Graphic Novel Review - 'Hollow' by Shannon Watters (Writer), Branden Boyer-White (Writer), Berenice Nelle (Artist)

Yeah. I really should have read this in October.

But better late than never, especially when it comes to Samhain. And pumpkin spirits.

I'd put off reading 'Hollow' for too long, but I'm glad to have finally given it a chance. It is well written, the main characters are fully realised and three dimensional (one more so than the others, but I'll get to that), and the art is bold, soft and colourful. It's like 'Scooby-Doo', and any monster buster media you can think of involving a young trio or squad. It's like a better version of 'Nancy Drew: The Palace of Wisdom'. The mystery in 'Hollow' isn't mindblowing, surprising or really clever either, but it's still the far superior comic, with the advantage of the spooky Halloween theme and vibe. It sure sates my thirst for the occult, autumn, and pumpkins.

'Hollow' centers all around 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' (the novella of which I haven't read), set in the modern era. High schooler Isabel "Izzy" Crane (last name a coincidence?) is new in the little town of Sleepy Hollow, which is potently obsessed with the headless horseman book and legend. But especially when Halloween is coming up. Scientifically-and-mathematically-minded Izzy wants nothing to do with the whole nonsense.

And neither does fellow student Victoria "Vicky" Van Tassel, the direct descendant of Katrina Van Tassel. Vicky is made to perform for, and make all sorts of obligations to, Sleepy Hollow, because of its claim-to-fame namesake and theme, and she's sick of it. She wants to rebel, and tries to by wearing different types of clothing all the time (and even smoking once, which is a weird add-on in the comic), but she is still stuck in her assigned role she never asked for.

Izzy and Vicky form a bond - reluctantly on Vicky's part initially, due to Izzy's last name. A romantic bond. The school prankster jock Oscar "Croc" Byun tags along to make up their trio of teens who end up dealing with the supernatural.

Because, of course, it turns out that the legend of the headless horseman isn't nonsense. It's real. Ghosts are real. A vengeful spirit that's been roaming Sleepy Hollow for over two hundred years is out to kill Vicky because she's a Van Tassel. It's up to her, Izzy, Croc, and other, subversive help, to stop it, once and for all.

My favourite character has to be Vicky. She feels the most well rounded and real out of everyone. In my opinion, she is given more development than Izzy the protagonist. Not to mention she almost receives as much panel time as her. Not that Izzy isn't a good, well developed character - she is - but I guess I felt more for Vicky and her problems. Both girls are smart, but Vicky ranks powerfully higher for being boldly stubborn, temperamental, unpredictable, sassy, and funny, and she refuses to be the stereotypical pretty damsel in distress, even at the bitter end. She changes her clothing and hairstyle every day. You haven't seen a blonde, blue-eyed and slightly curvy girl in comics like her before.

I like that 'Hollow' also contains not one but two prominent mother-and-daughter relationships; for Izzy and Vicky and their mums. How Vicky and her mum develop together marks another of the subversive turns this story takes, and it is laudable and lovely. Very well done.

Diverse rep includes: Izzy is half-Hispanic and masculine presenting; she and Vicky are in an explicit sapphic relationship; Croc is Asian; his buddy Leon is Black; and there's a witch character, Marjorie, also a student, who uses crutches. Loads of side players and background people are POC, too.

'Hollow' - it's not perfect, it's not too exciting or original, but it has great characters, and Halloween, graveyards, woods, ghosts, magic, and did I mention pumpkins?

Good stuff.

Final Score: 3.5/5