Sleepy Hollow: The Witches of the Western Wood #1

by Delilah S. Dawson, Jose Jaro (Artist)

Revisit the world of Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow in this prequel, The Witches of the Western Wood! Before Mary Van Tassel terrorized the town of Sleepy Hollow with the devilish Headless Horseman, she was Sarah Archer—a young girl trying to survive her witch of a mother. Sarah and her twin are raised in the wild Western Wood, taught the ways of witchcraft, and forced to endure abuse and neglect. But a chance encounter with the hellish Hessian at the moment of his beheading lights a fire in Sarah, giving her the power to overcome those who have wronged her and grow into a fearsome witch. From Delilah Dawson and Jose Jaro comes the tale of Sarah Archer’s corruption and the Headless Horseman’s first ride.

Genres: Comics

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2026

About the author

Delilah S. Dawson is the New York Times-bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma, Black Spire: Galaxy's Edge, and The Perfect Weapon. With Kevin Hearne, she writes the Tales of Pell. As Lila Bowen, she writes the Shadow series, beginning with Wake of Vultures. Her other books include the Blud series, the Hit series, and Servants of the Storm.

She's written comics in the worlds of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Lore's Wellington, Star Wars Adventures, Star Wars Forces of Destiny, The X-Files Case Files, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and her creator-owned comics include Star Pig, Ladycastle, and Sparrowhawk.

Find out more at www.whimsydark.com.

Reviews

[The Void Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sleepy Hollow: The Witches of the Western Woods #1
Delilah S. Dawson, José Jaro (Artist)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A great start to this new prequel series—dark, feral, and full of promise. The Witches of the Western Woods #1 pulls readers back into the eerie mythology of Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow, but instead of revisiting familiar ground, it digs deeper into the cursed roots of the Western Wood. Delilah S. Dawson’s writing is sharp and unsettling, capturing the brutality and isolation of Sarah Archer’s childhood with a tone that feels both folkloric and cinematic.

José Jaro’s artwork is fantastic—moody, textured, and perfectly tuned to the story’s blend of witchcraft, trauma, and destiny. The Western Wood feels alive in every panel, a place that shapes and scars its inhabitants. The character work is equally strong, especially in how Sarah and her twin navigate their mother’s cruelty and the harshness of their upbringing.

The moment Sarah encounters the Hessian at the instant of his beheading is the issue’s standout sequence—violent, supernatural, and transformative. It lights the fuse on her evolution from abused child to the fearsome witch who will one day become Mary Van Tassel. It’s a compelling origin point, and the creative team makes it feel both tragic and inevitable.

As first issues go, this one hits the mark: well written, beautifully illustrated, and rich with potential. I’m absolutely in for the second issue.

Happy reading from the Void 🎃🐎🧙📚

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one and nothing will stand in my way, I promise you. So far really good! Can’t wait for the next issue!

[Lizzy DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Definitely getting the rest of these issues.