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. Together, they will uncover the truth of Sleepy Hollow’s origins and the roots that connect them all. Return to Sleepy Hollow #1 is a follow up to Tim Burton’s film based on the classic horror story of the Headless Horseman.

I’ve never seen the Tim Burton film Sleepy Hollow. When it came it, it wasn’t something I was interested in and the many years since, I never went back to watch it. I know the basic Headless Horseman story, but this specific iteration, not so much. So, I went into Return to Sleepy Hollow #1 with a very basic idea but none of the specifics. And, while it’s entertaining, it also feels like the little I saw of Sleepy Hollow and left me with no interest.

Written by Casey Gilly, Return to Sleepy Hollow #1 has another murder taking place in Sleepy Hollow. It’s been 15 years since Ichabod’s original adventure and he’s been elsewhere debunking the supernatural while it seems attempting to forget the events of the film. He’s called back to investigate the murder under circumstances that might have more significance for those who have seen the film. With that, it’s an ok story that focuses on the strained relationship between Ichabod and Katrina. There’s some nice details about the roles of individuals during the time period and the dialogue feels like it fits for it as well.

The art by Savanna Mayer with color by Dearbhla Kelly, and lettering by Valeria Lopez is good. It’s an interesting style that delivers a tinge of horror without going over the top with it. The art dives into the aspect of what’s not shown is far scarier. The settings, dress, hair, all feel like they could be out of the time, though I’m not an expert.

There’s a stiffness to Return to Sleepy Hollow #1, a similar feeling I had from the little I’ve seen the film and the numerous trailers. With that stiffness, for me, it’s all rather slow. There’s nothing bad with that overall, it just doesn’t appeal to me as a reader, a personal thing than anything the creators have done. But, from reading it, I have a feeling those who really enjoy the original film will enjoy this.

Story: Casey Gilly Art: Savanna Mayer
Color: Dearbhla Kelly Letterer: Valeria Lopez
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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