Tomb Raider (comics)
The Tomb Raider comic book series are based on the video game franchise Tomb Raider, currently produced by Crystal Dynamics, which features the character of Lara Croft. The original series of comics, which were released between 1999 and 2005, were published by Top Cow and were primarily based on the games released by Core Design. In 2014, following the reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise, the series was revived and is currently being published by Dark Horse Comics. The new timeline of events is based upon the rebooted iteration of Lara Croft and her adventures.
Publication history
The series, which ran from 1999 to 2005, consisted of monthly issues published by Top Cow Productions, who secured the rights to producing comics after a long struggle. Preceding this series, French publisher Glenat got the green light from Eidos France to produce a comic series called Dark Eons based on the Tomb Raider games, which was taken off the market shortly after. Besides the monthly series, a parallel 12-part series called Journeys, which ran from 2001 to 2003, was also published.The comics are primarily based on the same continuity as the games by Core Design, in which Lara's plane crashes when she is twenty-one years old, but the exact details are changed. In the comic, Lara is accompanied by both her parents and her fiancé, the plane trip taken to celebrate her impending marriage. Writers Dan Jurgens, John Nay Riber, and James Bonny worked on the series, which also featured the art of Andy Park, Michael Turner, Billy Tan, and Adam Hughes, amongst others.
There are one shots occasionally released and talk of the comic being reintroduced to tie into the edited continuity. There have also been frequent crossovers with other Top Cow publications such as Fathom, The Darkness, Magdalena, and Witchblade. The debut issue of Tomb Raider was the number one-selling comic book of 1999.
In late 2006, Top Cow released the Tomb Raider Compendium. This was a large, single volume, collected edition of the Tomb Raider comic series; a hardcover version followed in 2008. The book encompasses all 50 issues, as well as a cover gallery featuring select covers, most of them done by Adam Hughes. It is a full-size, full-color reproduction of all fifty issues on high-quality paper. This collection, however, does not include the various specials, minis, and one-shots from the series. This would probably explain why the compendium has "Volume One" written on the side.
Bandai Entertainment also published a "tankōbon" set of volumes, which reprints older stories in black-and-white in a smaller book.
Tomb Raider comics were announced to return in late 2007; however, this was delayed due to licensing issues.
In 2014, Dark Horse Comics began publishing a new series of comics, set between the 2013 reboot and its sequel, Gail Simone wrote the first six issues, before collaborating with Rhianna Pratchett for the next arc, before Pratchett took over for the rest of the series.
In 2016, another series started to bridge the gap between Rise of the Tomb Raider and the next game in the series, Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
Publications
Primary series- Tomb Raider, Starring Lara Croft vol. 1 changed to Lara Croft, Tomb Raider with issue #25 in 2002 due to the release of in 2001 was the first ongoing series featuring the character published by Top Cow Productions. It ran for 50 issues with Tomb Raider #0 and #1/2.
- Tomb Raider vol. 2 was the second ongoing series published by Dark Horse Comics. It ran for 18 issues; written by Gail Simone and Rhianna Pratchett.
- Tomb Raider vol. 3 was the third ongoing series published by Dark Horse Comics. It ran for 12 issues; written by Mariko Tamaki.
- Tomb Raider, Starring Lara Croft: Journeys 12-issue limited series; written by Fiona Kai Avery; penciled by Drew Johnson, Gerardo Sandoval, Drew Green, Carlos Mota, Manny Clark, and Mun Kao Tan; inks by Jay Leisten and Marlo Alquiza; colors by J.D. Smith, Tyson Wengler, and Brian Buccelato
- Tomb Raider: Survivor's Crusade 4-issue limited series; written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, penciled by Ashley A. Woods
- Tomb Raider: Inferno 4-issue limited series; written by Jackson Lanzing, penciled by PJ Holden
- Tomb Raider/Witchblade by writer and penciler Michael Turner, inks by Joe Weems V, colors by J.D. Smith
- Witchblade/Tomb Raider by writer Michael Turner and Bill O'Neil, pencils by Michael Turner, inks by Joe Weems V, colors by J.D. Smith
- Witchblade/Tomb Raider #1/2 by writer Michael Turner and Bill O'Neil, pencils by Ken Cha, inks by Andy Owens, colors by Matt Nelson
- Tomb Raider: Origins by writer Dan Jurgens; pencils by Mark Pajarillo; inks by Danny Miki
- Tomb Raider/The Darkness Special by writer David Wohl, art by Billy Tan, colors by Steve Firchow
- Tomb Raider: The Greatest Treasure of All by writer Dan Jurgens; art by Joe Jusko
- Tomb Raider: Epiphany by writer Dan Jurgens; pencils by Darryl Banks; inks by Al Vey
- Tomb Raider: Scarface’s Treasure by writer Geoff Johns, art by Mark Texeira, colors by Beth Sotelo
- Tomb Raider: Takeover by writer James Bonny; pencils by Scott Benefiel; inks by Jasen Rodriguez
- Tomb Raider: Arabian Nights by writer Fiona Kai Avery; art by Billy Tan
- Tomb Raider: Cover Gallery featuring art of: Marc Silvestri, Adam Hughes, Michael Turner and more
- Tomb Raider: The Beginning by writer Rhianna Pratchett; pencils by Andrea Mutti and Nicolás Daniel Selma
Collected editions
Tomb Raider Compendium Edition
| # | Title | Material Collected | Pages | Publication Date | ISBN |
| Tomb Raider Compendium Edition | Tomb Raider #1-50 | 408 |
Tomb Raider Tankōbon
| # | Title | Material Collected | Pages | Publication Date | ISBN |
| 1 | Tomb Raider Tankōbon 1 | Tomb Raider #1-10 | 236 | ||
| 2 | Tomb Raider Tankōbon 2 | Tomb Raider #11-20 | 220 | ||
| 3 | Tomb Raider Tankōbon 3 | Tomb Raider #21-30 | 220 | ||
| 4 | Tomb Raider Tankōbon 4 | Tomb Raider #31-40 | 220 | ||
| 5 | Tomb Raider Tankōbon 5 | Tomb Raider #41-50 | 220 |
Tomb Raider Archives
| # | Title | Material Collected | Pages | Publication Date | ISBN |
| 1 | Tomb Raider Archives Book 1 | Tomb Raider #1-15 | 408 | ||
| 2 | Tomb Raider Archives Book 2 | Tomb Raider #16-24 and #26-34 | 464 | ||
| 3 | Tomb Raider Archives Book 3 | Tomb Raider #35-50 | 424 | ||
| 4 | Tomb Raider Archives Book 4 | Tomb Raider #0 and #1/2; Tomb Raider, Starring Lara Croft: Journeys #1-12; Tomb Raider: Origins; Tomb Raider: The Greatest Treasure of All; Tomb Raider: Epiphany; Tomb Raider: Takeover; Tomb Raider: Arabian Nights | 484 |
Tomb Raider Library Edition
| # | Title | Material Collected | Pages | Publication Date | ISBN |
| 1 | Tomb Raider Library Edition 1 | Tomb Raider #1-18; Tomb Raider: The Beginning | 487 |
Tomb Raider Omnibus
| # | Title | Material Collected | Pages | Publication Date | ISBN |
| 1 | Tomb Raider Omnibus Book 1 | Tomb Raider #1-18; Tomb Raider: The Beginning | 472 | ||
| 2 | Tomb Raider Omnibus Book 2 | Tomb Raider #1-12; Tomb Raider: Survivor's Crusade #1-4; Tomb Raider: Inferno #1-4 | 472 |
Interviews
- . Comic Book Resources. February 15, 2001.
- . Newsarama. August 2, 2004.