Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Rhianna Pratchett
Artist: Derlis Santacruz
Release date: OUT NOW
Price: $3.99

It’s Chupacabra time for Lara Croft and her friends when they decide to hunt down Las Serpientes Que Caminian. If you don’t know what a Chupacabra is, well shame on you. Go look it up in your handy tome of ‘Monsters of the World Dictionary’. But, to be honest, I was lost at Las Serpientes.

Speaking of Las Serpientes something, something, a snappier name would be a must if writer Pratchett wants his creations to make it into the big leagues of villainous organisations dotted throughout the mythos of comic bookdom. Something, oh I don’t know, a bit catchier, like Hydra, Sons of the Serpent or the Yancy Street Gang maybe?

Actually, have you noticed how many bad guys adopt the snake/serpent pseudonym to mask their evil doings? Snakes on the brain if you ask me but it’s a short review, so lets not waste any more time on dubious wordplay.

Mind you, what have snakes ever done to deserve such a bad rep? Apart from poisoning, biting and crushing to death their victims and looking generally, well, badass. And then there’s that whole original sin thing I guess and please let’s leave the snake symbology alone.

This is another movie tie-in best presented on the big screen. Santacruz’s artwork is crisp, clear and dramatic, when required and yet there is nothing in his execution or, for that matter, the writing skills of Pratchett, to lift Tomb Raider out of the mundane and predictable and into the stellar.

Frankly, I was rooting for the Chupcabra all along, and I have a feeling you will too.

Reviewer: Gary Orchard
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker