“Sleepy Hollow: The Witches of the Western Wood #1” Review – Double, Double Toil & Trouble

Following in the footsteps of Tim Burton’s underrated cult hit is the start of this new comic run by Delilah S. Dawson. Acting as a prequel of sorts, “Sleepy Hollow: The Witches of the Western Wood” shows readers the childhood of Sarah Archer, known better as Mary Van Tassel. While doing prequels can be risky, Dawson created something that’s off to a great start!

Writer: Delilah S. Dawson
Artist: Jose Jaro
Colorist: Xenon Honchar

Writing for the Wicked

As a woman that’s into things like witchcraft and the supernatural, but has also always liked “Sleepy Hollow”, I was fairly hesitant to see how things would be treated here. Lo and behold, I was surprised by just how accurate everything seemed. Writer Delilah S. Dawson really seemed to do her research, and it shows, as the knowledge oozes out of the pages!

On top of showing her knowledge, Dawson proves just how great she is at writing compelling characters and stories. Throughout, she does a fantastic job and making readers feel for the one-day antagonist, holding our hand tight as we see the horrors of the world. The whole book gives a dark female empowerment vibe and I absolutely love it! Already, this series is off to a great start and I’m super excited to see where this goes.

The Craft of Artwork

In addition to the masterclass writing are equally amazing artwork and coloring. With art from Jose Jaro and colors from Xenon Honchar, the gothic vibes are immaculate. The penciling from Jaro alone is near perfect, sucking you into the world with the facial expressions, rich detail and shading. As for the coloring, the palette makes for a book that feels truly dynamic despite the dark subject matter. The two of them together create something that fit entirely in the realm of the previously mentioned Tim Burton classic.

Final Thoughts – 9/10

This inaugural issue from writer Delilah S. Dawson is an absolute standout that I can’t wait to read more of. From the dark themes to the excellent character writing and artwork, “Sleepy Hollow: The Witches of the Western Wood” is series you need to have on your radar!

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Comments

Have you read “Sleepy Hollow” comics before? Are you planning on picking this up? Let’s discuss in the comments below!