Tomb Raider #1: Survivor’s Guilt is a 2014 comic written by Gail Simone, illustrated by Nicolas Daniel Selma, and published by Dark Horse Comics.

First, I’d like to say that Dan Dos Santos creates a pretty awesome cover.  Lara looks badass and the background scenery shows us a portion of how dark and deadly Yamatai is.  The ancient ruins seem symbolic with Lara having her climbing axe and bow which both act as weapons and tools.  Also, the fire gives the cover a yellow hue that almost seems ghostly.

The first issue of Gail Simone’s Tomb Raider comic series picks up a few weeks after the events on the island of Yamatai.

The comic starts off with Lara dirtied and bruised pursued by unknown gunmen.  She runs and jumps off the side of a waterfall landing on an old plane.  She nearly slides off the side but catches herself with a climbing ax.  She’s aided by the images of her dead comrades Conrad Roth, Alex Weiss (Weiss looks like the Human Torch), and Angus Grimaldi.  I like how the three are drawn in the same way that the three died (Grimaldi died in a fall, Weiss died in a fiery explosion, and Roth died from taking an ax to the back). Lara fights off the apparitions but Roth takes her over the side of the plane.

Lara wakes up from her nightmare rattled with guilt at her friends who perished on Yamatai.  Soon after Sam calls out to Lara who has apparently had a nightmare as well.  Lara notices a strange mark on Sam’s arm.  Things get heated between the two and it’s obvious that Sam’s got an interesting secret.  She then gets an urgent call from Jonah.

The next transition sees Lara traveling through the Devil’s Rest to visit her friend Jonah.  Traveling with her is a guide named Ray.  I think it’s kind of silly she has her axe and not a gun but it’ll probably come in handy soon.  Upon her arrival, she sees Jonah who is freaking the hell out, even holding Lara at gunpoint.  He’s talking gibberish but he does warn Lara that they’re being hunted.  Before he can kill himself, a massive tidal wave comes out of nowhere and slams the trailer.

The two are tumbled about and Jonah manages to get Lara free.  The waves toss the trailer about and Lara performs another awesome leap of faith, catching a nearby rock with her axe.  The issue ends with Lara watching helplessly as Jonah and his trailer are sunken beneath the waves.

The Verdict:  In the end, Tomb Raider #1: Survivor’s Guilt is actually pretty sweet.  We get a chance to see how Lara and the others are dealing with their experiences on the island.  I love the internal monologue by Lara and we get to see how strongly she feels responsible for all the lives lost on Yamatai.

There are a lot of great questions.  Who are these people who’re hunting the survivors?  What are these mysterious gold pieces?  What was that hand print on Sam’s arm?  And where the hell did all that water come from?  Is it of supernatural origin?

I don’t know much about Gail Simone as a comic book writer but it’s a great first impression.  I really thought this issue was intriguing and an interesting first step.  Tomb Raider #1: Survivor’s Guilt gets 3 out of 5.