In 1999, Tim Burton directed “Sleepy Hollow” starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci, based on the legend of the Headless Horseman. Last year, IDW Dark published a 5-issue run of the sequel comic “Return to Sleepy Hollow.” Picking up 15 years after the events of the film.
IDW will be dialing back the clock on the universe with the prequel comic “Sleepy Hollow: The Witches of the Western Wood.”
This new 5-issue series is written by Delilah S. Dawson and with art by Jose Jaro. It will tell the origins of Lady Mary Van Tassel, played by Miranda Richardson in the movie, exploring her backstory and how she became connected to the Headless Horseman.
“I’ve been a fan of Sleepy Hollow since I saw it in the theater 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,” Dawson told Entertainment Weekly. “I once had a lucid dream in the witch cave while falling asleep to the movie, 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!”
Lady Van Tassel and “Sleepy Hollow”
Lady Van Tassel was born Sarah Archer. She endures horrific abuse and neglect in childhood, alongside her twin. The two were raised in the wild Western Wood, where they learned witchcraft. By chance, one night, they meet the hellish Hessian at the moment of his beheading. This traumatic experience ignites something in Sarah, allowing her to battle those who wronged her.
“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,” explains Riley Farmer, editor. “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!”
“Sleepy Hollow: The Witches of the Western Wood” will hit shelves on May 6th, 2026. Preorders for the first issue will open up on March 30th.
