ANDY PARK REFLECTS ON HIS ICONIC TOMB RAIDER COMIC BOOK COVERS

[ 5 February 2025 ]

Crystal Dynamics has published an interview with renowned comic book artist and illustrator Andy Park, who discussed his enduring relationship with British adventurer Lara Croft, star of Tomb Raider, which spans over two decades. Park, known for his influential artwork in the Tomb Raider series since the late 1990s, shared his favourite covers and his approach to illustrating Lara Croft.

Park's favourite cover is the gold-foiled version of Tomb Raider #1 from 1999. The image, which was also used as a promotional poster at the San Diego Comic-Con, stands out to him for capturing Lara Croft's strength and confidence in a dynamic pose. The collaboration with industry legends Marc Silvestri, Jon Sibal, and Richard Isanove made this cover a personal highlight. Another cover that resonates with Park is the purple-background version of Tomb Raider #1, which marked the comic's release and became the highest-selling comic in the industry that year.

Park also pointed to Tomb Raider issue #9, where Lara is depicted fighting a crocodile, as a favourite. He appreciates the cover's composition and its potential as a collectible statue, showcasing his love for iconic character moments in pop culture.

Reflecting on his long association with Tomb Raider, Park recalled his work on covers and illustrations for the franchise's major anniversaries and rebooted video games. He expressed how each new collaboration felt like returning home after years of illustrating Lara Croft, solidifying his role in her legacy.

When discussing Lara Croft's character, Park shared his goal of giving her depth and complexity. He sought to make Lara not just a physical icon but also a strong, multidimensional character capable of vulnerability. This was reflected in his careful approach to her appearance and actions, aiming to balance strength, confidence, and real human emotion.

As for his artistic choices, Park emphasised the importance of poses and compositions that captured Lara's intense, engaging presence. Drawing inspiration from the early video game covers, he often depicted Lara directly engaging with the viewer, conveying her readiness to face any challenge.

For Park, his work on Tomb Raider remains a defining aspect of his career, and he continues to be proud of his contribution to the character's legacy.

Tomb Raider Colossal Collection Volume 1, a comprehensive hardcover edition of the iconic comic book series from Top Cow, will be released in June 2025. Spanning a total of 888 pages, this collection includes issues #1-24 and #26-34 from the Tomb Raider series published by Top Cow between 1999 and 2003.

Hop on over to the official Tomb Raider blog to read the full interview with Andy Park.

Dark Horse