Writer: Casey Gilly Artist: Antonio Di Caprio Colorist: Eren Angiolini Letterer: AndWorld Design Cover artist: Antonio Di Caprio
In order to keep a dangerous and familiar relic out of the wrong hands, Lara Croft must travel to Italy and meet the mysterious, masked adversary who stole it from her. But when Lara enlists the aid of her old friend Carter Bell, his own request for help will lead her on a detour—one that will plunge her into the depths of the city of Paris!
Writer: Casey Gilly Artist: Antonio Di Caprio Colorist: Eren Angiolini Cover artist: Taurin Clarke
Adventurer, archaeologist, socialite, survivor…legend. Lara Croft’s life is anything but boring! She’s survived a shipwreck, betrayal, ancient traps, prophecies, and paparazzi.
When Croft Manor goes up in flames, it forces Lara to take stock of her life and figure out what was important to her. But a confrontation with a mysterious foe who has gotten their hands on a dangerous and familiar artifact provides some clarity as it launches Lara on a cross-continental journey doing what she does best…raiding tombs and questing for legendary relics.
Experience Lara Croft’s next chapter as she forges a new path following the events in Tomb Raider: Underworld and continues her legacy as the Tomb Raider.
In collaboration with Crystal Dynamics, Dark Horse Comics returns to the tale of the legendary Lara Croft with Tomb Raider: Sacred Artifacts,a four-issue miniseries poised to bring Tomb Raider back into the spotlight. Serving as an exciting adventure for Tomb Raider fans, as well as the perfect jumping-on point for those uninitiated, writer Casey Gilly, artist Antonio Di Caprio, colorist Eren Angiolini and letterer AndWorld Design bring Croft back to comics in a big way. Cover art for the first issue is provided by Taurin Clarke.
Adventurer, archaeologist, socialite, survivor, legend. Lara Croft’s life is anything but boring! She’s survived a shipwreck, betrayal, ancient traps, prophecies, and paparazzi.
When Croft Manor goes up in flames, it forces Lara to take stock of her life and figure out what is important to her. But a confrontation with a mysterious foe who has gotten their hands on a dangerous and familiar artifact launches Lara into a cross-continental journey, doing what she does best: raiding tombs and questing for legendary relics.
Adventure awaits in Tomb Raider: Sacred Artifacts #1 (of 4)when it arrives in comic shops on January 14, 2026 for $4.99.
DC Pride 2025 #1 is a little different from the previous installments of DC Pride in that it’s not a collection of short stories featuring LGBTQ+ DC Comics characters, but is a single narrative centered around a gay bar that Alan Scott frequented in the 1930s and told predominantly from the POV of a new character named Ethan, who is a trans military veteran that ends up caught up a kind of multiversal/elemental saga. I applaud the scope of this comic book, which has big jam session energy as different characters end up in different pocket realities based on wishes they made at the gay bar or graffiti they scrawled. We get Apollo and Midnighter living in 1950s domestic bliss courtesy of Sam Maggs and Derek Charm, a single, psychiatric girl boss Harley Quinn from Maya Houston, Max Sarin, and Marissa Louise ; and a gorgeous sapphic romance between Jo Mullein and Nubia from Houston, Vita Ayala, and Vincent Cecil to name a few. The reading effect is like jumping from comic to comic and look at paths not trodden with some iconic queer characters and a few new or not so iconic ones.
As Tim Sheridan, Giulio Macaione, and Emilio Pilliu Alan Scott-centric frame story shows, fighting supervillains and having superpowers is a metaphor for being queer in DC Pride 2025. It might be tempting to give up and lie low, especially with the United States’ hard turn to fascism, and homophobia and transphobia promoted by folks in power, but Alan Scott, Ethan, and their companions’ actions in the comic act as a clarion call to resistance. The stuff with the Crimson Flame and Scott having his own Red Lantern is a little Geoff Johnsian for my taste, but it’s so cool to watch Alan Scott have a Sailor Moon type transformation sequence and return into action to help save the next generation of queer heroes symbolized by Ethan. I love Macaione’s use of greens to show a possible, idyllic future for Scott and a non-Red Lantern/Russian spy Johnny Ladd, but it’s a happiness based on a lie like the other possible futures in the book.
However, DC Pride 2025 isn’t all serious action and has a lot of humor and playfulness. Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Alex Moore recontextualize Golden Age Z-list Wonder Woman villain Blue Snowman coming to terms with their gender fluidity alongside nonbinary superhero Envoy in one vignette. I love how they poke fun at the restrictions of the gender binary using the classic tropes of a superhero brawl, and how even well meaning cisgender people can be just plain annoying at times. It’s so cool seeing this kind of story and voice in a mainstream, corporate comic showing that nonbinary characters don’t just have to be righteous heroes, but can be kind of messy too. DC Pride 2025 really hits the spectrum of queer identities, including asexuality with Connor Hawke getting a short story where he resists his father’s reputation as a womanizer and just wants to live his own life. I have to give a special shout out to Philip Sevy’s art in this short sequence, which seems like it’s right out of the late 1990s period where he was member of the JLA. Both the visual and character variety of DC Pride 2025 makes it an engaging read, and the book is a testament to the active work that DC Comics has done to cultivate LGBTQ+ characters in the past decade or so. (I need a monthly Midnighter and/or Apollo book though.)
After a wild and wacky cosmic adventure set in the DC Multiverse, DC Pride 2025 wraps up with a beautiful nonfiction storyfrom Jenny Blake and Sara Soler about Blake coming out as a transgender woman earlier this year. It has gorgeous soft lines and a refreshing color palette to go with Jenny Blake’s honest and humorous script about how old comics about Clark Kent switching genders had an influence on her own gender identity journey. I love how Soler inserts different DC characters into the panel to blur the line between fantasy and non-fiction with Blake’s most famous co-creation Black Lightning making an appearance as well as transgender superheroine Dreamer, who shares coffee with Blake. The story shows that you’re never too old to be your authentic self and hints at a longer graphic memoir, which I hope Jenny Blake gets to realize at DC or elsewhere.
DC Pride 2025 is an ambitious comic with summer crossover energy that tells an epic story with DC’s LGBTQ+ characters while still taking time to dig into their individual hopes, fears, and dreams. It’s a showcase of queer representation on the page and on the issue’s creative teams, and Blake and Sara Soler’s memoir is a beautiful coda and rallying cry to continue to be queer and fearless in an increasingly dark and hateful world.
Story: Vita Ayala, Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Maya Houston Story: Sam Maggs, Tim Sheridan, Josh Trujillo, Jenny Blake Art: Don Aguillo, Vincent Cecil, Derek Charm, A.L. Kaplan, Giulio Macaione Art: Emilio Pilliu, Max Sarin, Philip Sevy, Sara Soler, Alex Moore, Skyler Patridge Colors: Eren Angiolini, Jordie Bellaire, Triona Farrell, Marissa Louise Letters: Aditya Bidikar, Frank Cvetkovic, Lucas Gattoni, Ariana Maher, Morgan Martinez, Jodie Troutman Story: 8.9 Art: 9.3 Overall: 9.1 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
In an extraordinary collaboration between two celebrated voices in comics, DC has announced the addition of an original story, “Master Planner” by writer Jenny Blake and artist Sara Soler with lettering by Jodie Troutman, to DC Pride 2025. This new story, like Kevin Conroy’s personal story “Finding Batman” (art by J. Bone) in 2022 and Phil Jimenez’s autobiographical story “Spaces” (art by Giulio Macaione) in 2024, is a poignant exploration of Blake’s identity, authenticity, and the universal quest for self-understanding. Blake is a co-creator of Black Lightning, along with Trevor Von Eeden, among other accomplishments.
Jenny Blake, a trailblazing figure with over five decades of contributions to the comics industry, shared her heartfelt reflections on the project:
When I came out as transgender, the comics community was overwhelmingly loving and supportive. Being asked to contribute to this anthology was unexpected and so affirming. I’ve done a lot of cool things in my 50-plus years in comics, but this story is one of the things I’m most proud of. I see myself in this story and I hope readers see something of themselves in it. I had a wonderful time writing my story, and I hope the readers enjoy it as much as I did.
The story, brought vividly to life by the extraordinary artistry of Sara Soler, invites readers into a journey that is both deeply personal and widely relatable, bridging human experiences of transformation, resilience, and belonging. Soler’s style beautifully captures the essence of Blake’s narrative, creating a perfect harmony between words and visuals.
Additionally, DC’s editorial team has selected a handful of letters, cosplay, and fan art to be published in a letters column within the pages of DC Pride 2025. Originally shared on the DC Official Discord server, fan contributions to DC Pride 2025 reflect how the legacy of DC’s storytelling has impacted, or reflected, their LGBTQIA+ identity, journey, or experience.
DC Pride 2025 will publish on June 4, available wherever comic books are sold. Contributors include writers Vita Ayala, Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Maya Houston, Sam Maggs, Tim Sheridan, and Josh Trujillo; artists Don Aguillo, Vincent Cecil, Derek Charm, A.L. Kaplan, Giulio Macaione, Alex Moore, Skylar Patridge, Emilio Pilliu, Max Sarin, and Phillip Sevy; colorists Eren Angiolini, Jordie Bellaire, Tríona Farrell, and Marissa Louise; letterers Aditya Bidikar, Frank Cvetkovic, Lucas Gattoni, Ariana Maher, Morgan Martinez, and Jodie Troutman for main story “The Heart Wants”; along with Blake, Solar, and Troutman for “Master Planner.” The 96-page Prestige format comic will feature a main cover by Kris Anka and variant covers by Sozomaika, Julia Reck, and Jack Hughes (1:25), all priced at $9.99 US (card stock).
Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg, the Batmobile lost a wheel… and you know the rest! Read these eight merry tales about characters from the DCU set during the holiday season. Be enthralled by Dr. Midnight’s literally silent night, become captivated by a Deadman story written by Marv Wolfman, and ponder the question: in a world without the Joker’s torment, is it really a wonderful life? Probably not. DC’s Batman Smells, Robin Laid An Egg, is a heartwarming new holiday anthology coming as a gift to you this this holiday season! How can you not pick up a comic titled DC’s Batman Smells, Robin Laid an Egg?
The song the comic is based on has become a holiday classic in many ways. Enshrined in pop culture, used as alternative lyrics in concerts by school kids who don’t feel like singing the real words, it’s been a thing for decades. So with a comic entitled DC’s Batman Smells, Robin Laid an Egg, you’d expect a read that was a lot of comedy and full of holiday cheer. And, the result is exactly that.
As with any anthology, DC’s Batman Smells, Robin Laid an Egg varies in quality of the stories but overall, the eight are really solid. They range from good to great, there’s not a stinker in the bunch. There’s riffs on classic stories, like the Joker being shown a world where he didn’t exist, and a lot of new original takes as well. It features a wide range of characters including a reunion of the Secret Six, that just reminds us we need a return of the Secret Six.
The art styles vary greatly and some are downright fantastic. Francesco Francavilla’s Dr. Midnight stands out with a wordless tale, and emphasizing how varied the storytelling is. There’s quite a few I’d love to see regularly on comics as well and like the stories some stand out more than others.
DC’s Batman Smells, Robin Laid an Egg is really good overall. A fun one-shot packed with original stories, it’s a nice holiday addition from DC which has already started a great tradition in its mini-series featuring Santa. Some of the stories deliver laughs, other nostalgia, and most of all, many deliver heart and warmth. It’s a nice read that’ll get you in the mood for the holiday season.
Story: Dorado Quick, Drew Maxey, Ricardo Sanchez, Alexis Quasarano, Marv Wolfman, James Reid, Zipporah Smith, Calvin Kasulke Art: M.L. Sanapo, Marianna Ignazzi, Aaron Conley, Marcial Toledano Vargas, Paul Pelletier, Francesco Francavilla, Andrew Drilon, Anthony Marques Color: Arif Prianto, Giovanna Niro, Ivan Plascencia, Marcial Toledano Vargas, Eren Angiolini, Andrew Drilon, Wil Quintana Letterer: Dave Sharpe, Pat Brosseau, Steve Wands, Carlos M. Mangual, Josh Reed Story: 7.75 Art: 8.0 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Writer Chip Zdarsky, artist Rachael Stott, and colorist Eren Angiolini bring fans of the Eisner Award winning series Public Domain its comic-book-within-the-comic-book in the upcoming new title, The Domain. This five-issue miniseries is the in-universe comic book at the center of the Public Domain series and will launch July 10 from Image Comics.
In the pages of Public Domain, Syd Dallas and the team at Dallas Comics reimagine their classic character The Domain for a new audience, and… this is that comic!
In the upcoming The Domain, three best friends discover a crashed UFO and uncover technology that imbues them with incredible abilities. But there’s a catch: only one of them can use the powers at a time! Can their friendship survive the power’s temptation?
The Domain promises a classic superhero story for those coming in fresh, and a fun meta story for readers of Public Domain.
After diving into the backstories of Jester Lavorre, Caleb Widogast, Yasha Nydoorin, Fjord Stone, Nott the Brave, and Mollymauk Tealeaf in the Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins graphic novels, Dark Horse Books and Critical Role present the final two originstories with Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins—Beauregard Lionett and Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins—Caduceus Clay.
Enter the world of the Cobalt Soul in Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins—Beauregard Lionett. Despite her origins with a “traditional” family, Beauregard Lionett’s penchant for troublemaking was legendary. Outraged by her criminal activity, Beau’s father arranged for her to be kidnapped and turned over to the order of monks known as the Cobalt Soul for some much-needed discipline and direction. But the direction Beau takes–toward the Mighty Nein–isn’t what anyone anticipated.
Matthew Mercer, Marisha Ray, and Mae Catt write Beauregard’s backstory, with art by Guilherme Balbi, colors by Diana Sousa, and letters by Ariana Maher, with Balbi and Sousa illustrating the cover.
Last but certainly not least, the final member of the Mighty Nein to receive his own graphic novel is Caudecus Clay in Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins—Caduceus Clay. Generations of the Clay family have tended to the careful rituals in the Blooming Grove. But when corruption begins to creep in on their sacred space, the Clays depart one by one to seek answers. Soon young Caduceus and Clarabelle are the only ones left, and when a dangerous burial quest falls to Caduceus, he must leave the Grove to do the family’s work.
Matthew Mercer, Taliesin Jaffe, and Kendra Wells write the graphic novel, with art by Selina Espiritu, colors by Eren Angiolini, letters by Ariana Maher, with cover art by Gus Allen and Angiolini.
Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins—Beauregard Lionettwill be available in bookstores April 30, 2024 and in comic shops May 1, 2024. It is now available to pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local comic shop and bookstore for $17.99.
Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins—Caduceus Clay HCwill be available in bookstores June 4, 2024 and in comic shops June 5, 2025. It is now available to pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local comic shop and bookstore for $17.99.
