You might be under the impression that Tomb Raider will tell Lara Croft’s rebooted origin story, but we now know that there is another origin story that takes place before the one in Crystal Dynamics’ game. Square Enix has announced that Dark Horse Comics will release a new comic book series — written by the lead game writer Rhianna Pratchett — following the release of Tomb Raider this March, that will act as a prequel to the events in the game.
Tomb Raider: The Beginning is a 48-page, six-part hardcover comic book series that covers all the events leading up to the shipwreck of the Endurance at the start of Crystal Dynamics’ upcoming game. We are assuming this means that it will start with Lara’s birth, followed by a bit from of her childhood where she learned to dual wield Nerf Guns, and then wraps up with her packing a suitcase full of grey tank tops for the upcoming voyage.
Obviously, the biggest problem with the Tomb Raider: The Beginning comic book series is that you will naturally feel like protecting Lara from any dangers that might befall her in the comic book — like when she absentmindedly walks off the edge of the ship, as seen on the full cover art in the gallery below. However, you won’t be able to do that because comic books are non-interactive.
Guess it’s a good thing that the comic book comes out after the game, that way you will be able to get the bulk of your maternal protecting instincts out of the way before checking out the prequel story.
Anyone interested in getting picking up the comic book early can get the first series as a Best Buy exclusive Tomb Raider pre-order bonus.
Tomb Raider is currently set to launch on March 5, 2013 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Check out the full press release for the Tomb Raider: The Beginning comic book series below for additional details.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (Jan. 31, 2013) – Crystal Dynamics™, a Square Enix® studio, and Dark Horse Comics, today revealed they have partnered to bring the re-imagined Lara Croft back to print in the world of comics. The new series will be available following the release of TOMB RAIDER®, the highly anticipated origin story for Lara Croft®, available March 5, 2013.
To kick off the partnership, Crystal Dynamics and Dark Horse have teamed up to create “TOMB RAIDER: The Beginning.” This will be the first installment in the new TOMB RAIDER comic book series, and is a prequel to the events in TOMB RAIDER. “TOMB RAIDER: The Beginning,” was written by lead game writer Rhianna Pratchett. Fans can get the first series early when they pre-order TOMB RAIDER at Best Buy.
A 48-page, six-part hardcover omnibus, “TOMB RAIDER: The Beginning” follows the story of how the crew came together for The Endurance’s fateful mission to discover the lost Japanese kingdom of Yamatai. Originally intended to feature as the latest installment of Dr. James Whitman’s successful archaeology show, Whitman’s World, the show-biz archaeologist gets more than he bargained for when he enlists the help of Captain Conrad Roth. As Roth’s unique and eccentric crew gradually come together and share their stories and secrets, the expedition faces unexpected threats before it’s even begun.
“The team at Crystal Dynamics has worked closely with Dark Horse on ‘The Beginning’ to bring the relatable, re-imagined Lara Croft back to the comic book world,” said Karl Stewart, global brand director for TOMB RAIDER and Crystal Dynamics.
“Whilst penning Lara’s origins story for the game I had lots of ideas about the world she and the other characters inhabited, and the story behind their voyage: it was great to be able to flesh out the world of TOMB RAIDER and work with the talented team at Dark Horse to bring Lara Croft back to comics,” said Rhianna Pratchett, lead game writer for TOMB RAIDER.
“The bold new vision of the game demanded we bring an equally fresh approach to the comics,” said Dave Marshall, editor at Dark Horse. “We’re excited for TOMB RAIDER fans to experience a new side of Lara Croft as they accompany her on the earliest parts of her first adventure.”
To celebrate the partnership, Crystal Dynamics and Dark Horse revealed four pages from “TOMB RAIDER: The Beginning.” The full comic is available as a bonus when you pre-order TOMB RAIDER at Best Buy. More news on TOMB RAIDER comics will be available in the coming months.
