”G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero/Tomb Raider #1” Review – A Strange Yet Fitting Tale

The Run Down

When one thinks of “Tomb Raider”, they don’t necessarily think “GI Joe” and vice versa. Yet writer Kyle Higgins manages to make this strange pairing make sense. In her search for the Arbco Star, she enlists the help of the Joes, perhaps not knowing the breadth of trouble she’s stumbling into. Though, knowing Lara, she absolutely does.

Writer: Kyle Higgins
Artist: Elena Casagrande
Colorist: Alex Guimarães
Letterer: Pat Brosseau

The Writing

While the concept of Lara Croft creating ties with the G.I. Joe crew may seem a bit odd on the surface, writer Kyle Higgins will make you wonder why they don’t cross paths more often. Whether he manages to make them fit seamlessly into her world, or her into theirs, I’m unsure, but it works beautifully. While this is just the start, it got me excited enough to want to read the next issue.

For me, that’s rather surprising, as I could never get into G.I. Joe. Though, if this first issue is anything to go by, Higgins may just entice this girl to read more. He manages to keep the pacing tight and the story tense, making you question what will happen next. With only a few issues, this story is sure to be a short yet great one.

The Art

Where the writing is so far great, the art is a bit less so. While Casagrande’s penciling is great in most panels, it doesn’t stay consistent. However, when it shines, it truly shines! One panel in particular really stands out to me, and it’s our introduction to Destro and Baroness. Casagrande’s choice of angle gives them intimidating power, while the setting gives an intense creepiness and darkness.

As for the colors, Alex Guimarães ‘ work is top-notch. He manages to keep everything realistically lit while intensifying the action and imbuing scenes with emotion. Meanwhile, Brosseau does his usual thing of rounding out every page with great bubble and box placements. This makes things easy to follow while keeping the book well paced.

Final Thoughts

Kyle Higgins delivers a terrific start to what’s sure to be a wild ride. While one doesn’t normally think of these two worlds coming together, he makes it seem like they always were. Whether you’re a fan of the Joes or of Lara, you won’t walk away from this disappointed. As a massive “Tomb Raider” fan, I sure didn’t and look forward to what’s coming!

Overall Grade: 9/10

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Comments

Are you a fan of “Tomb Raider” or “G.I. Joe”? Is this a run you’re looking forward to reading? Let’s discuss in the comments below!