don’t think Williams will have this issue as from her previous work on Roots of Madness she more than proved she can create magic under these circumstances.
ARTWORK:
The artwork is fantastic and captures this universe perfectly in each and every panel. Pablo Collar brings the macabre and the drama to life in such a way that you feel like you are watching it play out for real. Just taking the emotional drama of the story and removing the supernatural element and you would have amazing visuals for a sports crime drama. The body language, posture, and expressions from the characters make you feel what they are feeling without using words. But then he flips the switch and brings in the supernatural horror of the story, and the artwork excels even more. The unsettling scenes with the smiling and “hallucinations” make the readers skin crawl. When it is time for the real horror and gore, that is visceral and reminds the reader that this world can become unnerving fast. Triona Farrell’s color pallet completely complements the linework, adding a more macabre feel to the artwork. Farrell doesn’t shy away from the gore and violence either, using the colors to make it stand out even more. The lettering from Ariana Maher ties everything together, infusing the words into the artwork, well also making the action words their own little masterpieces. This art team gets the assignment and is bringing Williams terrifying story to life on every page.
CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF ANY GIVEN SMILE #1
Final Thoughts:
Any Given Smile #2 turns up the pressure with a slow burn that makes every step toward the big game feel more dangerous. Stephanie Williams keeps Max’s unraveling and Rita’s investigation compelling, while Collar, Farrell, and Maher bring the dread to life with unsettling visuals and visceral horror. This creative team knows how to keep you hooked, and I’m ready to see just how dark this story gets. Horror fans, this is your call to action: head to your Local Comic Shop, grab issue #2, and add Any Given Smile to your Pull List. Tell your friends, share your enthusiasm, and help this series find more readers. If you love sports and drama, with a supernatural nightmare lurking underneath, don’t sit on the sidelines—get in the game!
FINAL GRADE: 9.5/10
Let me know your thoughts on Any Given Smile #2 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
