Mariko's Musings On Dark Horse's Tomb Raider

by Vince Brusio

What goes around comes around, and Lara Croft is no exception. Just when you thought things couldn’t get better for Tomb Raider after Square Enix’s 2013 launch of the Tomb Raider video game, along comes Dark Horse Comics with writer Mariko Tamaki and artist Philip Sevy to give us Tomb Raider #1 (DEC150047), which continues where the Rise of the Tomb Raider game left off! Here in this PREVIEWSworld Exclusive interview, Mariko Tamaki urges us to get ready for Lara locked and loaded.

Tomb Raider #1 (DEC150047) is in comic shops February 17.

**********

PREVIEWSworld: What can fans expect from this latest series from Dark Horse? What makes Tomb Raider #1 (DEC150047) sing?

Mariko Tamaki: I'd say the artwork by Phillip Sevy, which I am totally digging.  With this series we're definitely building on (and indebted to) what came before us, so Lara is finding more cool things, and kicking more butt.

PREVIEWSworld: How did you approach doing this book? How did you familiarize yourself with Lara to feel comfortable enough to write her scenes and dialogue?

Mariko Tamaki: I familiarized myself with everything I could get my hands on.  I'm basically doing a Doctorate in Croft.

PREVIEWSworld: What do you think readers like most about Lara Croft? What makes her a star?

Mariko Tamaki: Lara is tough.  I don't think she would think of herself as a star.  I think she would think of herself as having a lot to do.  That said she's also got great aspirations. She's an explorer. There's not much cooler than an explorer.

PREVIEWSworld: When you worked with artist Philip Sevy to make this book happen, what was your impression with his sketches when you first saw them? Were there any changes suggested? Did the two of you get to speak about the project in person or on the phone? What was the working relationship like during the course of production?

Mariko Tamaki: A comic illustrator writes the story with the writer.  Despite living in different cities, Philip and I are definitely working together on this.  We're on Hangouts a lot.  Phillip has had amazing additions to the scripts I've handed him and I am always happy with what he comes up with.

PREVIEWSworld: Giving you the last word before we close this interview, what would you like to say about this book that would get readers jazzed for its February 2016 release?

Mariko Tamaki: Get ready for some intense Tomb Raider action, my friends.  Get. Ready.