Sleepy Hollow Prequel Comic Dives Into Witch’s Dark Past
A chilling new comic series explores the origins of Lady Mary Van Tassel and her sinister link to the Headless Horseman, promising a darker twist on the Sleepy Hollow legend.
Nearly three decades after Tim Burton’s gothic classic first hit the big screen, fans are in for a surprise return to the haunted woods of Sleepy Hollow—though not in the way most would expect. The original film, which landed in cinemas on 19 November 1999, followed Ichabod Crane as he tried to get to the bottom of a string of grisly killings in upstate New York. Over the years, it’s become a cult favourite, often cited as one of the best collaborations between Burton and Johnny Depp.
Now, a fresh chapter is about to unfold. IDW Publishing is set to launch the first issue of ‘Sleepy Hollow: The Witches of the Western Wood’ on 6 May, under their IDW Dark label. This five-part comic series will peel back the layers on Lady Mary Van Tassel’s backstory, revealing how her fate became entwined with the infamous Headless Horseman. Fans might remember Miranda Richardson’s chilling portrayal of Van Tassel, who met a fiery end after her deadly schemes were foiled by Crane.
Unveiling the Witch’s Origins
Written by Delilah S. Dawson and illustrated by Jose Jaro, the series promises to take readers deeper into the eerie world first conjured by Burton. Dawson, clearly thrilled to be involved, shared,
“I’ve been a fan of Sleepy Hollow since I saw it in the theatre in 1999 and a fan of Tim Burton since Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, so getting to play in a world as dark and whimsical as I am has been an absolute treat. I once had a lucid dream in the witch cave while falling asleep to the film, which now almost feels like a portent of what was to come; this world lives in my bones. Prepare yourself to learn the secret history of Lady Van Tassel and her relationship with the Horseman — if you dare.”
This new prequel takes punters back to the very beginning, when Lady Mary was still known as Sarah Archer. Alongside her twin, she endured hardship and neglect, eventually learning the dark arts that would shape her destiny. The official synopsis teases,
“When a chance encounter with the hellish Hessian at the moment of his beheading lights a fire in Sarah, she’s given the power to overcome those who have wronged her and grow into a fearsome witch.”
Darker Than Ever Before
With Paramount Pictures giving the green light, the creative team had the freedom to push the story into even grimmer territory than the original film. Editor Riley Farmer explained,
“We wanted to understand this fearsome witch and the Horseman a bit better, and Paramount has been a wonderful partner in doing so — allowing us to push the story to be darker and more horrific than anything Sleepy Hollow has seen before.”
Jose Jaro’s artwork is set to bring this horror to life in vivid, sometimes gruesome detail. Farmer added,
“And the way that Jose Jaro is bringing that horror to life is captivating (and sometimes gruesome!). I can’t wait for readers to see the Horseman’s first ride — heads will roll!”
Release Details and What’s Next
This isn’t the first time IDW has revisited the Sleepy Hollow universe. Last year, they released a sequel series, ‘Return to Sleepy Hollow’, set 15 years after the events of the film. Now, with ‘The Witches of the Western Wood’, readers will get to see how the legend began, with a focus on the transformation of Sarah Archer into the formidable Lady Van Tassel.
Pre-orders for the debut issue are open until 30 March, with the comic hitting shelves on 6 May. Fans keen for a darker, more twisted take on the Sleepy Hollow mythos won’t want to miss this one.