Ok, so I get my last review probably had a bit too much fanboy gushing for the 2013 Tomb Raider game, so I’ll keep the video game stuff short; this is a comic book review after all, and although this particular series is directly informed by this excellent game, I’ll focus on the comics from here on out…
Buy the game, seriously.
Sorry, out of my system, I promise. Tomb Raider #2 opens with a fast resolution to the previous issue’s cliffhanger. We’re introduced to something issue #1 lacked, an antagonist. We’re given glimpses of a secret organization that may, or may not have ties to the Yamatai island incident. There’s a mystery involving Lara Croft and the other survivors taking artifacts from the island with them; Lara apparently doesn’t remember doing this. Well, these shadowy bad guys are after those artifacts, for what? A ritual? Perhaps a nefarious tool to take over the world?
We don’t know yet. All we know is that there’s five items that have five guardians and the bad guys want these items because…no idea. Something I’m looking forward to more of in the next issue is the mysterious woman the big bad evil organization has unleashed and tasked with retrieving the pieces.
The writing is more of the same from the excellent Gail Simone, but there’s more misses in dialogue in this issue than there were in the one prior. Another thing, I’m getting a little frustrated with the art. The backgrounds look bland and uninteresting, especially during the opening at The Grand Canyon. This is Tomb Raider, so why aren’t we seeing our characters raid tombs? Where’s the cool and interesting set pieces you’d expect in a title like this? I hope issue #3 shows us something mesmerizing in the next issue.
All in all, I’m still enjoying this series. It can still use some improvement, but far from awful. I still recommend fans of the game, and fans of strong and empowered female characters give it a try because this is a Lara Croft world that’s more than just pointy and giant pixelated boobs.
Script: Gail Simone
Pencils: Nicolás Daniel Selma
Inks: Juan Gedeon
Colors: Michael Atiyeh
Lettering: Michael Heisler
Editor: Dave Marshall
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