Sleepy Hollow #1
Boom! Studios
Words: Marguerite Bennet
Pictures: Jorge Coelho
I’ll be upfront on this one. I’m of two minds with this book for a couple of different reasons. First up, I have never watched the TV show Sleepy Hollow, which this book originates. Second, I think I’m ok with that. So I’m going look at it from both sides of that coin.
Looking at it as an extension of the TV show, I feel a little bit left out. There are things that are referenced in this issue that, I assume, happened in the TV show. That left me a wee bit annoyed. I felt like I was on the outside of an inside joke and I just didn’t get it. On the other hand, knowing that things happened outside the telling of this tale did lend this issue a bit of depth and volume. Will we explore or explain the things referenced at a later date in this series? I don’t know. I don’t think it’s needed, but like I said, I felt a bit left behind a time or two.
Looking at this issue on its own, I kind of dig it. It definitely takes the legend of Sleepy Hollow, and turns it on its head quite a bit. Good old Ichabod has awoke in Today’s world tasked with fighting the evil that springs from the Headless Horseman. (At least, that’s what I took away from this issue. If I’m wrong, well, I guess I’ll have to read closer next time.) He’s partnered up with a cute female detective and together they are out there righting wrongs. Of course Ichabod fills the role of quaint and cute bumpkin trying to make his way in the modern world quite well. He also seems to like sweets an awful lot.
I think my favorite thing were the Hundred of Abaddon. How they were manifesting throughout the town was pretty cool and pretty freaky. I dug it a lot. Marguerite Bennet has crafted a pretty cool tale here, and if the creepy weird Hundred of Abaddon is an indication of what’s to come, I like it. Plus the art of Jorge Coelho is clean and crisp, yet deftly evokes that feeling of creepiness you want from a tale of this nature.
I know it’s because I haven’t seen the show yet, but I’d be fine if this series evolved on it’s with little or no tie in to the show. Of course, it might go lock step issue for episode with it and I wouldn’t know until I see it, so I guess I’m cool with it either way.
3.5 out of 5 Donut Holes