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Tomb Raider #19-24
Tomb Raider, Vol 1.: Spore
After Rise of the Tomb Raider Lara Croft's adventure continues in an all-new comic Dark Horse series by Eisner Award winning writer Mariko Tamaki!
Lara Croft is pursuing a secret lost truth that leads her to a mushroom said to grant immortality and an organization called The Knights of the Spore who would do anything to keep the mushroom's power for themselves. Lara's ingenuity and tenacity for survival will be put to the ultimate test as her search leads her closer and closer to the truth.
Collecting the entire first arc of the Tomb Raider comic series, issues #1-#6!
Lara Croft is pursuing a secret lost truth that leads her to a mushroom said to grant immortality and an organization called The Knights of the Spore who would do anything to keep the mushroom's power for themselves. Lara's ingenuity and tenacity for survival will be put to the ultimate test as her search leads her closer and closer to the truth.
Collecting the entire first arc of the Tomb Raider comic series, issues #1-#6!
144 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2016
9 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
About the author
Mariko Tamaki
379 books2,240 followersMariko Tamaki is a Toronto writer, playwright, activist and performer. She works and performs with fat activists Pretty Porky and Pissed Off and the theatre troupe TOA, whose recent play, A vs. B, was staged at the 2004 Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Her well-received novel, Cover Me (McGilligan Books) was followed by a short fiction collection, True Lies: The Book of Bad Advice (Women's Press). Mariko's third book, FAKE ID, is due out in spring 2005.
Mariko Tamaki has performed her work across Canada and through the States, recently appearing at the Calgary Folkfest 2004, Vancouver Writer's Festival 2003, Spatial III, and the Perpetual Motion/Girls Bite Back Tour, which circled though Ottawa, Montreal, Brooklyn and Chicago. She has appeared widely on radio and television including First Person Singular on CBC radio and Imprint on TVO. Mariko Tamaki is currently attending York University working a master's degree in women's studies.
[MacMIllan Books]
Mariko Tamaki has performed her work across Canada and through the States, recently appearing at the Calgary Folkfest 2004, Vancouver Writer's Festival 2003, Spatial III, and the Perpetual Motion/Girls Bite Back Tour, which circled though Ottawa, Montreal, Brooklyn and Chicago. She has appeared widely on radio and television including First Person Singular on CBC radio and Imprint on TVO. Mariko Tamaki is currently attending York University working a master's degree in women's studies.
[MacMIllan Books]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 20, 2018
A reread, within the same year?! (At a friend's request. . .)
I didn't read this because I am a fan of the video games, because I've never played them.
I didn't read this because I have seen the movies, because I've never seen them.
I didn't read this because I am reading all the different runs of the series, because this is the only volume I've read.
I read this because Tamaki wrote it and I am following her from award-winning indie comics such as This One Summer and Skim--which I loved--to her significant move into comics (including Hulk, and Supergirl, yeah, it's a lot all at once!).
I also know of the "breast" issues re: Lara, that while she is loved as a character by males and females, she is famously known not just as a kick-ass action figure but for the size of her chest. In this female-created version, she and other females come in a range of shapes and sizes (and colors), which I credit them for. The comic is more female-centric, more diverse (she's combat trained by a blind woman), and retains the adventure aspect her fans crave, those who like their paleoethnobotany with a touch of blood. The most stereotypical character in the comic is a white male academic (hey! I resemble that insulting stereotype, ouch!). And instead of breast jokes, we get a penis joke (the large mushroom looks like . . .). Okay, turnabout. . .
I also am reading other adventure/fantasy comics that are far grittier (though there is a lot violence in this one), but I suspect this has to be seen in the context of the series, all the backstory that is not given here. Tamaki usually takes her characters deeper, so maybe it goes there in future issues.
We see Lara prepare for battle with someone who is vision-impaired, so she can use all of her senses in battle. The focus here is the pursuit of a Mushroom of Immortality; The Knights of the Spore want to keep all said mushrooms for themselves. Does that sound silly? It is, really, but I think it is in keeping with the pulpy nature of her series. I though it was good for what it intends to be, but pretty bland overall. The artwork was just okay, in my opinion.
I didn't read this because I am a fan of the video games, because I've never played them.
I didn't read this because I have seen the movies, because I've never seen them.
I didn't read this because I am reading all the different runs of the series, because this is the only volume I've read.
I read this because Tamaki wrote it and I am following her from award-winning indie comics such as This One Summer and Skim--which I loved--to her significant move into comics (including Hulk, and Supergirl, yeah, it's a lot all at once!).
I also know of the "breast" issues re: Lara, that while she is loved as a character by males and females, she is famously known not just as a kick-ass action figure but for the size of her chest. In this female-created version, she and other females come in a range of shapes and sizes (and colors), which I credit them for. The comic is more female-centric, more diverse (she's combat trained by a blind woman), and retains the adventure aspect her fans crave, those who like their paleoethnobotany with a touch of blood. The most stereotypical character in the comic is a white male academic (hey! I resemble that insulting stereotype, ouch!). And instead of breast jokes, we get a penis joke (the large mushroom looks like . . .). Okay, turnabout. . .
I also am reading other adventure/fantasy comics that are far grittier (though there is a lot violence in this one), but I suspect this has to be seen in the context of the series, all the backstory that is not given here. Tamaki usually takes her characters deeper, so maybe it goes there in future issues.
We see Lara prepare for battle with someone who is vision-impaired, so she can use all of her senses in battle. The focus here is the pursuit of a Mushroom of Immortality; The Knights of the Spore want to keep all said mushrooms for themselves. Does that sound silly? It is, really, but I think it is in keeping with the pulpy nature of her series. I though it was good for what it intends to be, but pretty bland overall. The artwork was just okay, in my opinion.
November 7, 2017
Her bewbs may not be the focus (for some) anymore but Mariko Tamaki still fails to give Lara Croft much of an identity in Tomb Raider, Volume 1: Spore.
This book is basically a crappier version of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Lara and her ragtag bunch have to find some magic mushrooms (not the fun kind) that grant immortal life - but not if the ‘shrooms’ protectors stop her first!
What follows is a dull and generic actioner. I mean, is there anything less exciting than ineffective bad guys against an invulnerable lead? The Mushroom Knights show up throughout but are easily beaten back by untouchable female Indy, a situation that’s repeated over and over so that it never once comes remotely close to being a tense or compelling narrative. Tamaki’s feeble attempts at character-work didn’t make me care about anyone either whether Lara’s training with female Daredevil copy or the mushroom professor telling his weak “tragic” backstory.
Phillip Sevy’s art is ok and overall Spore is a serviceable action comic but it’s nothing memorable or special because of its derivative nature. It always looked more interesting to play as a game than read as a book. Tomb Raider remains just another popular video game that doesn’t translate well into other mediums.
This book is basically a crappier version of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Lara and her ragtag bunch have to find some magic mushrooms (not the fun kind) that grant immortal life - but not if the ‘shrooms’ protectors stop her first!
What follows is a dull and generic actioner. I mean, is there anything less exciting than ineffective bad guys against an invulnerable lead? The Mushroom Knights show up throughout but are easily beaten back by untouchable female Indy, a situation that’s repeated over and over so that it never once comes remotely close to being a tense or compelling narrative. Tamaki’s feeble attempts at character-work didn’t make me care about anyone either whether Lara’s training with female Daredevil copy or the mushroom professor telling his weak “tragic” backstory.
Phillip Sevy’s art is ok and overall Spore is a serviceable action comic but it’s nothing memorable or special because of its derivative nature. It always looked more interesting to play as a game than read as a book. Tomb Raider remains just another popular video game that doesn’t translate well into other mediums.
July 31, 2018
Laura Croft goes on the hunt for magic mushrooms that supposedly give immortality. She's being chased by the Knighthood of the Dark Spore. Sound dumb? That's because it is. Even though these knights are trying to keep the mushrooms for themselves and making them into some kind of serum, they don't know where the mushrooms grow at? The art's not bad per se, but the action sequences are terrible. They portrait no sense of movement. It's like watching a slideshow of a movie.
Received a review copy form Dark Horse and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy form Dark Horse and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
March 7, 2017
I requested this on Edelweiss before I came to check it out on Goodreads. Lesson learned.
I love all things Tomb Raider. I've been playing the games from the beginning and have played every single one since. However this is the first time I've picked up the comic book. And - despite the fact that it says "Vol 1", this is a collection of the comics 18-24.
Which explains exactly why I felt so lost throughout a good portion of it. It was obvious that I should know people and references, that I should have the backstory of what had happened previously. Unfortunately I didn't have any of that.
Despite that I did enjoy the story. It was interesting and I'm curious to check out the previous stories in this series.
The art was a little awkward in places. Sometimes the point-of-view for the shot was oddly chosen, or Lara looked misshapen. It wasn't a lot of the book, but it was something I noted more than a couple of times.
I love all things Tomb Raider. I've been playing the games from the beginning and have played every single one since. However this is the first time I've picked up the comic book. And - despite the fact that it says "Vol 1", this is a collection of the comics 18-24.
Which explains exactly why I felt so lost throughout a good portion of it. It was obvious that I should know people and references, that I should have the backstory of what had happened previously. Unfortunately I didn't have any of that.
Despite that I did enjoy the story. It was interesting and I'm curious to check out the previous stories in this series.
The art was a little awkward in places. Sometimes the point-of-view for the shot was oddly chosen, or Lara looked misshapen. It wasn't a lot of the book, but it was something I noted more than a couple of times.
September 14, 2018
This wasn't much fun to read. First of all, the story doesn't make much sense. The main quest is to find mushrooms of immortality. This mushroom finding work is mislabeled as archaeology. Laura is opposed by a group called the Knighthood of the Mushroom, and for some reason the members are all bald, gray-skinned, zombie-looking guys, which is never explained. Also, they don't know where the mushrooms are, so they kind of fail as an organization. You can't be Knights of the Mushrooms if you don't know where the mushrooms are, can you?
The art is not consistent either. There are a few really nice panels, but once you get into the book, there are many rushed panels with some questionable anatomy. Laura's face and body change from panel-to-panel. Also, when it comes to action scenes, the artist doesn't have a good understanding of how to do those. There always seem to be panels missing. For example, there is a scene where Laura is climbing in a tree and is attacked by a snake. In the next panel she is looking down at a companion holding a bow and arrow and complimenting him on his good shot. Then in the next panel, the snake is dead on the ground with an arrow in it. Why did the artist skip the action to show the readers these static panels? It doesn't make sense.
The art is not consistent either. There are a few really nice panels, but once you get into the book, there are many rushed panels with some questionable anatomy. Laura's face and body change from panel-to-panel. Also, when it comes to action scenes, the artist doesn't have a good understanding of how to do those. There always seem to be panels missing. For example, there is a scene where Laura is climbing in a tree and is attacked by a snake. In the next panel she is looking down at a companion holding a bow and arrow and complimenting him on his good shot. Then in the next panel, the snake is dead on the ground with an arrow in it. Why did the artist skip the action to show the readers these static panels? It doesn't make sense.
August 27, 2016
Full Review to Come Soon
-
Not as strong as the previous installments, but still pretty good.
-
Not as strong as the previous installments, but still pretty good.
January 7, 2020
I've been meaning to read this series for a whole, but never got around to it. Just random chance made me pick it up now.
My first thought is that I liked it, but it was jumping around a lot. Sometimes it was marked, other times it was not, and that was confusing.
I liked the art and the story, and am looking forward to getting my hands on the rest of the trilogy.
Only really downside is that I should have re-read the previous trilogy, as it seems Sam is important in this one. Lucky, I already have it, so will probably get my memory freshened up before I continue with this series.
I also really liked how diverse this album was, and how it showed that just because you're legaly blind, you can't fight or do kick-ass things. We need more rep like that. Where disability is just part of a life full of... Well, life
My first thought is that I liked it, but it was jumping around a lot. Sometimes it was marked, other times it was not, and that was confusing.
I liked the art and the story, and am looking forward to getting my hands on the rest of the trilogy.
Only really downside is that I should have re-read the previous trilogy, as it seems Sam is important in this one. Lucky, I already have it, so will probably get my memory freshened up before I continue with this series.
I also really liked how diverse this album was, and how it showed that just because you're legaly blind, you can't fight or do kick-ass things. We need more rep like that. Where disability is just part of a life full of... Well, life
May 6, 2018
Fairly meh, I think.
There were moments when I was like "wait, what happened?" because what had happened was not actually shown.
There were a couple of questionable artistic angles with that whole twist-at-the-waist-so-you-can-see-my-butt-AND-boobs thing that was so prevalent in older comics (I'd like to at least PRETEND that we're moving past that, okay!).
Lara doesn't have a ton of personality.
There's not nearly enough tomb-raiding! There was one very cool bit when she found the mushroom, but other than that it was a lot of car-chases and fight scenes.
Yeah... pretty meh.
There were moments when I was like "wait, what happened?" because what had happened was not actually shown.
There were a couple of questionable artistic angles with that whole twist-at-the-waist-so-you-can-see-my-butt-AND-boobs thing that was so prevalent in older comics (I'd like to at least PRETEND that we're moving past that, okay!).
Lara doesn't have a ton of personality.
There's not nearly enough tomb-raiding! There was one very cool bit when she found the mushroom, but other than that it was a lot of car-chases and fight scenes.
Yeah... pretty meh.
March 22, 2022
We are at an age where writers have decided that Lara Croft is more than just a sex symbol and her cleavage has been greatly reduced. While I'm super grateful... I just feel like no one knows what direction to go now? Like now that she's more than eye candy they're like, "so, now what?". Because this volume goes through the motions just fine and if it had been a game it may have been a fun, quick adventure. But as a comic it was so boring. There was no tension and no stakes, the characters do and say stuff that seems legit but is so flat and tasteless. Lara is just cardboard here. Disappointing.
November 29, 2022
one for lara, one for lara riding a motorcycle and one for lara with a bow and arrow
November 9, 2017
It's classic Tomb Raider in that at least one tomb is raided. Otherwise, the story is pointless. Lara Croft and a crazy professor try to find the mushroom of immortality in China with some grey-faced zombie guys chasing them. Do we learn why the professor is kind of crazy? Not really. Do we learn who the grey-face zombie villains are? Not at all. Do the grey-faced zombie villains inexplicably keep tracking Lara and the professor down just so the story can keep going through six issues? I think yes. Entirely skippable unless your a diehard Tomb Raider fan.
June 10, 2017
Like all of the author's works, this Tomb Raider comic was spectacular. The narrative was very well built, no tip was left without explanation and the cliffhanger was really inviting for the reader to go in search of the next volume. The art is very well made and can hold the reader to each frame.
June 20, 2017
Reminiscent of the Dark Horse Indiana Jones books with updated art.
Read
December 22, 2019Croft kicks butt, duh
June 24, 2017
I don't know about this one...I loved the action bits, the badass female character, the fact that she has a work partner, and that they rely on each other equally in times of need. The pacing of the story is good and the illustrations are alright (could use some work on transitions though). I'm interested to learn about Lara Croft's back story and her past traumas and I think the foreshadowing and flashbacks were used well.
What I'm not a fan of is the use of China as a backdrop to the story. There's nothing I hate more than using a non-Western country as a way to make a plot line or end goal more "exotic" and mysterious. It would have been fine if the culture was woven more complexly and realistically into the story line but there hardly seemed to be much inclusion of Chinese culture other than random Chinese people speaking in Mandarin (village people at that) and an overwhelmingly large number of non-Asian tourists. I was honestly surprised considering this was written by Mariko Tamaki, who is Japanese Canadian. Pretty disappointed, if I'm being honest.
Furthermore, I'm tired of seeing villains being portrayed as having physical disfigurements. The connection media makes between outer appearance and inner appearance needs to stop. We need to stop implicitly and subliminally portraying those with disfigurements or disabilities as dark hearted, evil people because, whether or not you choose to believe it, it affects the way we view disabled people in real life. There's no need for it. There's no need either for quippy jokes about someone's skin deformity simply because they're the bad guy.
Both of these writing mechanisms are lazy and irresponsible and really should not be a thing in storylines anymore. Bottom line is, there's some good stuff and some bad stuff. Might continue on with the series, but definitely not a priority.
What I'm not a fan of is the use of China as a backdrop to the story. There's nothing I hate more than using a non-Western country as a way to make a plot line or end goal more "exotic" and mysterious. It would have been fine if the culture was woven more complexly and realistically into the story line but there hardly seemed to be much inclusion of Chinese culture other than random Chinese people speaking in Mandarin (village people at that) and an overwhelmingly large number of non-Asian tourists. I was honestly surprised considering this was written by Mariko Tamaki, who is Japanese Canadian. Pretty disappointed, if I'm being honest.
Furthermore, I'm tired of seeing villains being portrayed as having physical disfigurements. The connection media makes between outer appearance and inner appearance needs to stop. We need to stop implicitly and subliminally portraying those with disfigurements or disabilities as dark hearted, evil people because, whether or not you choose to believe it, it affects the way we view disabled people in real life. There's no need for it. There's no need either for quippy jokes about someone's skin deformity simply because they're the bad guy.
Both of these writing mechanisms are lazy and irresponsible and really should not be a thing in storylines anymore. Bottom line is, there's some good stuff and some bad stuff. Might continue on with the series, but definitely not a priority.
January 22, 2021
I wish Mariko Tamaki could bring the same spark she has in her drama OGNs to her action ongoings. Part of that is Phillip Sevy's static art style that fails to convey action, but I can't help but put the blame on Tamaki herself. Lara helps a professor search for some 'mushrooms of immortality' while being hunted by some creepy evil organization. There's some bit at the beginning about learning to 'listen' but it never amounts to much. The humour that is there seems more accidental than planned, with certain scenes looking like they're supposed to have narrative tension but no they're just goofy.
I've never read, seen, or played Tomb Raider before, so I had no expectations going into this and I'm leaving it with no expectations either. It's a forgettable cliche story.
I've never read, seen, or played Tomb Raider before, so I had no expectations going into this and I'm leaving it with no expectations either. It's a forgettable cliche story.
February 6, 2017
About on par with the first series of graphic novels, but definitely nowhere near as good as the game storylines themselves. This disappointingly felt a lot lighter on the dialogue than the first series did, but then it has been a while since I've read those and playing Rise of the Tomb Raider (finally) in between could very well be skewing my memory on that.
The art has a bit more of a cartoon vibe but it's overall very solid and vibrant.
The art has a bit more of a cartoon vibe but it's overall very solid and vibrant.
August 29, 2021
This was the first tomb raider graphic novel I’ve ever picked up and I’m pretty disappointed. The story felt sort of all over the place and when I actually understood where and what was going on, I was bored. Maybe my brain just wanted me to be playing the video game and not just reading it. The one thing I did like was the colouring and art by Sevy and Atiyeh, there were some really beautiful panels. But yes, overall pretty bummed out.
April 5, 2018
Not a bad graphic novel, the art was absolutely fantastic, the story was meh.
Visually really cool, but in some ways I feel like this character is not such a great character to see on paper, I feel like she needs to be seen visually interacting rather than on paper. Again, the art was pretty fantastic though! It's a quick read with great art and that would be enough for me to read it.
Visually really cool, but in some ways I feel like this character is not such a great character to see on paper, I feel like she needs to be seen visually interacting rather than on paper. Again, the art was pretty fantastic though! It's a quick read with great art and that would be enough for me to read it.
January 7, 2023
Note: I received access to read this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Lara's personality here seems modelled off of the 2013 game reboot but the writing doesn't meet that baseline. The artwork is inconsistent, and overall it just isn't that exciting or well thought out a tale.
Lara's personality here seems modelled off of the 2013 game reboot but the writing doesn't meet that baseline. The artwork is inconsistent, and overall it just isn't that exciting or well thought out a tale.
September 20, 2019
This one kept me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, it's the first one I've read, so I'm a little confused with references to previous characters and happenings. The action sequences and chase were so much fun to read through. Well done.
October 15, 2024
well i got the first two volumes from the library and halfway through this i was like, yeah, idk if im gonna read the next one. and then at the very end Jonah says, “It’s about Sam” like man fuck you. now i HAVE to read the next volume because Sam is never mentioned after the 2013 game
April 6, 2025
Parts of this one were pretty cool. Other parts were just okay. I’m not sure the next installment exists in ebook format, which is a pain. All in all, not a bad way to spend a day laid up in bed angry sinuses.
August 25, 2017
I didn't quite like this arc. It felt boring and it lacked of something. Plus the art wasn't really good. I hope the next volume gets better.
February 13, 2018
I’m going to give it 4 stars but it was really like 3.5.
May 9, 2018
An interesting adventure, nothing overly standout but interesting nevertheless. I'm glad the library had a copy for me to try.
June 1, 2018
I love the recent Tomb Raider games where they give Lara Croft an origin story - as a result, I love that this is a younger, less experienced Croft. While the narrative is a little wonky at times, I really enjoyed the artwork and seeing Lara in her element. I am intrigued enough by the plot to want to know what happens next (although disappointed that no library has any other comics/graphic novels about Lara Croft).
August 24, 2018
Grade: B-
August 14, 2018
Finally the "new"Lara and the "old" Lara are meeting and blending. lol!
October 4, 2018
It’s what I expected from a Tomb Raider graphic novel. It’s got Lara Croft being bad*ss, action, adventure, bad guys, and corrupt corporations. I’m certainly reading the next volume.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews