Comics
The comic series, which ran from 1999 to 2005 (in which the fiftieth and final issue was released), consisted of monthly issues published by Top Cow Productions who secured the rights to producing comics after a long struggle. Preceding this series, French publisher Glenat got the green light from Eidos France to produce a comic series called Dark Eons based on the Tomb Raider games which was taken off the market shortly after. Besides the monthly series, a parallel 12-part series called "Journeys", which ran from 2001 to 2003 in comics, was also published. "Journeys" was more focused on Lara's journeys into various realms of spirituality, and was considerably darker than the main series.
The comics follow a different continuity compared to that of the games and the films. In the comics, the plane crash experienced by Lara kills both her parents as well as her fiancee, and takes place when she is an adult as opposed to being a young girl, as is the case with both game continuities. Writers Dan Jurgens, John Nay Riber and James Bonny worked on the series, which also featured the art of Andy Park, the late Michael Turner, Billy Tan, and Adam Hughes, amongst others.
There are one-shots occasionally released and talk of the comic being reintroduced to tie in to the new Tomb Raider Legend continuity. There have also been frequent crossovers with other Top Cow publications such as Fathom , The Darkness, Magdalena and Witchblade. The debut issue of Tomb Raider was the number one-selling comic book of 1999.
In late 2006 Top Cow released the Tomb Raider Compendium. This was a large, single volume, collected edition of the Tomb Raider comic series, a hardcover version followed in 2008. The book encompasses all 50 issues (well over 1000 pages), as well as a cover gallery featuring select covers, most of them done by Adam Hughes. It is a full size, full-color, reproduction of all fifty issues in high-quality paper. This collection, however, does not include the various specials, minis, and one-shots from the series. This would probably explain why the compendium has "Volume One" written on the side.
Bandai Entertainment also published a "tankobon" set of volumes, which reprints older stories in black and white in a smaller book.
The series has been rumored to make its return in late 2007 but it has been delayed indefinitely.
Characters
- Alissia Lee
- Annie Richardson
- Aspen Matthews
- Avatar
- Caronne
- Chu
- Daria
- Hanson
- Hartford Compton
- Hongi
- J. Bradley Aulgood
- Jason
- Joe Notafraid
- Kagan
- Kerri Masterson
- Kurtis Trent
- Lady Jasmine
- Lord Vymes
- Lydia Blake
- Madeline Hovan
- Morgan Le Fay
- Mr. Roetek
- Mu'Tin
- Paris d'Arseine
- Professor Walter Chemiski
- Samuel Quill
- Sara Pezzini
- Styles
- Terrence Butterman
- Tsang Do Khyi
- Vanessa Fenway
- Zinn
