Draft:Sleepless Domain

Sleepless Domain is an American webcomic and graphic novel series written and illustrated by Mary Cagle. The comic is published by Hiveworks Comics and has been serialized online since April 6, 2015, with a print edition published in 2018. Set in an isolated city where magical girls and their battles against monsters are commonplace, the story follows Undine Wells, a timid supporting member of her popular magical girl team. After a tragic event leaves her as the sole remaining member of her team, Undine is forced to confront the reality of her situation and find a way to move forward.

Sleepless Domain has been positively received by critics for its art, characters, and world-building. The comic has been nominated for the Cartoonist Studio Prize, and has been published in print in both English (by Seven Seas Entertainment) and French (by Hachette Livre).

Setting
Sleepless Domain is set in a nameless and isolated city that is regularly besieged by monsters. During the day, the city is protected by a magical barrier that prevents the monsters from entering. However, each night between 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM, the barrier is lowered, and the monsters are free to roam the city. In order to protect the population during these hours, the city is home to a large number of magical girls, young women who are granted magical powers to combat the monsters.

Within the city, magical girls are regarded by the public as celebrities. Popular magical girls are often followed by camera crews while on duty and have their fights televised during the day. Many magical girls choose to monetize their popularity through sponsorships, brand deals, and officially licensed merchandise. Magical girls are also encouraged, though not required, to register with the Board of Magical Girls, a government agency that oversees magical girl activity within the city. The city provides various benefits to girls who choose to register, including access to counseling and admission to the exclusive Future's Promise School for Magical Girls.

Plot
The story initially follows Team Alchemical, an established group of five magical girls themed after the classical elements. The team is led by Tessa, who is the most powerful member of the group with the ability to control aether; the other members of the team include Undine, Sylvia, Sally, and Gwen. While on patrol one night, however, the team is ambushed by a powerful monster, resulting in the deaths of Sylvia, Sally, and Gwen. Tessa sacrifices her powers in order to save Undine's life, leaving Undine as the sole surviving member of the team. Following the tragedy, Undine is left to cope with the loss of her friends. At Tessa's urging, she begins to looks for a new team to join, initially to no avail. At the same time, Undine attempts to investigate the circumstances of the attack that killed her friends.

Development
The comic was officially announced by Hiveworks on July 29, 2014, under the working title Umbra Rising. The comic was later renamed to Sleepless Domain prior to its launch in 2015, which was deemed to better suit the series' concept.

The comic's first page was published on April 6, 2015. At its inception, the comic was initially written by Mary Cagle and drawn by Oscar Vega. After Vega left Hiveworks in late 2015, Cagle took over as the primary artist for the comic. Starting in early 2021, Cagle has worked with background artists to assist with the comic's art.

Print editions
Hachette began publishing a French-language physical release of the comic in 2018. In 2020, Seven Seas Entertainment announced a print and ebook release of the comic.

Critical reception
Sleepless Domain has been generally well-received by critics, with specific praise for its art, character development, and world-building. Critics have noted the comic's darker themes and its exploration of sensitive topics including trauma and survivor's guilt. Multiple reviews have noted the contrast between the comic's "cute" art style and its darker storyline.

Publishers Weekly praised the comic for its darker take on the magical girl genre, calling the first printed volume a "propulsive series starter" and noting its exploration of themes such as survivor's guilt, power, and exploitation. Kotaku described the series as a tragic story about "loss of fellowship," also noting that the comic's darker themes are contrasted with Cagle's cute art style. Sleepless Domain was included in CBR's Top 100 Comics of 2022, with Brian Cronin praising the comic for its character work and art.

Sleepless Domain has also been noted for its positive LGBTQ+ representation and themes. The queer magazine INTO included Sleepless Domain in its list of "10 Fabulous LGBTQ+ Magical Girl Comics for Queer Readers," specifically noting the comic's sensitive handling of difficult subject matter and its unique premise. LGBTQ Reads also recommended the comic for its LGBTQ-friendly world and characters, calling it "refreshing" that the characters' LGBTQ+ identities are accepted and normalized within the story.

Sleepless Domain has been compared to other magical girl series that feature dark themes, including Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Magical Girl Raising Project, and Yuki Yuna is a Hero. ComicsXF compared Sleepless Domain favorably to other dark magical girl stories regarding its portrayal of sensitive topics, noting that rather than glamorizing the characters' trauma, the comic emphasizes healthy coping mechanisms and the importance of finding support. Critic Peter MacDonald described the series' tone as being "very much informed by" more deconstructive magical girl series while "not trying to be one. It's set in a world where bad stuff happens, but it resists the urge to be grim and chooses to be genuine and heartfelt instead."

Awards and nominations
In 2019, Sleepless Domain was shortlisted for the eighth Cartoonist Studio Prize for Best Web Comic.