Writer: Corinna Bechko
Artist(s): Randy Green, Carmen Carnero, Andy Owens, Michael Atiyeh
Release Date: 22nd June, 2016
Twenty years ago, yes twenty (I feel old); a phenomenon was thrust upon the world. We were introduced to Lara Croft, the Tomb Raider. Recently in games and accompanying literature we are getting to meet a younger Lara, finding her feet in the world of ‘tomb raiding’. So when I picked up the book Lara Croft and the Frozen Omen I was pleased to see a version of her on the cover heralding back to her original guise.
Lara has to travel the world to discover the origins of a supernatural organisation, hell-bent on bringing about the end of the world. Sound familiar? Well it should as it’s pretty much the basis for every Tomb Raider game I’ve played and also covers most of the books I have read involving the character. So in picking it up I wasn’t attracted to the premise of the book necessarily, but rather by the author, Corinna Bechko.
I first heard of Bechko when I read the second volume of Star Wars Legacy and was impressed by how she wrote the female protagonist, a lot of whose characteristics appears in the newest film of the Star Wars saga. So I was intrigued as to how she would handle Miss Croft.
The author writes Lara with what comes across to me as great affection. She is written with a hint of feminine guile mixed with mischievous arrogance and a dash of ruthless ambition to ensure she gets the job done. It’s everything you would want from a Tomb Raider story. The dialogue is tight and fast paced, it never lets up from one adventurous escapade to the next. It keeps what I can best describe as a predictable story moving forward.
The artwork is shared over the book between Randy Green, Carmen Carnero and Robert Atkins and while there is very subtle differences between the artists it doesn’t detract from the overall piece. Each artist keeps the panels clutter free and allows the layout of the dialogue to naturally evolve.
In conclusion, this book is saved by limitations of a story restricted by 20 years of canon by the skill and artistic writing of the author in. Flaws aside, it makes a great introduction for readers/gamers of the Tomb Raider series, introducing a confident, experienced adventurer they might not have encountered yet. For me, it reminds me of just how good the early days of the character were.
Rating: 3/5
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The writer of this piece was: John Patterson
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