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Tomb Raider: Queen of Serpents #1-6
Tomb Raider Volume 3: Queen of Serpents
The writer of the Tomb Raider 2013 video game--Rhianna Pratchett--continues Lara Croft's story where the smash hit Tomb Raider game left off in this collection of the Tomb Raider comic's third arc, spanning issues #13-#18!
Lara must save the life of a friend she thought to be dead as a dangerous organization threatens to kill this person for good! But Lara will not be alone as Sam, Jonah, and Kaz join her on this rescue mission! Danger lurks behind every shadow--can they make it in time to save a life they thought was lost?!
Lara must save the life of a friend she thought to be dead as a dangerous organization threatens to kill this person for good! But Lara will not be alone as Sam, Jonah, and Kaz join her on this rescue mission! Danger lurks behind every shadow--can they make it in time to save a life they thought was lost?!
144 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2015
4 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Rhianna Pratchett
56 books149 followersRhianna Pratchett is a freelance computer games scriptwriter, narrative designer and former journalist. She is a member of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 24, 2017
Not bad for a video game comic. Leads directly into Rise of the Tomb Raider. Laura and her friends are given a video with her friend Grimm in it and a ransom notice. Laura doesn't have the money so they track the group that took the video to the jungles of Mexico. They go undercover as a documentary crew in order to find their friend while they interview people about the Chupacapra legend. The art and coloring is both solid.
November 27, 2015
So this is the final set of issues leading up to the release of the upcoming video game installment, Rise of the Tomb Raider. And this is a fact that I wasn’t expecting when I turned the last page of issue 18 and was met with a little graphic saying as much. That game is months off (though by the time this review goes up it will be released).
However it is a nice set up for explaining just why Lara Croft might put herself back into a similar position as before, though I expect much of it will be unintentional danger. The after affects of Yamatai are still haunting the group, though most of them have moved forward like Jonah. But Sam and Lara are struggling. Lara is having difficulties coming to terms with her newly found side and after the events of both Yamatai and Chernobyl she’s a bit…skittish. I really liked that the writers are thinking out how someone would actually react to everything, Lara is having full PTSD breakdowns and not hesitating to throw herself into danger because that’s where she finds her center…and it’s bothering her. Sam…is having a much harder time with it, and Yamatai has stayed with her in a way that no one truly expected. I honestly have no idea how her story if going to play out. Is she okay? Or she really still being haunted by Himiko?
This series has a been a lot of fun. I hasn’t been the most mind blowing of comics and there are certainly better ones out there, but it’s definitely made the wait between games so much easier to handle. Plus I love getting to know more about characters outside of their main element, it adds depth and I go into it feeling like I’m somehow a head of the curve. I don’t know if they plan to continue this after the new game, but I really hope so.
However it is a nice set up for explaining just why Lara Croft might put herself back into a similar position as before, though I expect much of it will be unintentional danger. The after affects of Yamatai are still haunting the group, though most of them have moved forward like Jonah. But Sam and Lara are struggling. Lara is having difficulties coming to terms with her newly found side and after the events of both Yamatai and Chernobyl she’s a bit…skittish. I really liked that the writers are thinking out how someone would actually react to everything, Lara is having full PTSD breakdowns and not hesitating to throw herself into danger because that’s where she finds her center…and it’s bothering her. Sam…is having a much harder time with it, and Yamatai has stayed with her in a way that no one truly expected. I honestly have no idea how her story if going to play out. Is she okay? Or she really still being haunted by Himiko?
This series has a been a lot of fun. I hasn’t been the most mind blowing of comics and there are certainly better ones out there, but it’s definitely made the wait between games so much easier to handle. Plus I love getting to know more about characters outside of their main element, it adds depth and I go into it feeling like I’m somehow a head of the curve. I don’t know if they plan to continue this after the new game, but I really hope so.
April 2, 2018
I enjoyed this installment more than the previous one although I'm still not sold on the new, reimagining of Lara Croft. This book does add depth to the video vixen in dealing with her traumas from the past and her personal relationships but seeing Lady Croft sulking around in sweatpants and a hoody ruined it for me. Still, after saying that, the story in this volume is better than before with a bad guy encampment with snakes and secret tunnels. There are still no tombs to raid but we do see a Mayan ruin and fight with an alligator. All good stuff. I was about ready to give up on this promising series after the first two volumes but this installment changed my mind and I'm willing to give it another try.
January 21, 2022
The best of the three graphic novels. This felt like a typical Lara Croft adventure. There was mystery, suspense, sarcasm, and action. This was great. I'm bummed it stopped with so much unanswered, but the whole point was to lead directly into the game...so I guess it was to be expected. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this volume and longed for more.
August 23, 2017
Though my favorite one was volume #2 this was good as well. I loved that we get to visit a jungle. The artwork was nice and as I have already played Rise of the tomb raider I could make connections between this events and the ones that happen in the game.
October 29, 2018
Vol. 1 review & Vol. 2 review
Vol. 3 is pretty much more of the same, but that's a good thing.
Vol. 3 is pretty much more of the same, but that's a good thing.
December 29, 2025
This was okay...I guess...
I don't even know what to say. More Yamatai. More Sam being a victim. But we get to see mother Lara which was fun!
I'll stop reading the comics and just wait for the new game to drop 😃!
Seeee youuuuu
I don't even know what to say. More Yamatai. More Sam being a victim. But we get to see mother Lara which was fun!
I'll stop reading the comics and just wait for the new game to drop 😃!
Seeee youuuuu
April 25, 2018
Again, not a bad little read, the art is spectacular but the story was only so so. I feel like if I played the video game I would like it more, regardless, not too bad.
July 12, 2018
Again, I found myself really enjoying the script despite the terribly hokey premise, but the art varies between mediocre and awful.
May 8, 2020
ᵗʰᵉ ᵃʳᵗʷᵒʳᵏ ʷᵃˢ ⁿⁱᶜᵉ. ⁱ'ᵐ ᵈⁱˢᵃᵖᵖᵒⁱⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵃ ᶜˡⁱᶠᶠʰᵃⁿᵍᵉʳ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ! ᵘʳᵍᵍʰʰ ᶠʳᵘˢᵗʳᵃᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵐᵘᶜʰ! ⁱ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵈᵉᵗᵃⁱˡˢ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ˢᵃᵐ. ʰᵒᵖᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵃⁿˢʷᵉʳ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ⁿᵉˣᵗ ⁱⁿˢᵗᵃˡˡᵐᵉⁿᵗ.
April 6, 2025
I think the previous one was a bit stronger in some ways. This one was still solid. How it ties into the other games in the reboot trilogy is a bit beyond me, though.
January 30, 2026
Good, not great. Fun but just because I love Lara not because its great comic.
May 12, 2017
I really enjoyed the comic. They could have gone a little deeper into Sam's problem with Himiko.
I hope there is a continuation, I would like to know what happened to Sam
I hope there is a continuation, I would like to know what happened to Sam
April 13, 2016
I read all 3 volumes of this series after I played both "Tomb Raider" and "Rise of the Tomb Raider."
This first series takes place after the first game, and it was interesting to see Lara struggle with PTSD after the events on Yamatai, though I would've liked to have seen MORE. I would have to loved to have seem her in therapy like we saw in the awesome teaser for "Rise." The comic also explores how Yamatai affected the other survivors.
It introduces Kaz, Alex's sister, and she is badass. She is a great addition to this franchise. Now that I know her, I want to see her in future games.
You also get snippets of Trinity, the big bad of "Rise of the Tomb Raider," and that is cool to see, especially reading this after having already defeated it.
I also loved seeing Lara and Sam together again, and seeing Sam deal with her PTSD. I only wish they had explored it a little more. the comic also answered my one question when I played "Rise:" WHERE IS SAM? Well, now I know, and I can honestly say that I was disappointed on how they ended her story arc. It felt rushed, and I wish the writer would've delved a bit deeper into Sam's psyche and problems and had her and Lara have a heart to heart or SOMETHING. It just seems like a lot was missing in this aspect. The writer should've focused on the emotional turmoil these two were going through in the last few issues instead of having Lara trapezing around the globe adventuring and what have you. If the games can have a bit of emotional depth, so can the comics.
All in all, even with its shortcomings, it's a fun read worth your time if you love the games.
This first series takes place after the first game, and it was interesting to see Lara struggle with PTSD after the events on Yamatai, though I would've liked to have seen MORE. I would have to loved to have seem her in therapy like we saw in the awesome teaser for "Rise." The comic also explores how Yamatai affected the other survivors.
It introduces Kaz, Alex's sister, and she is badass. She is a great addition to this franchise. Now that I know her, I want to see her in future games.
You also get snippets of Trinity, the big bad of "Rise of the Tomb Raider," and that is cool to see, especially reading this after having already defeated it.
I also loved seeing Lara and Sam together again, and seeing Sam deal with her PTSD. I only wish they had explored it a little more. the comic also answered my one question when I played "Rise:" WHERE IS SAM? Well, now I know, and I can honestly say that I was disappointed on how they ended her story arc. It felt rushed, and I wish the writer would've delved a bit deeper into Sam's psyche and problems and had her and Lara have a heart to heart or SOMETHING. It just seems like a lot was missing in this aspect. The writer should've focused on the emotional turmoil these two were going through in the last few issues instead of having Lara trapezing around the globe adventuring and what have you. If the games can have a bit of emotional depth, so can the comics.
All in all, even with its shortcomings, it's a fun read worth your time if you love the games.
March 25, 2016
I continue to be impressed with the comic series since Rhianna Pratchett took over the writing. It should come as no surprise, as she's the main writer for the new Tomb Raider games, so it makes sense she keeps the storytelling smooth and seamless between graphic novel and game.
I like that this volume focuses on the deteriorating relationship between Lara and the "normal world" as a result of her experiences. One of the best moments of the 2013 Tomb Raider game was Lara's horrified reaction to her first human kill; it was a deeply traumatizing and emotional moment and an excellent piece of storytelling. Eventually, the needs of the game mean you're mowing down enemy mooks with all the concern of a video game character (which is to say, none), but that's the result of it being an action game.
Here we see that Lara's experiences continue to evolve her as a character. She's trying to stay connected to the normal world despite the fact that she's done and seen things that make her more and more removed from it. It sets things up nicely for why she's continued to, ah, tomb raid and put herself in dangerous situations despite no longer being trapped on the island from the first game.
A very solid read for anyone hungry for more adventures with Lara. If you have a chance to read this one before going into Rise of the Tomb Raider, I recommend it, but even if you've already played Rise, Queen of Serpents is a fun, well written graphic novel that manages to have some surprising emotional depth. I quite enjoyed it.
I like that this volume focuses on the deteriorating relationship between Lara and the "normal world" as a result of her experiences. One of the best moments of the 2013 Tomb Raider game was Lara's horrified reaction to her first human kill; it was a deeply traumatizing and emotional moment and an excellent piece of storytelling. Eventually, the needs of the game mean you're mowing down enemy mooks with all the concern of a video game character (which is to say, none), but that's the result of it being an action game.
Here we see that Lara's experiences continue to evolve her as a character. She's trying to stay connected to the normal world despite the fact that she's done and seen things that make her more and more removed from it. It sets things up nicely for why she's continued to, ah, tomb raid and put herself in dangerous situations despite no longer being trapped on the island from the first game.
A very solid read for anyone hungry for more adventures with Lara. If you have a chance to read this one before going into Rise of the Tomb Raider, I recommend it, but even if you've already played Rise, Queen of Serpents is a fun, well written graphic novel that manages to have some surprising emotional depth. I quite enjoyed it.
April 25, 2016
Lara has some really strong moments in here! I do love seeing how assertive and brave she's become despite her occasional relapses with PTSD (but who could blame her for that?).
Starting this up I was torn between loving and hating the idea of Grim being retconned from dying. On one hand I loved the character, but on the other hand the chance of his survival on Yamatai was so fantastical. They did a decent job explaining away the twin brother aspect, though, so as not to seem ridiculous that Lara never knew about him, and I think out of the two possibilities that was definitely the better of the two for me.
I'm having some mixed feelings about Sam's struggles with Himiko again--if this is set-up for Rise of the Tomb Raider I think I'll be fine with them dragging the Yamatai stuff back in, but if it's just more drama for the comic books rather than putting in some new conflict I'll be disappointed.
Starting this up I was torn between loving and hating the idea of Grim being retconned from dying. On one hand I loved the character, but on the other hand the chance of his survival on Yamatai was so fantastical. They did a decent job explaining away the twin brother aspect, though, so as not to seem ridiculous that Lara never knew about him, and I think out of the two possibilities that was definitely the better of the two for me.
I'm having some mixed feelings about Sam's struggles with Himiko again--if this is set-up for Rise of the Tomb Raider I think I'll be fine with them dragging the Yamatai stuff back in, but if it's just more drama for the comic books rather than putting in some new conflict I'll be disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2016
This volume is actually pretty good compared to the last one. It has the most interesting story so far and I can actually follow what's going on and without feeling like I'm missing a big chunk of information. I appreciate the level of internal conflict and personal struggle within Lara, as well as between her and Sam.
The Himiko thing is my biggest problem. I understand that Yamatai was a big deal for the characters, but the way Sam's character and relationship with Lara are being sacrificed to continually position her as a damsel in distress is frustrating. It was tolerable for the first game, but it keeps happening in the comics and the novel. This also means Sam is probably benched for Rise of the Tomb Raider (I haven't played it yet). I want Himiko done and over with so Lara and Sam can move on.
The Himiko thing is my biggest problem. I understand that Yamatai was a big deal for the characters, but the way Sam's character and relationship with Lara are being sacrificed to continually position her as a damsel in distress is frustrating. It was tolerable for the first game, but it keeps happening in the comics and the novel. This also means Sam is probably benched for Rise of the Tomb Raider (I haven't played it yet). I want Himiko done and over with so Lara and Sam can move on.
July 17, 2018
Mini-review: Blech, I'd been hoping that the mediocrity of the second volume was just a fluke, but it continues in this one. Again, it could just be that they were out of ideas, or it could be that Rhianna Pratchett can't quite measure up to Gail Simone. Either way, I think I've read as much of the series as I care to.
December 25, 2015
Oh my Sam. That was a bit on the heartbreaking side of things but I'm glad to see more developments in the relationship between Lara and Sam. I'll be interested to see where the next installment of the games go and whether they touch on Sam at all.
It could really go either way from this.
It could really go either way from this.
July 24, 2016
Certainly not as good as the previous but since I ended up giving only very reluctant praise to that volume I cannot smash this one.
PS: It is a video game prequel, basically. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
PS: It is a video game prequel, basically. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
April 10, 2017
Interesting story but not too much action just sneaking and dealing with dangerous situations in unusual ways.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews