SMILE: FOR THE CAMERA #5 (IDW DARK)

One model is still alive, and the curse is hot on her trail. What the curse didn’t bet on though is the resiliency of Ivy Monroe. Now back in NYC, she isn’t going to just lay down and give up. She’s a fighter so she is swinging back with everything she’s got, because it may be her last either way.

Smile: For the Camera #5 – Written By Hannah Rose May – Art By Miriana Puglia – Colors By Dearbhla Kelly – Letters By Brian Kolek – Edited By Heather Antos -Published By IDW Publishing

Credit: IDW Dark

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

The French Police have questions for Ivy after Noa’s apparent suicide. But unfortunately for Ivy the cops and their questioning is the least of her worries. She now is starting to see the crazy things the others saw before their untimely deaths. As she returns to New York, she barely knows what is real or what is in her head. However, this won’t stop her from trying exposing Purple and Perry. But even this becomes harder than it should be. Now Ivy is racing to not only get revenge for her friends, but also maybe find a way to save her life before it’s too late. As this race comes to a close, will Ivy beat the curse or will she just be another dead model?

WRITING:

This final issue of Smile: For the Camera finds some interesting and inventive ways to finish out the series, giving Ivy Monroe a conclusion that feels earned after everything she has survived. Hannah Rose May continues doing what she has done throughout this run, which is take the familiar pieces of the franchise and twist them into something sharper, stranger, and more emotionally driven. Once Ivy becomes the curse’s final target, the story immediately reminds us why she has been such a compelling lead. She does not crumble, disappear, or simply wait for the inevitable. Instead, she pushes back with the same anger, survival instinct, and stubborn determination that have defined her from the start. That choice gives the issue a strong final-girl energy, but May makes it feel personal rather than predictable.

May also makes sure the reader understands that Ivy is not only fighting the supernatural force closing in on her. She is still carrying the weight of what Purple and Perry have done, and that grounded conflict keeps the finale from becoming only about the curse. The issue works because it balances both threats at once: the terrifying, reality-bending horror that stalks Ivy, and the very human cruelty of people who believe they can exploit others and walk away untouched. As Ivy begins to see the same disturbing visions that consumed the others before their deaths, the story builds a strong sense of dread while also giving her agency. She may be scared, overwhelmed, and running out of time, but she is still looking for a way to expose the truth and make someone pay.

The biggest strength of the writing is how May brings the mythology together in the final stretch. Just when it seems like Purple and Perry may escape the consequences of their actions, the book introduces one last wrinkle that reframes what the curse can do and how far its reach truly goes. It is a creative turn that helps the ending feel less like a simple stopping point and more like a true payoff to the ideas the series has been building toward. The twists and turns we have encountered along the way barely prepare the reader for where the final pages land, but the conclusion still feels satisfying because it honors Ivy’s fight, the horror of the curse, and the emotional cost of the story. By the time the smoke clears, May delivers a finale that is tense, clever, and rewarding.

ARTWORK:

The artwork crackles with energy, giving the story an added jolt right when the finale needs it most. Miriana Puglia brings a sharp sense of movement and emotion to the issue, making Ivy’s fear, frustration, and determination come through clearly on the page. The character work is especially strong because the expressions never feel flat or repetitive. Ivy looks exhausted and terrified, but she also looks focused, which helps sell the idea that she is not simply running from the curse anymore. She is fighting back. That physical and emotional tension gives the issue a pulse and keeps the reader locked into every moment of the chase.

Puglia also does a great job capturing the book’s stylish and unsettling atmosphere. The backgrounds have enough detail to make the world feel grounded, but they also bend toward something more nightmarish whenever the curse begins to take over. That contrast is important because the issue moves between the real-world ugliness of Purple and Perry’s actions and the supernatural horror hunting Ivy. When the horror arrives, it lands hard through gruesome, memorable imagery that makes the curse feel violent, invasive, and impossible to ignore. The scene where the curse reveals itself is one of the issue’s strongest visual moments, the kind of image that forces the reader to pause for a second look because of how strange and disturbing it is.

Dearbhla Kelly strengthens each page with sharp, intentional colors that make the visuals pop while still keeping the mood tense. The color work gives the issue a slick, fashion-world polish when it needs one, but it can quickly shift into harsher and more unnatural tones when the curse pushes into the scene. That balance helps the book maintain its identity as both a stylish industry thriller and a supernatural horror story. Kelly’s colors also guide the eye cleanly through the pages, making the action easy to follow even when the imagery becomes chaotic. Together, Puglia and Kelly create an intense, stylish look that fits the franchise perfectly and gives the final issue the visual punch it deserves.

Check Out My First Look at SMILE: FOR THE CAMERA #4

Final Thoughts:

Smile: For the Camera #5 gives this series a fitting and creative finale. Hannah Rose May once again proves why she is one of the best writers in the horror genre, well the art team led by Miriana Puglia bring May’s story to life. This is a huge win for the whole creative team as well as those of us who have been following this series throughout its run. If you were not reading this series as it was released, make sure you keep your eyes out for the trade when it hits the shelves so you can find out why this series is so good.

FINAL GRADE: 9.5/10

Let me know your thoughts on Smile: For the Camera #5 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!