Return to Sleepy Hollow, Graphic Novel

In his own way, Washington Irving profoundly influenced comic book history. He is generally credited with popularizing “Gotham” as an informal monicker for New York City. (Of course, it became a city unto itself, in Detective Comics.) His most famous tale also inspired Walt Disney and Tim Burton, but neither has yet produced a sequel. However, IDW has, continuing the story of Burton’s characters. Fifteen years after he dispatched the Hessian back to the way-down-below, Ichabod Crane is summoned again in Casey Gilly’s Return to Sleepy Hollow, illustrated by Savanna Mayer, which releases today.

Initially, Crane left town with Katrina Van Tassel and his orphaned ward, Masbath. However, she apparently returned to Sleepy Hollow, to assume family’s leadership position and atone for their sins. She dutifully serves the community as their undertaking and a pioneering, but unofficial, pathologist. Unfortunately, she has had way too much work lately. That is why she wrote to Crane (a criminologist rather than Irving’s schoolteacher) requesting his help.

Except, she didn’t. It was one of the restless spirits possessing her medium daughter, Lotte. The Van Tassels know there is Headless Horseman-level supernatural danger afoot. However, Crane has been in denial, having convinced himself the occult events of the movie were really just a collective delusion. Once again, he must learn the truth the hard way.

The highest praise you can give a licensed property like Return to Sleepy Hollow is that fans of the film will enjoy the comic sequel almost as much. That is largely true in this case. Gilly’s story hews closely to the tone of the original and treats the surviving characters with the respect they deserve. Honestly, this is a perfect example of why licensed comics and novels are often far superior to studio-produced sequels and reboots. They give the fans what they want.

Admittedly, the characters do not resemble the original cast, but that is probably a function of rights and permissions. Johnny Depp has excellent lawyers—just ask Amber Heard. While Mayer’s Crane is closer to Depp than her Van Tassel is to Christina Ricci, what really matters is the way Gilly’s narrative feels like a logical extension of Andrew Kevin Walker’s screenplay.

Regular readers of horror comics will also appreciate the way Mayer’s art embraces macabre imagery and a color palate dominated by crimson reds. Some fans might have favored a more noir look, but it is really a matter of personal preference.

It is worth reminding readers that this hotbed of superstition, black magic, gossip, and corruption lies nestled in the Hudson Valley rather than the deep south. Arguably, the story is a bit more Poe-like and Hawthornesque and Irving-ish, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. What matters is that the persona of Gilly’s Crane is consistent with Burton’s Crane. Highly recommended for Burton and Irving fans, Return to Sleepy Hollow goes on-sale today (9/15) at book and comic retailers.