“JURASSIC PARK Meets LOCKE & KEY” — Q&A with ARCHAIC Writer Melissa F. Olson and Exclusive Character Designs by Artist Sally Cantirino

Living off-grid with three children thanks to the reckless actions of her ex-husband, single mother Tess finds herself "caught between a sentient rock and a criminal hard place" after she inherits an island that's home to ancient gods and one hell of a catch: as its new caretaker, she can't leave the island after arriving. Such is the unique premise of Archaic, the five-issue comic book series from writer Melissa F. Olson, artist Sally Cantirino, and colorist Gab Contreras that is being collected in a trade paperback from AHOY Comics.

Ahead of the trade paperback's release this October, we caught up with Melissa in a new Q&A feature to discuss writing the series that she pitched as "Jurassic Park meets Locke & Key," and we also have an exclusive look at Sally Cantirino's character designs that will be included with insightful commentary as bonus material in the Archaic trade paperback!

Below, you can read our full Q&A with Melissa and check out Sally's character designs, and we also have a look at preview pages from Archaic. To learn more about this series and other exciting releases from AHOY Comics, be sure to visit:

• https://comicsahoy.com/comics/archaic

Thank you for taking the time to answer questions for us, Melissa, and congratulations on the trade paperback release of Archaic! How did you initially come up with the idea for this comic book series?

Melissa F. Olson: During the pandemic, I spent a lot of time thinking about parenting and safety, and the urge to protect your kids at all costs. I wanted to write the extreme wish fulfillment version of that… but like all wish fulfillment stories, it had to come with a price. So I wrote a single mother whose children are in danger, and she inherits an island that can truly protect her—as long as she never leaves again.

Archaic is set on a fantastical island of gods and monsters, but it’s also a very human story about a single mother trying to reset her life while caring for her three children. How important was it for you to keep that human element as the beating heart of this story?

Melissa F. Olson: I don’t think I could write her without that element. Tess is a badass ex-Navy cop who is up for the many challenges this powerful island throws at her, while I rarely feel up to grocery shopping. But I can connect to the fact that like every mom, Tess has to juggle her role to her children with her role in the world.

I love how your prose pairs with Sally Cantirin’s artwork (as well as the coloring by Gab Contreras and lettering by Rob Steen) to tell the story of Archaic. What was it about Sally’s distinct visual style that made her the perfect collaborator to bring Archaic to life?

Melissa F. Olson: This will sound strange, but I liked Sally’s style because it was so different from the way I had imagined the story. There’s a type of comic art that’s almost the default in my brain: the classic superhero lines and colors, the thing you automatically picture when you think Batman or X-Men. I was probably picturing that when I wrote the first script. When I saw Sally’s work in I Walk With Monsters, however, I thought the way she draws was so unique and unusual that it felt like being transported somewhere. That paired so well with this story.

You’ve had extensive experience as a novelist, but Archaic marks your first full-length comic book. What did you learn from writing Archaic that you look forward to applying to future comic book projects?

Melissa F. Olson: Oh my gosh, so much. Learning to write comics is like learning to pick locks: you can learn much of what you need to know with enough reading and research, but that last 25% is about getting the feel for it, and that only comes with practice. I now have a much better sense of the layout of a page and the amount of description to put in a script… although I still can’t pick locks.

Were there any movies, books, TV series, or graphic novels that inspired you while working on Archaic?

Melissa F. Olson: I pitched the book as “Jurassic Park meets Locke & Key,” so obviously those were both big influences. Mostly, though, I did lots and lots of research: on Ereshkigal, the Mesopotamian underworld, phantom islands, home décor, ziggurats, shooting ranges, underwater explosives, the Great Lakes Naval Station… I may have gone a little too deep on research.

What has it been like to work with the team at AHOY Comics as you prepare to release this trade paperback of Archaic?

Melissa F. Olson: AHOY is the best. Because of how things worked out with scheduling, I was able to write most of the scripts before Sally started drawing. As I progressed with the scripts, I got more and more comfortable in the format, and I kept wanting to go back and edit the earlier issues to make the full story streamlined and consistent. My poor editor, Sarah Litt, kept getting these messages from me after she’d accepted a final draft: “Oh, hey, can I change this thing again?” Every time, she was so encouraging and always said yes. As a result, I’m really proud of how cohesive these five issues are together. They really belong collected in a trade—and that’s thanks to Sarah.

Do you have plans to continue the story of Archaic if given the opportunity?

Melissa F. Olson: Absolutely. These five issues introduce a mystery arc that’s completely wrapped up: Who killed Tess’ father, Phillip? But my background is in series fiction; I’m a big world-builder. I planted a lot of seeds and Easter eggs throughout this book in case I get to tell future stories. For example, we’ve only seen about a quarter of the island so far, the ancient Mesopotamian sector. I’ve built out a whole map with other mythologies. I also know why Demonde needs a human caretaker, and why it has to be someone from Tess’ bloodline. I’d love the chance to get into more of that.

Ultimately, what do you hope readers take away from Archaic?

Melissa F. Olson: I really wanted to write a family that felt real and complicated and funny, like most families are. I hope readers can see that, and come away with that happy/satisfied/wanting more feeling you get from a really great adventure.

With the Archaic trade paperback coming out October 8th from AHOY Comics, what other projects do you have coming up that you can tease for our readers?

Melissa F. Olson: My agent is about to go out on submission with a middle grade sci-fi novel I wrote, so hopefully I’ll have more news on that soon. I’m also pitching two other comic projects, one of which I’m writing with my sister Stephanie G. Olson. Finally, I’m working on an "eco-thriller" sci-fi novel for my Patreon followers, where I release a chunk each month. It's about a group of scientists who go to an island in Antarctica to study their new de-extinct mammoths... only to find that the island is not as uninhabited as they thought. Apparently I have a thing for scary island adventures.

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From the Press Release: This [October], Syracuse-based independent publisher AHOY Comics invites readers to visit the magical and unsettling world of ARCHAIC, a modern-day action-adventure following the newest residents of a sentient island populated by the gods and monsters of dead civilizations: a harried single mom and her three kids. From writer Melissa F. Olson (Project: Cryptid, Dead Spots), artist Sally Cantirino (I Walk With Monsters), and colorist Gab Contreras (Witchblood), the fast-paced mystery explores what happens to legends once the world no longer has use for them. The trade paperback of ARCHAIC lands in stores on [October 8th], 2025.

“This is my first full-length comic book, but, weirdly, it’s also the most personal story I’ve ever written,” said writer Melissa F. Olson, who is best known for a long-running series of urban fantasy novels. “When the world came to a standstill during COVID lockdown, a lot of people had to re-think their place in the world, myself included. What does it really mean for me to be employed, to parent, to have purpose? What do I do with the instinct to protect my children from really big things I can’t control? Those are tough questions, and the more I considered them, the more I wanted to write about a character who was doing the same thing in a truly fantastical place. I’m so grateful I was able to connect with Sally, the best monster artist in the business, and honored that AHOY wanted to tell this story with us.”

After Tess Halliday’s crooked ex-husband steals from some bad people, Tess is off-grid in snowy Chicago with her teenage stepson Teo and ten-year-old twins Audrey and Liam. Then life-changing news arrives on the doorstep: The biological father she never met has left Tess a tiny coastal island off North Carolina called Demonde, which includes a mansion and trust — and a guarantee that Tess and her family will have complete safety. Tess is grateful for a temporary escape to sunnier shores — but the island has her own plans for the Hallidays, and they don’t include sunbathing. After the mysterious death of Tess’s father Phillip, the sentient, controlling Demonde needs a human trustee to deal with the resident frustrated gods and squabbling legends. Now that she’s here, Tess is bound by blood to stay forever…at least according to the island’s two-faced (literally) butler and the local goddess of the dead. Caught between a sentient rock and a criminal hard place, Tess and the kids race to find Phillip’s killer and understand their place on an island of retired magic .

“Melissa has woven an excellent story with ARCHAIC — it resonated with me from the first time that I read the pitch,” said artist Sally Cantirino. “Starting a new phase in life is scary, and so is confronting the metaphorical monsters of your past or your ancestors. Tess, Teo, Aubrey, and Liam all embrace that adventure with an admirable combination of strength and curiosity. I couldn’t wait to explore the world and delve into the mysteries of the island right alongside Tess and her family. It was such a fun and rewarding experience to collaborate with Melissa as an artist to design the island and its inhabitants, and Gab’s colors bring it all to life.”

“I love the whole concept of this book,” said AHOY Senior Editor Sarah Litt. “Where do the Old Gods go to retire? Melissa executes everything flawlessly. And Sally’s art, along with Gab’s colors, really brings everything to life. This team has been absolutely phenomenal to work with. I consider myself very lucky when everything clicks like this.”

ARCHAIC will be published by AHOY Comics, the independent publisher which has made its reputation on witty satires, acclaimed creators, and commitment to bold and risk-taking storytelling — with critically acclaimed titles such as THE TOXIC AVENGER by Matt Bors and Fred Harper, SECOND COMING by Mark Russell and Richard Pace, BABS by Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows, HOWL by Alisa Kwitney and Mauricet, THE WRONG EARTH by Tom Peyer and Jamal Igle, JUSTICE WARRIORS by Matt Bors and Ben Clarkson, the quirky monster anthology PROJECT: CRYPTID, and many more.

Here’s what folks are saying about ARCHAIC:

“An unlikely marriage of Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Fleabag… We are so here for this bizarre journey.”—THE MARY SUE

“Archaic is the sentient island action series you’ve been waiting for.”—COMIC BOOK CLUB LIVE

“Surreal and captivating… We continue to be enthralled with every page and piece of art that passes our eyes… If you love to cheer on the underdog as they wrestle with old gods—real or otherwise—Archaic could be your next favorite read.”—FREAK SUGAR

“It will appeal to fans of modern fantasy and weird horror.”—KABOOOOOM

“Melissa Olson is unraveling this story like peeling an orange. With every layer we find out more and it leaves us wanting more… If you like story-driven comics, this book is definitely for you.”—NERD INITIATIVE

ARCHAIC (tpb) will be on sale in comic shops everywhere on [October 8], 2025.

About the Creators
Melissa F. Olson is the author of more than a dozen books in the Old World universe, the PI mystery The Big Keep, and numerous short stories and novellas, including the Nightshades trilogy for Tor.com. Her journalism and academic work has been published in The International Journal of Comic Art, the compilation Images of the Modern Vampire, Litreactor.com, and Tor.com, among other places. Melissa has been a writing teacher, English professor, and TEDx presenter, but she now divides her time between writing and conventions, where she speaks about issues related to genre, feminism, writing, and parenting. Read more about her work and life at MelissaFOlson.com.

Sally Cantirino is a comic artist and illustrator currently based in New Jersey. Her recent comics work includes I Walk With Monsters, Human Remains, and Door to Door, Night by Night for Vault Comics, and The Final Girls for Comixology. She has also worked for comics publishers such as Z2, IDW, and Boom. Her illustration work can be found in the TTRPG world through publishers like Exalted Funeral, World Champ Game Co, and 321 Action.

Gab Contreras is a comic book colorist, illustrator, and graphic designer from Lima, Peru. As a colorist, she has worked on books and anthologies for various publishers, most notably The Final Girls (ComiXology Originals), All We Ever Wanted: Stories of a Better World, Dead Beats (A Wave Blue World), and 2000 AD Summer Special 2018 (2000 AD). Gab is currently working on Dirtbag Rapture (ONI Press), Witchblood (Vault Comics), TRVE KVLT, and a couple of upcoming projects soon to be announced.

About AHOY Comics
AHOY Comics debuted in the fall of 2018 with the bold promise for readers to expect more from its line of comic book magazines, featuring comic book stories, poetry, prose fiction, and cartoons. Brainchild of publisher Hart Seely, editor-in-chief Tom Peyer, CCO Frank Cammuso, and Ops guy Stuart Moore, the Syracuse-based indie publisher has made its reputation on witty satires, acclaimed creators, and commitment to bold and risk-taking storytelling — with critically acclaimed titles such as THE TOXIC AVENGER by Matt Bors and Fred Harper, SECOND COMING by Mark Russell and Richard Pace, BABS by Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows, HOWL by Alisa Kwitney and Mauricet, THE WRONG EARTH by Tom Peyer and Jamal Igle, JUSTICE WARRIORS by Matt Bors and Ben Clarkson, the quirky monster anthology PROJECT: CRYPTID, and many more.

Exclusive Character Designs and Commentary by Sally Cantirino:

Archaic Trade Paperback Cover and Preview Pages: