Lara Croft Returns in Gail Simone’s Tomb Raider #1

The first issue of Gail Simone’s Tomb Raider comic series, aptly titled Survivor’s Guilt, picks up a few weeks after the game leaves off.
Lara, home from her traumatizing experience on the island of Yamatai, is suffering from PTSD. Wracked with survivor’s guilt, she’s haunted by nightmares about her fallen comrades, and when Sam screams for Lara in the middle of the night, it’s clear she’s not the only one. That same night, Lara receives a panicked call from Jonah and, before she can say ‘Solarii’, is thrown headfirst into another adventure.

While I would have loved for Rhianna Pratchett to continue Lara’s story, I can’t think of a better match than Gail Simone. Best known for her work on Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman, and Batgirl, Simone is more than comfortable writing for strong female protagonists. Tomb Raider #1 is primarily focused on Lara’s emotional state, but by the end of the issue we get a taste of the adventure to come. Simone does a great job of balancing the two – portraying Lara as battle scarred but brave as ever.

The art by Nicolás Daniel Selma leaves something to be desired. His illustrations are faithful to game, but feel a bit generic compared to past Tomb Raider comics. Many panels lack depth and feel too static, and the expressions on Lara’s face often don’t make sense in the context of the scene. 

Overall, Tomb Raider #1 is decent start to a promising series. The comics are a cannon sequel to the most recent reboot that will ultimately lead into the next game, so I’m excited to see where Lara’s adventures take her. With Simone at the helm, I have no doubt the series is in good hands. 

You can pick up a copy of Tomb Raider #1 at your local comic shop or purchase it digitally through Dark Horse’s website.

Tomb Raider #2 hits shelves on March 26th.

Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Nicolás Daniel Selma
Publisher: Dark Horse
Release Date: February 26, 2014