We all know Lara Croft as the athletic archaeologist and thrill seeker who is always ready to overcome any obstacle that comes in her way. An iconic character from her 10 Tomb Raider video games since her debut in 1996, films (starring Angelina Jolie), novels and comic book series from Top Cow, Croft can be viewed as both a sex symbol and a strong role model for girls.
And now that we are all awaiting the release of Rise of the Tomb Raider, Dark Horse Comics is letting fans get into the action early by bringing the beloved character back to the pages of comics with the Oct. 7 release of the new miniseries Lara Croft And The Frozen Omen.
Written by Corinna Bechko, Lara Croft And The Frozen Omen follows the story of our favorite heroine's quest to uncover ancient artifacts that "hold the key to both salvation and destruction" before they get into the hands of a cult.
"It's a stand-alone series, it's own story within itself, so you don't need to have known her previous stories to understand this one," Bechko told T-Lounge at New York Comic Con. "But I brought back Carter Bell, so it takes place after Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris where the two will have to deal with the supernatural and all types of monsters and creatures."
With that said, readers can expect to see quite a few exotic animals as Lara travels in search of the powerful artifacts, coming head-to-head with the evil that is trying get there first.
And what can we expect these monsters to be like? Bechko revealed they can be described as human versions of monsters, like the horned humanoid we see in the first issue, whose failures caused them to go down the dark path.
And who better than Bechko to write Croft's latest story arc?
"I was first introduced to Lara in the first Tomb Raider game, but I should admit I am not a gamer," Bechko said through a smile. "I know her more as a cultural force and through cosplay."
But like Croft, Bechko has a shared loved of archaeology and exploration, making her the perfect fit for this series. She was a student of anthropology before changing her studies to biological sciences, where she then worked as veterinarian tech and zookeeper—which is where the exotic creatures come into play.
Lara is always ready for the action and the miniseries starts with her scaling a cliff to rescue a hawk. Tomb Raider veteran Randy Green brings Lara to life in his artwork that depicts our heroine with an athletic build, yet still feminine. While she is strong, she is not free from flaws. Her humanity shows in expressions that are full of emotion and body language that is sometimes hesitant as she plots her next move. The colors feature cool tones and vibrant jungle yellows and greens as she follows Jon to Belize to track down an ivory artifact.
And Lara is definitely a globe-trotter in the series, with Bechko revealing she will travel to Eastern Europe, Arizona and even the desert.
"I personally love to travel, and this was a perfect opportunity to have a character to do that. We won't just stay in one place. It's more about what will happen with the frozen part. We'll actually get some sneaky, plot jumbo action," Bechko said.
Bechko said she feels lucky to be joining the popular franchise, especially since she has the opportunity to work alongside Green, calling him her anchor who has made her feel more confident while handling the iconic character.
But those who know her work know that she has the talent to captivate readers as shown through her previous titles for Dark Horse's Star Wars books and BOOM! Studios Planet of the Apes. And along with writing for these franchises, she has also written her own work, Heathentown, and Invisible Republic alongside her husband, Gabriel Hardman.
When it comes to Lara, Bechko said the real challenge lies in balancing the conservation of her character as part of the franchise, while still bringing something fresh. That this is executed beautifully in Lara Croft and the Frozen Omen can be credited to Bechko's deep understanding of who Lara is.
"I don't think it's important that a woman writes her, a man could do it just the same, but what's important is that you understand her character—which I do as a woman and as an adventurer," she said.
And it surely sounds like Lara will be in for one heck of a ride in the miniseries, but fans know that she can surely handle whatever comes her way. "She's strong, but she knows when she needs help," Bechko said. And luckily for Lara, she has Carter by her side.
"I actually really liked that I could have Lara and her partner. It's kind of unusual to have a woman and a black man as your characters, and they can have a relationship that was friendly and they can rely on each other," Becko said. "And it's really nice to have that where your not always having to have your characters fight, and I feel like this was a really great opportunity to do that."
Laura Croft and the Frozen Omen # 1 is available now. Below is an exclusive four-page preview with artwork done by Carmen Carnero for issue #2 which hits shelves on Nov. 4.
Photo: Dark Horse Comics
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