The vintage comic will also include the following variants Liana fabric and Emma Vercelli.
What is ARCHAIC about?
After Tess Halliday’s crooked ex-husband steals from some bad guys, Tess and her teenage stepson Teo and ten-year-old twins Audrey and Leigh Liam goes off the grid in snowy Chicago. Then life-changing news arrives on the doorstep: The biological father she has never met has left Tess a small coastal island called Demond, near North Carolina, which includes a mansion and trust and guarantees Tess and Her family will have complete safety. Tess is grateful for the temporary escape to the sunny shores, but the island has its own plans for the Hallidays, and they don’t include sunbathing. After the mysterious death of Tess’s father Philip, the sentient, manipulative Demond needs a human trustee to deal with the local frustrated gods and squabbling legends. Now that Tess is here, she’s here to stay forever by blood…at least according to the island’s two-faced (literal) housekeeper and local goddess of the dead. Caught between sentient rocks and criminal dilemmas, Tess and the children race to find Philip’s killer and learn their place on the enchanted island of retirement.
“This is my first full-length comic book, but oddly enough, it’s also the most personal story I’ve ever written,” author Melissa F. Olson, best known for her long-running urban fantasy series Melissa F. Olson said. “When the world came to a standstill during the COVID-19 lockdown, many people had to rethink their place in the world, myself included. What does it mean for me to work, to raise children, to have purpose? How can I take advantage of that? Instinct to protect my kids from big things that I can’t control? These are tough questions, and the more I think about them, the more I want to write a character who does the same thing in a truly fantastical place. I’m so grateful. It’s an honor to be connected with Sally, one of the best monster artists in the industry, and to have AHOY tell this story with us.
“Melissa and ARCHAIC have weaved a wonderful story – one that resonated with me from the first time I read the promotional material,” said artist Sally Cantirino. “Starting a new phase of life can be scary, as can facing metaphorical monsters from the past or ancestors. Tess, Theo, Aubrey and Liam have all embraced this time with admirable strength and curiosity. Adventure. I can’t wait to explore the world and the mysteries of this island with Tess and her family. Working with artist Melissa to design the island and its inhabitants has been such a fun and rewarding experience, and Gab’s colors make it all happen. Be lifelike.
“I love the whole concept of this book,” said Sarah Litt, senior editor at AHOY. “Where did the Old Gods retire? Melissa executed everything perfectly. Sally’s art and Gab’s colors really made everything come alive. Working with this team is absolutely phenomenal. When everything goes so smoothly, I think I Very lucky.
“ARCHAIC #1” will be released in comic stores everywhere on December 4, 2024.
