Tomb Raider Volume 2: Secrets and Lies

Tomb Raider #7-12

by Rhianna Pratchett (Writer), Gail Simone (Writer), Derlis Santacruz (Penciller)

After the return to Yamatai Island, Lara and her friends try to put the horror of what happened there behind them and return to “normal” life. However, when a dearly departed friend pleads for help, Lara goes on a globetrotting adventure fraught with new perils and a horrible truth that must be brought to light at all costs! Collects issues #7–#12 of the ongoing series.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Adventure, Fantasy, Video Games, Adult

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 26, 2015

About the author

Rhianna Pratchett is a freelance computer games scriptwriter, narrative designer and former journalist. She is a member of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain.

Reviews

[The Sapphic Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some great things in this book, like the interactions between Lara and Reyes on the mountain, a bunch of moments between Lara and Sam, the doe, Lara being a total badass... and Kaz.

Kaz is just as cool as Lara, and almost as deadly. I love that the fact that she married a woman is talked about so casually and with so much genuine affection by the characters. I love that she's strong and brave, and a survivor, and she still knows how to have fun. And she's kinda nerdy. I'm optimistic she'll get more time in the next volume.

There art is by two different artists, but they're about the same when it comes to how much I like it. It's decent. *shrugs*

Overall, I'm happy with this volume. I think I like it better than the first book, if I'm remembering right. It's a quality read if you like action, mystery/suspense/adventure, and a good dose of character interaction, you'll probably like this.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gail Simone stepped away from this series halfway through this volume and the switch was a bit jarring. I mean, we get a new conspiracy group and bombings on a massive scale in the first half and then Lara battling stage fright in the second half. Rhianna Pratchett is a writer for the Tomb Raider team so I had higher expectations for what she'd do with this character...but she wasted it. She had this stalking plot line and then killed the guy off so quickly it never got explained. She just rushed the conclusion of the set up Gail Simone had crafted to (hopefully) tell whatever her unique story will be in volume 3. So this volume ended up pretty "meh" with the dual tones of the writers.

[sana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah, I'm done with these comics.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually kind of leads into Rise of the Tomb Raider. Laura and her friends are still dealing with the aftereffects of Yamatai. This organization called Trinity is going after the sister of one of her friends, Max. So she heads to Chernobyl to find her. Now they must defeat an insane hitman amidst the abandoned city. in the second half of the book, Laura is performing in Pride & Prejudice for a friend while dealing with Trinity again.

[Stefani - SpelingExpirt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really going to miss Gail Simone on this series but Rhianna Pratchett has shown that she is the perfect person to guide Lara through her adventures. This series has action, emotion and even the occasional shine of humour. Wherever this version of Lara Croft goes I will follow.

[Reggie_Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is awesome. Lara is all kinds of fucking fierce. This one was a lot more violent than I remember the first volume being, but not overly so for all that happened. Lara's friendships and commitment to them is truly powerful.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needs more Sam, otherwise A+

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure where the concept for the cover came with this one. It shows Lara being pursued by bad guys dressed in Arabian garb and on the back of a camel. None of that happens in this book. No camels, no bad guys pursuing her on camels and desert setting. I can live with that deception but what I still find hard to adjust to is that video games most famous archeologist does no archeology. In the games, it is this pursuit of artifacts and raiding of tombs that drove the story but here Lara is left globetrotting around encountering shading organizations with dubious motives. It is called the Trinity and not much is really explained as to why they exist or what they plan to do, but they sure do call a lot of headaches for Lady Croft. Problem is that I didn't find any of it compelling. The book was like a bad Nick Cage movie without the campy humor. It was all well done and Lara - who is younger in this series - is developing into the fearless action heroine I expect, but she is doing it without the cunning and intelligence I would expect from this character.

[. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 1 review here.

In Vol. 2, we get to meet Alex's sister, Kaz. Not only is she badass enough to live in Chernobyl and train wild dogs to protect her, but she's also a lesbian. It's cute to see her and Lara bonding and Lara inviting her to be a part of the group.

[Daria Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of a lackluster read. Although this was a slightly better story that was different from the first volume; it just felt too convenient that there had be another person/group connected to the past villain and that there was some random person saving Lara before she is close to dying. I feel disappointed by this second volume.

[nella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one!!

Firstly, the art style is so pretty. We get to see Lara being normal, even if it's for 2 seconds, and it was refreshing. We also learn more about her relationship with Alex and his family which is everything I've wanted since he died in the game🙂 this is probably the closest I'm getting to a Lara romantic interest, but thank you anyway!!

Byeeeee

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - can see an improvement already and could see this becoming better as it goes on. Felt a little repetitive (threat appears, Lara tries not get her friends involved, they get involved, they help save the day, she realises she can't do everything alone) but I'll be picking up vol 3 for sure

[Яна Хараланова · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that we see interesting parts of Lara's everyday life. But the story was some kind of flat. Sorry Rhianna!

Lara and Trinity meet officially - that was totally new me. I thought Lara was confronted with Trinity for the first time in the novel "The ten thousand immortals" but I was wrong.

[-A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much better than the first one and I really love Lara so much. I also loved here we got LGBT+ representation and to be honest I wasn't expecting it at all.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one better than some of the others thus far. I feel like this story line was a bit better and as always the art was wonderful.

[Ric Peralta · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonder if this is where the new game is going

[Sam Nicholson · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10

[Mac Dubista Keso The Bibliobibuli v(=∩_∩=) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠⁱʳˢᵗ ˢᵉʳⁱᵉˢ. ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ'ˢ ᵃ ˡᵒᵗ ᵒᶠ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳᵉˢᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᶠᵃᶜᵗˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍˢ ʰᵉʳᵉ. ˢᵗⁱˡˡ, ᶜˡⁱᶠᶠʸ.⁣

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot more interesting a fun than the previous two entries in the series, although I can already see the lore getting overly convoluted. Oh well.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tomb Raider Volume 2 picks shortly after the last issue of volume 1 and Lara is still dealing with the after effects of Yamatai. The first volume focused on the residual horror that they brought back with them, and kick started much of Lara’s inner conflicted that we see happening here.

I really love that she’s having issues coming to terms with what Yamatai has brought out in here. She is capable of defending herself and killing when she needs to, and it’s something she knows shouldn’t be easy but to her it is just that. We also get to see how people unfamiliar with the horrors of what she has been through react to her ability to do what needs to be done. Plus we also get to see some of the student Lara and that small glimer of hope that she can maintain a peaceful existence. However this is Lara Croft we’re talking about and even if she wants to stay out of danger, plenty of people have a bone to pick with her or her friends.

This set of issues is full of action and unlike the first volume which was a continuation of the game this one stands on its own when it comes to story. It doesn’t feel left over or rushed, and despite this one coming to some what a close we now have an over-arching baddie to keep us going. I’m not a big fan of the artwork, which is mostly hardlines and few shades, but it’s not bad to look at and I think they do a great job of keeping the characters looking the same.

I can’t wait to continue the series and for the new game to come out later this year!

[Matthew Ciarvella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes me glad that I stuck with the Tomb Raider comic series. After a rocky start in the first volume, things are looking up with a story that does an excellent job of setting the scene for "Rise of the Tomb Raider." It's nice to get away from Yamatai and all the plot tangles that storyline created (even if Yamatai was an excellent plot for the first game). The characterization of Lara here is top notch and the sub-plot with Lara acting in a play at Jonah's request nicely shows how she's falling out of sync with "normal life."

My only major quibble was the Trinity operative who was sent to kill Lara, but sort of falls for her instead? To take as an apprentice? It's somewhat odd, even though I know it fits into the larger storyline that at least a few members of Trinity want to recruit her, considering how effective she is.

Otherwise, this is a great, enjoyable book. I'm glad that the series found its footing and I'm looking forward to the next volume.

[Jesse VanDeWalker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable and full of hackneyed clichés, this second arc did less to thrill me than the first. The fact checking and research seems to have been done via a bleary-eyed skim over of a Wikipedia article about the subject matter. I expect more from video gaming's preeminent archaeologist, or more precisely, her writers.

Despite the attempts to recapture the feelings of vulnerability, hardship, and survival instinct embodied in the 2013 release, at no time did I think Lara was in any kind of danger whatsoever. Bullet wounds and radiation alike won't slow her down.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tomb Raider graphic novels give depth to Lara's character in a way that the game does not. Here we see a woman dedicated to helping her friends in whatever way that she can. One who is willing to go through pain and torment for those that she cares for. It is a testament to her character and what she went through on Yamatai.

Overall, a good story with an interesting evolution in the plot and a proper introduction of Trinity.

[Robert Bussie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sequel is better than the first book. It takes Lara to Pripyat, an abandon amusement park outside Chernobyl, Russia and to England. There is some action, but it is Gail Simon’s development of the main character that is the highlight of this book.

It is not perfect. The Trinity organization is not explained, the art work is just average, and I miss the tomb raider artifact hunting aspect. However, it is an enjoyable read.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the cover art on this was super misleading...I was expecting some desert action but this was mostly set in Russia and no desert in sight, sadly. While the Russian stuff was pretty interesting I was a bit disappointed by this! Kaz was a pretty fun addition to the characters, though, and the change of scenery to anything other than Yamatai was much needed.

[Wolverina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad.

It's a fun and slightly silly action adventure, with a nice emphasis on women and friendships. With a lot of attention paid to putting as many _aww look see Britain_ references in as possible.

It's all good, especially for tie in stuff, but I feel like it should grab me more than it does.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mini-review: Ehh, this was only barely worth reading, to be honest. I rather liked the first in the series, but this one just seemed to lack something. I don't know if it was because it no longer has Gail Simone as a writer or if they just weren't sure what to do with a post-Yamatai Lara Croft. But I'm guessing, based on the plot to Rise of the Tomb Raider, that this isn't canon anyway.

[Nicole Zeckner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than the first volume! I felt the first volume relied too much on the paranormal. But this one focuses on Lara and her relationships with those around her. She's battling against men, not the mystic. It made for a much more engrossing read.

[andrew y · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will grudgingly admit that Pratchett knows how to write comic books for today. The first one was maybe a little too "VIDEO GAME SEQUEL WE PROMISE" but this starts to go somewhere fresh and add in the complexity of Lara, which is overlooked by everyone (including me ~one year ago). Well done.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2'5 actually. Could benefit of better planing/comprehensive story telling, to be honest.