Brendan's Research Blogs

Back in the 90s, Top Cow Productions got the rights to Tomb Raider, and to introduce it into their universe, they began with a crossover with its flagship series, Witchblade. Under normal circumstances, you’d think this is just a one and done thing where the two series barely acknowledge each other past that point, but there are plenty of instances where events and items from their crossovers show up in each other’s series. In their first crossover, Lara gives Sara a black catsuit to sneak around in while investigating Lucas Moralto’s mansion.  The catsuit reappears in Witchblade #25 when Sara’s fighting an old enemy, Ian Nottingham. Witchblade/Tomb Raider has the most connections to Witchblade, with the comic ending by saying its story is continued in Tales of the Witchblade. That series then dedicates three issues to Bastet’s (the crossover’s antagonist) backstory, and issue 9 has a text box referencing the crossover. The Endgame story arc spans across Tomb Raider: The Series and...

Background Lara Croft Aliases: Tomb Raider Occupation: Archaeologist, adventurer First appearance: Tomb Raider: Journeys #1 (November 28, 2000) Likes: Archeology, archery, Myles, Jonathan Kagan Dislikes: Leeches, killing Backstory Lara Croft is an archeologist who spends her days traveling the world, encountering ancient civilizations and doing what she can to keep legendary artifacts out of the wrong hands. From what little we’re given about her past, Journeys version of Lara was trained by an archeologist named Myles. During a run-in with the crime lord Charles Carlton , Myles was killed in the crossfire, and as his dying wish , he made Lara swear to never take a human life . Several years later, during a cruise across the seas, Lara encountered a pirate ship filled with 16th century pirates . Intrigued by her advanced technology, Captain Jonathan Kagan offered her an ultimatum: she could join his crew, or he could turn his ship’s cannons on her . Left with no other choice, Lara a...

Background Lara Croft Aliases: Tomb Raider Nicknames: Red, Cyber Psycho Armageddon Girl, Morning Dove Height: 5’9 Weight: 126 lbs Occupation: Archaeologist, explorer, adventurer First appearance: Tomb Raider/Witchblade (December 1, 1997) Likes: Winston, Sara Pezzini, Chase Carver (sort of. It’s complicated) Dislikes: Mosquitos, Lord Vymes, Tarsem Vox Backstory “I’m Lara Croft. If it’s unique or exciting, I go after it. No matter where it is. No matter what it takes to get it.” Lara was born into the Croft family as the daughter of Lord Henshingly Croft and Andrea Croft. Raised in their manor, she was tended to by the family butler ( and bodyguard ) Hartford Compton and spent her childhood reading books by the famous author/adventurer Lydia Blake , often playing in the family’s garden pretending to be her. Her love of archeology would further be stoked when she discovered the Lotus of Lakshmi at 8 years old, and she’d get to indulge this growing interest when famed archaeologist Werner...