Tomb Radier: Sacred Artifacts #2 is written by Casey Gilly and published by Dark Horse. Artwork is by Antonio Di Caprio, colours by Eren Angiolini and letters by Andworld Design. Main cover art (left) is by Taurin Clarke.
Tomb Raider: Sacred Artifacts #2 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
n order to keep a dangerous and familiar relic out of the wrong hands, Lara Croft must travel to Italy and meet the mysterious, masked adversary who stole it from her. But when Lara enlists the aid of her old friend Carter Bell, his own request for help will lead her on a detour—one that will plunge her into the depths of the city of Paris!
Review
As anticipation for both the new Tomb Raider games and the live-action Prime Video series continue to grow, Dark Horse Comics’ excellent Sacred Artifacts continues to dive deeper into Lara’s character with its second issue arriving in comic book stores today. Writer Casey Gilly continues to use the comic book format to explore Lara in a way rarely afforded in games. Balancing delicate character drama with high-stakes action.
Admittedly the second issue dials back on action, instead focuses more on Lara’s state of mind and juxtaposing it against the introduction of a new potential friend (or foe!?). There are still tombs to be raided and that certainly becomes a focus later in the issue. But Gilly is showing us just how unafraid she is to prove that Lara herself is just as important to Tomb Raider as its trademark set piece moments. As with the first issue, the commitment to character storytelling is one of this series’ greatest strengths.
Something else to appreciate is Sacred Artifacts’ charming tone. Following the runaway success of 2013’s radical reinvention of Lara there’s been a tendency to lean towards more dour storytelling. So far Gilly has avoided falling into that trap. This issue opens on a delightfully playful moment between Lara and butler Winston. It’s a moment that calls back to the joy of 1990’s Tomb Raider without suppressing a more contemporary approach to Lara’s overall characterisation.
Broadly speaking the second issue tries to tackle just how much Lara is refusing to face up to her legacy. The rebuilding of Croft Manor symbolises everything which Lara is trying to avoid and Gilly plays to that notably throughout. With Winston that defensiveness is almost masked by the air of familiarity between them. Lara can laugh off his somewhat probing comments and use them to avoid facing reality. It’s something Gilly’s writing is strong at conveying even when Lara is literally running from her problems by tackling her infamous garden assault course.
When the action moves to France, looping in classic franchise character Carter Bell, it takes on a different form. At first Lara believes she is able to dive head first into her work. It’s something we’re used to seeing her doing and the arrival of Carter offers her that opportunity. But meeting his partner Anna throws a spanner into the works that Gilly splendidly uses to her advantage. For the remainder of Tomb Raider: Sacred Artifacts #2 Lara is forced to see herself reflected back in Anna’s past and her actions. The two are very similar characters in many ways. Gilly again uses this to her advantage as I spent the rest of the issue fully anticipating a double-cross and potential villain reveal.
Artist Antonio Di Caprio and colourist Eren Angiolini have a lot more character work to dig into this month. There’s a lot riding on our character’s expressions over their actions. Panels are more tightly framed to put the emphases on faces. Pulling back for larger moments like finding the hidden chamber under Opéra Garnier. But for the most part Lara is leading the way with her sultry-yet-serious demeanour. It makes this second issue feel much more personal when it could easily have felt slow.
Ultimately the second issue of the series is slower paced. But what is sacrificed in action is more than made up for by Gilly’s playful tone and instinctively authentic character development. We’re left on a cliffhanger whereby our mysterious villain, The Postulant, still holds more than enough narrative intrigue to keep the story going.
Verdict
Tomb Raider: Sacred Artifacts #2 is a teachable moment for fans. Casey Gilly shows how to slow things down, maintaining the playfulness of 90’s Tomb Raider Lara without sacrificing her much needed character development.
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