Hollow

Hollow #1

by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, Berenice Nelle (Illustrator)

Sleepy Hollow and queer romance meet in this coming-of-age tale from the co-creator of Lumberjanes!

Isabel "Izzy" Crane and her family have just relocated to Sleepy Hollow, the town made famous by--and obsessed with--Washington Irving's legend of the Headless Horseman. But city slicker-skeptic Izzy has no time for superstition as she navigates life at a new address, a new school, and, with any luck, with new friends. Ghost stories aren't real, after all.... Then Izzy is pulled into the orbit of the town's teen royalty, Vicky Van Tassel (yes, that Van Tassel) and loveable varsity-level prankster Croc Byun. Vicky's weariness with her family connection to the legend turns to terror when the trio begins to be haunted by the Horseman himself, uncovering a curse set on destroying the Van Tassel line. Now, they have only until Halloween night to break it--meaning it's a totally inconvenient time for Izzy to develop a massive crush on the enigmatic Vicky. Can Izzy's practical nature help her face the unknown--or only trip her up? As the calendar runs down to the 31st, Izzy will have to use all of her wits and work with her new friends to save Vicky and uncover the mystery of the legendary Horseman of Sleepy Hollow--before it's too late. New York Times-bestselling writer Shannon Watters (Lumberjanes) and debut author Branden Boyer-White are joined by artist Berenice Nelle (Wanderlicht) in a coming of age tale that's at once a faithful homage and a free-wheeling spin-off of the classic Legend of Sleepy Hollow and everyone's favorite headless specter.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBT, Horror, Comics, Queer

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2022

About the author

Senior Editor at BOOM! Studios | Head of BOOM! Box | Co-Creator/Writer of Lumberjanes | your favorite boy band butch [she/her]
(from Twitter profile)

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel has been on my TBR for a while now so I was beyond excited to snatch it up as soon as I saw it on NetGalley!

Izzy’s mom has relocated the family to Sleepy Hollow - a town obsessed with the legend of the Headless Horseman - for a job in a fancy restaurant. Now Izzy not only has to contend with a new place, a new school and making friends with Actual People instead of books, but with everyone’s belief that the Horseman is out to get them. Her confidence that they’re all being ridiculous wanes when she has sightings of her own, and her crush on a descendent of the Van Tassel family certainly isn’t helping matters. With mysterious events occurring in town, a friendship group forms to get to the bottom of these paranormal happenings.

All the central characters in this are loveable, but Izzy - from how she dresses to her belief that she can Logic her way out of anything - was a favourite for me. Though there are some arguments between them, I really appreciated how they all ended up communicating with each other. There was also a side character who used mobility aids throughout which was so cool to see on the page! I loved her involvement with the group and I really hope there’s more to come with this series.

With a sweet sapphic romance and a loveable trio at its core, such cute art/character design (that I’m really just in love with) and a paranormal mystery, this is a queer read that’s perfect for spooky season!

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern day reimagining of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, about teen Isabel Crane who moves to the town of Sleepy Hollow. The town seems obsessed with the Headless Horseman, and at first Izzy is skeptical and doesn’t want to join in. But when she develops a crush on Vicky Va Tassel, a curse is revealed and Izzy must help save Vicky.

I thought this was such a cute take on the Sleepy Hollow story, with teens teaming up with the horseman to help save one of their own. All the characters were fun and unique, and the little romances sprinkled throughout were a delight. At times the plot waned, but came together at the end. And the artwork is immaculate!

[Bon · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, an instant favorite graphic novel. This is everything I've wanted! The horseman is not a villain! Romantic backstory! Queer scooby gang solving mysteries!

And the art and palette are absolutely gorgeous. Lots of orange fall colors meshed with a lovely teal for night scenes.

Just loved this.

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was sooo cute and I loved every second of it. 🧡 the Halloween vibes, sleepy hollow/horseman retelling, diversity, queer rep and the sweetest sapphic romance. the art is gorgeous and the characters are so likable. I enjoyed that the horseman was more involved in the story as well. it’s just the perfect read for this time of year.

[Pooja Peravali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Izzy Crane doesn't believe in the superstitions of her new town, the infamous Sleepy Hollow - but when it turns out that the girl she has a crush on is cursed, she must face that they are all true.

I don't read many graphic novels, but I probably should read more considering I've consistently enjoyed them! This was another solid addition to that line up.

I thought this story was cute and hit all the targets for a spooky but not scary Halloween read. There was plenty of humor, romance, and action, and I enjoyed the dynamic between the main trio of Izzy, Vicky, and Croc. I also liked how the author wove the elements of the tale of the Headless Horseman into this story while keeping it quite original. I also enjoyed the art, which was well-rendered and often humorous.

However, I wish the friendship between Izzy and Croc was developed a little more, as it leaves the trio feeling a little unbalanced as it currently stands. There were also some confusing elements to the story, such as why the villain approached Katrina Van Tassel in the first place, as well as why a certain character knew how to use magic at the climax.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sleepy Hollow is a town that revels in the spooky legend conjured up by Washington Irving, so seeing a headless horseman galloping around the village really isn't all that surprising . . . or is it?

As Halloween approaches, and the veil between life and death starts to lift, three teens team up with a helpful ghost to put an end to the curse that's been plaguing the Van Tassel family for centuries.

This was a fun, not-too-scary graphic aimed at the young adult market by the co-creator of Lumberjanes.

Look for it in September.

A big thank you to BOOM! Studios for making a PDF available to librarians!

[Shannara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this one because I’m into sleepy hollow stories and retellings. So I was intrigued by a graphic novel that explores what it would be like in sleepy hollow’s future. And it was super cute!! Isabel and Vicky are our two main characters and I absolutely adore them both. They’re sweet, smart, and strong women. I also enjoyed the girl on girl loving as opposed to Vicky falling for Croc, which wouldn’t have been nearly as cute.

Anyway, the story is unique and kept me interested the entire time. This was such a quick read that I had it done in one sitting. The art wasn’t perfect, but it’s still good and it’s full color throughout, which I love!!

I highly recommend this graphic novel to those who enjoy sleepy hollow retellings and an adorable lgbtqia+ love story.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Boom! Studios, and Shannon Watters for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Another read that makes me long for half star ratings -- 3 feels mean, but 4 is over-generous.

I'll start with the good aspects: I though the characters were very likable and had sufficient depth. I liked their interactions and their friendship. And I like the basic idea of the plot: a new kid, a local celeb, a clowny jock friend, gradual suspicions that something supernatural is threatening one of your friends, research, attempts to come up with a plan.

I'm not sure why this needed to be connected to Sleepy Hollow other than -- as I'm afraid I suspect of many of these not-really-retellings -- to make the book more marketable. The background story about an evil stranger and a curse was so incredibly vague, generic, and unmotivated that I was actually expecting a plot twist where the kids find out that wasn't what really happened. This rando just shows up, curses the family for no reason, and hangs around this lame town picking off Van Tassels for centuries? Where's his motivation?

Major complaint: There's a supernatural pit with voices coming out of it. Vicky is afraid they're the voices of her ancestors, killed by the evil spirit and perhaps trapped. They never check out the pit or confirm this suspicion; it's just a motivation for her to be upset and fight with the love interest.

Minor complaint: The sort of snapshot photograph they find in the archive wouldn't have been available in 1851.

Art: the humans are cute and have good expressions. Backgrounds are a little flat and after-thoughty. Actually, that sums up the book: it felt like the author had these characters and their relationships clear in mind, and a less clear supernatural storyline, and sort of sketched in the actual plot.

[Ben Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Hollow is a fun graphic novel set in the town of Sleepy Hollow. The town leans fully into the 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' year round, but especially in the month of October. But something paranormal with a vendetta against the Van Tassel line sets its sites on Vicky. It's up to Vicky, Izzy, and Croc to find a way to defeat the creature, along with some headless help, before it's too late and this Halloween season becomes Vicky's last.

I really enjoyed our trios friendship and the sapphic romance between Izzy and Vicky was cute. I feel like this would make for a great TV show.

[Steph ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible. The vibes are immaculate with this graphic novel and do we have any news on a second one because I'm obsessed?!

Perfect for Pride month, Halloween, bringing spooky vibes into your life all year round! Just perfect!

[Jan Agaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gordo was my favorite 😍

[Suhailah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ★★★★

Check this one out if you like: ↘
🎃LGBTQIA+ Representation
🎃Halloween Town All Year Round
🎃Coming of Age/Modern Reimagining of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow
🎃Funny Banter
🎃Spooky/Romance Graphic Novel
🎃Lineage Curses
🎃Paranormal Mysteries

✎𓂃📝If you are craving a light, fun, inclusive, and spooky-approved graphic novel then definitely check this one out! The art is fantastic. The themes are fun. ♡ I loved the Headless Horseman – that was my favorite character! My second favorite was Croc. He was hilarious! My only complaint is the plot. It just fell short for me because it felt unoriginal and too predictable. I was able to predict the direction it was going quite quickly, which made it lose some of its charm for me. Apparently, a sequel for this dropped this year. I’d be willing to give the series a second chance in the future if it becomes available at my local library.𓂃✍︎

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute! I love Sleepy Hollow retellings and this was an incredibly fun, fresh take on the story, especially since it's less of a retelling and more of a "sequel" set many, maaaany years later, following the Crane and Van Tassel descendants. The plot was a lot of fun, and I loved the Headless Horseman getting to be involved as a major character with a bit more dimension, even if it was a surprising change from what I'd typically expect in a story with this setting. The art was lovely, the characters were sweet and charming, and my little queer heart swooned for the sapphic romance playing out in the subplot. ♥ I highly recommend this for your Halloween TBR, or any time of year!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.

✨ Representation: Izzy is half-Latinx and sapphic; Vicky is sapphic; Croc is Asian; a side character uses crutches/mobility aids

✨ Content warnings for: violence, attempted murder

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[Lindsay (pawsomereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect graphic novel for the Halloween season! I loved the art and the storyline. It was such a good mix of cozy and spooky. I could definitely see myself re-reading this one again around this time of year!

[TIFFY ⭐️🥂 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super cute, fun Halloween 🎃 spooky LGBTQIA romance 🥰 and I loved it Izzy moves to sleepy not believing in the ghost story until the headless horseman chases her down, and she be friends a van tassel or is it more than friendship?

[Vittoria's Readings · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the perfect spooky seasons graphic novel! It’s a fun queer retelling for middle age and I really liked it.

Izzy recently moved to the town of Sleepy Hollow with her parents.
Everyone here seems to take the legend of the Headless Horseman too seriously, but she soon realizes it's not just a legend.
In the meantime, she will make friends with the star of the city, Vicky Van Tessel, and with a school friend, Croc. They will accompany her on this adventure to discover what lies behind the legend.

The art style is amazing, the colours are vivid and the drawings are very detailed.

The plot is really entertaining with a huge twist! The story explore the normal life of teenagers who have to face with a malignant presence. They have to balance their school and family commitments with overcoming evil.

I loved every character in the story! Croc made me laugh so much.
So, if you are searching for a sapphic cute graphic novel, this is for you!


Thank you NetGalley and Boom! Studios for an eArc in exchange for an honest review!

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy tale of Sleepy Hollows with a twist!

[⋆｡‧˚ʚ Emma ɞ˚‧｡⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel about an unlikely trio coming together to solve a Halloween mystery, what more could you want!
A perfect start to the spooky season.

The characters are so likable and relatable. There’s so much representation which made me very happy, from main characters to people in the background.
It all comes together to form an adorable and funny read.

Since the book is quite short some things felt a little rushed, especially the relationship between Izzy and Vicky.
Other then that I don’t have any complaints.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Danika at The Lesbrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, let’s hear it for a butch/masc woman of color as a main character. There are not nearly enough of those. As you might have guessed, this graphic novel is inspired by “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” We follow Izzy Crane just after she moves to Sleepy Hollow, where she quickly learns that everyone is obsessed with the story—and believes the spirit is real. Despite her skepticism, she makes a couple new friends at school, including Vicky Van Tassel. Vicky has a lot of expectations put on her as the youngest Van Tassel, and I liked how we saw her challenge these rigid ideas of who she is in part with her extremely varied wardrobe. Izzy has to get their help when she’s visited by the spirit and is forced to admit the local superstitions are true, and Vicky is in danger. Together, the three of them investigate what’s really happening in Sleepy Hollow. This is such a fun comic from the co-creator of Lumberjanes, and it has a talking jack-o’-lantern! How much more Halloween can you get? There’s also a very cute romance between Izzy and Vicky, and this is going to be a series! Volume two comes out in July 2025.

Full review at the Lesbrary.

[Anniek · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is a Sleepy Hollow retelling and I haven't read that, and I felt like I was missing a lot of context while reading this, preventing me from fully enjoying it. This isn't always an issue when reading retellings, but it definitely was here.

My main other critique is that the art, while lovely, was strangely blurry. The text was super clear, but the art itself was very blurred. This might just be an issue with the eARC, though.

[anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

rep: Latina lesbian mc, sapphic li, Korean American side character, Latina side character, disabled side character

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was the cutest, most inclusive comic I've ever read! It's on Hoopla for free but I need a copy! I'm so sad there's no more.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover on this one!

I have been slowly dipping my toes into graphic novels. They've never been my thing, but I am trying to step outside my box and try new genres. This one was particularly appealing because I love the story of the headless horseman and Sleepy Hollow. I enjoyed it a lot. Great graphics, and a solid story with diversity, humor, and wonderful characters.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[ryan wilkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love that lovable and hilarious big hunk, croc! the story itself is a queer coming-of-age fanfic of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow , as the title suggests—which is perfect for this time of year.

isabel “izzy” crane and her family have moved to sleepy hollow, a town obsessed with the washington irving legend the legend of sleepy hollow, staring the infamous headless horseman. we see izzy team up with vicky van tassel, a descendant of katrina van tassel (of whom the legend involves), and croc byun to unravel the mystery of sleepy hollow before tragedy befalls katrina and the town, sleepy hollow.

this graphic novel is cute. it’s range of characters is very inclusive, and our protagonist is queer—i love that. i also love the choice that being queer is not taboo in any way; being queer is seen as a fact of life, to the best of my understanding. i love when stories take this approach because it’s far too common for queer characters in literature to have to overcome a societal struggle in order to assert themselves in society. even though very valid and true to the real world fight for acceptance, it’s nice to switch things up once in a while and have stories create an escape into a world where being queer is not questioned, nor is it a big deal—it’s just human, how i wish everyone in the real world would see queerness.

i’ve always loved irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in all its iterations that i’ve come across so far. i’m strongly looking forward to doing a reread of irving’s original text for a review; then, following with tim burton’s 1999 film-adaption, sleepy hollow, and disney’s 1949 cartoon, the adventures of ichabod and mr.toad.

special thanks to netgalley and publisher, boom! box, for this arc! if at all interested, it will be published on october 4, 2022.

[mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Hollow follows Izzy Crane, as she and her family move to Sleepy Hollow, known for the legend of the Headless Horseman. Izzy doesn't really care about the legend, but she quickly realizes pretty much everyone in the town believes in it, at least a little bit. She quickly gets pulled into the whole story with her own paranormal experiences, especially as her crush, Vicky, is of the Van Tassels (like in the original story). When they find out that things might not be as they seem at first glance, the two of them plus Croc, their school friend have to figure out how to solve the mystery of what's happening and save Vicky from the curse that's following her family.

This was a super cute graphic novel that follows but also reimagines the original story. This is set right before Halloween, and it's perfectly atmospheric. I really liked the pacing of the story, it was mostly very even and there was just the right amount of information given at all times. It mainly deals with the storyline with the Horseman and the mystery of the curse, but I really like how it took the time to focus on Vicky and her family and the pressure she feels to keep up the family traditions. I also really loved the relationship between Izzy and Vicky, I thought they were lovely together. I very much enjoyed the friendship they develop with Croc as well. They are all interesting and distinct characters by themselves, but they worked really well as a team too. Also, Izzy's relationship with her mom was really sweet, I loved how supportive her mom was. My only slight issue was that the conflict between Izzy and Vicky sort of happens out of nowhere? I did enjoy how they communicated to solve it, I just felt it was a bit abrupt.

I really enjoyed the art style as well, I thought it was super cute and I loved how the characters were drawn. I also really loved how both Izzy and Vicky were dressed in this graphic novel. I especially loved Vicky's style, I think the switch from the costumes she wears for the Van Tassel events and her personal clothes really does well to show how she feels about the whole ordeal. And probably even more so, how much she has to pretend to upkeep the persona she presents to people. The color palette is great, it's fall- and Halloween-themed and it fits the vibe of the story perfectly.

All in all, I really enjoyed this graphic novel, and I would highly recommend it! It's a perfect fall atmospheric read, so if that's something you're interested in, look no further.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Hollow" follows Isabel Crane as she adjusts to life in the town of Sleepy Hollow, where the legend of the headless horseman pervades year round. She remains unimpressed with the town's obsession with its storied legend, until she meets Vicky van Tassel and the horseman himself! When Vicky's life is threatened by an ancient foe, she works together with Croc, Vicky, and the ghosts of Sleepy Hollow to protect Vicky's life and put a stop to this once and for all.

I'm not a huge fan of spooky season, and don't generally gravitate towards these kind of books. I do, however, appreciate the original story and was interested in the adaptation. I thought it was an interesting spin, and loved the addition of the LGBTQIA+ representation. I do wish the characters were a bit more fleshed out and that the romance developed more naturally between them. It existed purely on tropes and genre expectations. I liked Vicky's subplot with her struggling to make her own decisions about life or to comply with the expectations of her family -- this seems very relatable for teens, who I believe would be the target audience.

I suspect there will be more of these in the future. While I'm not sure I'll read them, I can see it being a nice little break for me during the fall months, and may give it a shot!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick review for a quick read. I'm sitting here reflecting on this with the equivalent of hearts in my eyes because this was absolutely adorable. I picked up "Hollow" by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White and Berenice Nelle on a whim because it came as recommendation from my local indie bookstore. (Even the cashier told me I picked up a cute story when she checked out my purchase, so that was promising.) It made sense to pick this up during spooky season/month because this is a modern day unique retelling of Sleepy Hollow.

We follow Izzy Crane as she starts living in the small town of Sleepy Hollow after her mother's job gets relocated. Of course, Izzy learns very quickly that Sleepy Hollow takes the lore surrounding the town VERY seriously, as they devote themselves to all things related to the Headless Horseman and the commitment of the Van Tassel family. Izzy comes to meet prankster Croc Byun and town royalty Vicky Van Tassel in the measure of things, but Izzy isn't so convinced that the town's ghost story is all that it's cracked up to be.

Except when it is, ha.

Ultimately the three discover that Vicky's family is under a generational string of curses and it's up to the three to unravel how to break the curse and who might be behind it. With a little help from the actual headless horseman, the pumpkin head and the horse, Izzy, Vicky, and Croc all use their own unique talents to unravel the mystery. The story in this was paced so very well, and I loved every single one of the main characters here. Izzy is wonderful to follow, and I liked her rapport with Vicky and Croc in the novel. The sapphic romance in here was very cute too, I enjoyed watching the characters relationship grow over time and events, it felt like such a breath of fresh air, even in the midst of some unlikely and harrowing situations.

I would read an entire series beyond this one and revisit these characters gladly. The artwork and coloring for the panels were gorgeous, likewise the design for the characters as well. I'd definitely recommend it as a light, spooky, and romantic read. Very well done and I can't wait to read more from the creators of this graphic novel in the future.

Overall score: 5/5 stars.

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
such the PERFECT graphic novel for halloween!!

quick and easy read with lovable characters, LGBTQ rep and all the spooky vibes you could want!!

loved it!

[Gina Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute spin on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! It's inclusive, queer, and just generally sweet. I'm a fan of the art and just the general cozy spooky vibes.

Izzy Crane is new to town - and the town is OBSESSED with the van Tassel family. Vicky is a van Tassel and is totally over being the pride and joy of the town. Initially Vicky doesn't want to be within 10 feet of a Crane, but she eventually folds, and Izzy tutors Vicky in math (math she is purposely failing as her way of acting out) and maybe they get to know each other even better than that... (I will say there's a sort of after-sex type scene that's sort of out of place in this story?? but w/e I guess)

They also have a friend, Croc, who is a major himbo, and together, the 3 find out the real secret of the Headless Horseman and the way it's haunting their town.

I don't wanna say too much because it definitely deviates from the original plot of the classic story. But it's an inclusive, fourth wall breaking spin on the old Ichabod Crane story that I think is totally worth the read this season.

[Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I know about the Sleepy Hollow legend is that there's a movie adaptation with Christina Ricci that I once tried to watch and promptly fell asleep. A headless horseman ghost story sounded kind of boring to me even as a kid. Idk. But this particular graphic novel retelling is actually fun and spooky without being overly scary. It gives Vampire Diaries Mystic Falls Founder's Day vibes. Also there's the enemies-to-lovers sapphic part that's pretty cool if you're into tropes. I would love to see more from this universe. 🐎🎃🌈