DF Interview: Corinna Bechko brings back an icon: the experienced, wily Lara Croft

By Byron Brewer

It’s up to Lara Croft – a savvy, capable ADULT Lara -- to stop a group of cultists from causing worldwide cataclysmic devastation, and ancient ivory artifacts hold the key to both salvation and destruction. It’s a race against time in Lara’s new quest, brought to you in October by writer Corinna Bechko and artist Randy Green.

To get the 411 on this new game in town, Dynamic Forces met with Bechko who is no stranger to licensed franchises.

Dynamic Forces: Is this your first writing sojourn into the Lara Croft franchise? How did this assignment come about?

Corinna Bechko: It is! I’m very happy to add a little corner to her universe. I have worked with Dark Horse before though and really enjoyed the experience, so I was thrilled when I was asked to pitch a story for this new miniseries.

DF: We hear your story is a return to the older, eminently capable Croft, before the 2013 reboot, correct? If so, how does that affect the flavor of your story?

Corinna Bechko: That’s right. This Lara is a bit more experienced. She’s seen a lot of weird stuff, and it doesn’t usually faze her. But that means that she can recognize dangers before most of the people around her too.

DF: Give us your take on this iteration of the heroine.

Corinna Bechko: She’s very aware of the value of a good friend, but knows she can’t leave problems for someone else to solve. She’s smart, capable, and wise enough to understand that she doesn’t always have all the answers. She loves finding out things no one else knows, going places no one else has been, and doing things she’s never done before. She likes to be in control because experience has taught her that’s usually her best bet.

DF: What can you tell us about the storyline, without going into spoilers?

Corinna Bechko: For this adventure Lara has reteamed with Carter Bell. Ancient ivory pieces, carved during the last ice age, have gone missing from around the world. As Lara and Carter dig deeper into the mystery they find that, unlike similar artifacts shaped from mammoth or walrus ivory, these are of from an unknown animal, something very strange indeed that walked the world at the dawn of humanity. Something has caused the “spirit” of these pieces to wake up, and the consequences could spell the end of human civilization.

DF: Not unlike Indiana Jones, some forget that Lara Croft is also a scientist as well as an adventurer. Many readers might not know that you are a bit of an academic yourself, correct?

Corinna Bechko: Well, I do have a zoology degree and a love of science! And before I changed disciplines, long, long ago, I was studying for a degree in anthropology. I even participated in a dig, but my task wasn’t very glamorous. It fell to me to catalogue scraps of bone to find out what was being eaten when the site was active. So basically I was sorting ancient garbage. It was really interesting, though!

DF: Do you enjoy writing these types of fast-paced action/adventures?

Corinna Bechko: I really do. And I especially like to write them when there are monsters or strange beasts involved, so this series has been especially fun for me.

DF: What do you think about artist Randy Green? Have you seen any of his Tomb Raider stuff?

Corinna Bechko: I’m so happy to work with him! I have seen a lot of his other stuff, so I was very pleased I would be working with someone who really got the feel of the character and the world right away.

DF: If a Lara Croft ongoing came out of this 5-issue mini, would you be interested in writing her?

Corinna Bechko: Oh, certainly! She’s a lot of fun to spend time with. I always like it when there’s room for a smart, capable woman in a story, and here that woman is the star! I very much like how she bounces off Carter Bell too. They have a lot of respect for each other but have been through enough together that they can joke around too. I think they make a good team.

Dynamic Forces would like to thank Corinna Bechko for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer our questions. Lara Croft and the Frozen Omen #1 hits stores October 7^th!

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