The Road So Far
From rebuilding Croft Manor to finding Carter injured and now coming upon exactly what she’s been looking for, Lara Croft has already been through a lot. In this penultimate issue of “Sacred Artifacts”, everything starts coming to a head. So, strap in and let’s open this book up!
Writer: Casey Gilly
Artist: Antonio Di Caprio
Colorist: Eren Angiolini
Publisher: Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics
Cavern of Curiosity
As with the previous issues, Gilly proves just how much of a fan she is while lending hints to future twists. She does such a wonderful job of throwing in potential misdirections while simultaneously moving the plot forward. Oddly enough, the two things I stated play very much hand-in-hand. For any diehard fans of “Tomb Raider 2” specifically, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when you pick this up, as the events of it get brought up directly yet again. I fear this will have a deep, emotional impact that Lara and I aren’t ready for.
One other thing that I genuinely loved here was Gilly’s inclusion of real-world history and blending it in seamlessly with Lara’s world. In this issue, we find out more about the Scythian Warriors and the Scythian Dagger. In my research, I found out that the Scythian Warriors were a real group that did exactly what she described. This more than proved that Gilly’s willing to put in the work, something that not every writer will do. Blending real history with fiction to deepen the story isn’t easy to do, yet she makes it look so.
Lighting The Way
One thing that really helps this blending of history and fiction is the art and colors. Once again, coming from Di Caprio and Angiolini, they work together to both transport us through time and create dimension. When I say “dimension”, I mean in more ways than one.
Coupled with Gilly’s great writing, we start seeing a deeper connection between Lara and Anna. In everything from facial expressions to the subtle hand motions, they work to suck readers into this bond. Last time, I said I believed this to be a queer bond, but I think this will be something much more and much different.
The two also work to create an astounding-looking space on a 2D surface. Through the expert use of line work, coloring, and shading, these characters, settings, and the action leap off the page. In every look that I take, it’s so easy for me to believe that what’s happening is real, even if I know it isn’t. Through this, the reader becomes fully enveloped in what’s going on, pairing perfectly with Gilly’s work.
Overall – 10/10
Gilly, Di Caprio, and Angiolini all come together to create one of Lara’s best adventures to date! Any fan not reading “Sacred Artifacts” is missing out on a truly exciting time. This penultimate issue is well worth the trip to your local comic shop.
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Comments
What are you thinking of “Sacred Artifacts” so far? Are you a fan of Lara who’s looking to start reading? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
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