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.

The big game is coming up, but that’s not all that is on the mind of the starting quarterback Maximillian Dupree. After a string of mysterious deaths surrounding the bookkeeping and sports betting world. The only connection is they all died with a smile. Now, Dupree needs to not only navigate the big game but also navigate the craziness surrounding these deaths before it’s too late.

The big game is coming up, but that’s not all that is on the mind of the starting quarterback Maximillian Dupree. After a string of mysterious deaths surrounding the bookkeeping and sports betting world. The only connection is they all died with a smile. Now, Dupree needs to not only navigate the big game but also navigate the craziness surrounding these deaths before it’s too late. The first issue of this new chapter in the Smile franchise from IDW Dark is set to rush its way into comic shops on September 23^rd, 2026. Ahead of the Final Order Cutoff date of Monday August 17^th, 2026, IDW Publishing gave us a copy for a SPOILER FREE first look review.