Choice and Sacrifice

Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artwork: Phillip Sevy
Colours: Michael Atiyeh
Lettering: Michael Heisler
Cover Art: Tula Lotay
Release: Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec 2016, Jan 2017
Original Price: US $3.99 | UK £2.65
Issues in Set: 7, 8, 9, 10 ,11, 12
Lara Croft learns that her friend Samantha Nishimura has escaped from a mental hospital and immediately goes in search of her. She soon learns that Sam is very quickly being taken over by Himiko and so she researches an artefact known as the Wei Mirror to try and remove Himiko’s presence.

Allies:

Jonah Maiava
Lara kept him updated on what she uncovered about the Halberg Institute, and he booked a flight to join her after learning about Trinity's involvement. He had been searching for Samantha Nishimura's whereabouts by focusing on countries close to Sweden when he discovered that there was a report of a band of women who attacked a gas station in Germany. In issue #11, he joined up with Lara and they had managed to set a trap that made Sam and her followers believe that they had killed them. In issue #12, Jonah had bought dozens of mirrors and set them up in a warehouse, with the Wei mirror above them. After Lara had captured Sam and tied her to a beam in the warehouse, Jonah opened the windows to allow the sunlight in. When Sam opened her eyes, the soul of Himiko was pulled out of her body and into the Wei mirror. He stayed with Lara when Sam was in hospital and informed her about Sam's recovery and her being responsible for several crimes, as well as the false identity of Dr Taffe.
Professor Morrow
​She had written a research paper on the Wei Mirror, an ancient artefact from the court of the Sun Priestess Himiko. In 2016, she took Lara Croft to a church, only to find that Trinity were there first. Lara saved her from being shot and they quickly escaped the building. Professor Morrow took Lara to a building where Greta, a clairvoyant, spoke to her about her friend's soul being strangled by an ancient and evil spirit.

Artefacts:

Wei Mirror
​An ancient artefact from the court of the Sun Priestess Himiko, which Professor Morrow believed was used as a tool for dark practices. In 2016, the Mirror was being stored in the University of Berlin, in the archival storage and maintenance facility until Lara retrieved it and used it to remove Himiko's soul from Sam's body.

Baddies:

Himiko
The Queen of Yamatai. Himiko had chosen Sam Nishimura as her next vessel for her soul to transfer into and despite Lara Croft interrupting the transference process on Yamatai, Himiko hadn't yet completely left Sam's body. It took Lara and Jonah to find and use the Wei Mirror to absorb Himiko's energy and save Sam. 
Dr Taffe
Worked for Trinity when they took over the Halberg Institute in 2016. He worked with Samantha Nishimura and restrained Lara Croft when she broke into the institute to try and save her friend. When both Sam and Lara escaped, he had managed to keep track of them; he ordered Trinity soldiers to find Lara and to kill Sam. At the end of issue #12, Jonah told Lara that Dr Taffe wasn't a real doctor, nor was Taffe his real name and that there was a warrant out for his arrest for fraud.

Enemies:

Julia
​She was a part of Samantha Nishimura's gang who burnt down a gas station in Hamburg, Germany after Sam escaped from the Halberg Institute. In issue #10 she was ordered to follow and kill Lara Croft, however in issue #11, Lara killed her first.

Location:

Sweden – Halberg Institute​
England – Great Heights Gym
Germany – Bamberg
              - Hamburg
              - Berlin – University of Berlin
              - Staatsbibliothek Zu Berlin

Other Characters:

Samantha Nishimura
Sam was taken to the Halberg Institute in Sweden, however, whilst she was still possessed by Himiko, she killed a nurse and broke free. Staying in a hotel room, she had formed herself a group of women to fight for her: in Hamburg, Germany, they burned down a gas station. In issue #12, whilst getting ready to head to Yamatai, Trinity soldiers attacked them. Lara had managed to capture Sam and she took her to a warehouse, where Jonah had set up the Wei Mirror with dozens of other mirrors. Sam's soul battled with Himiko's, and Sam stabbed herself in an attempt to kill Himiko. Jonah opened the windows to let the light in and Lara told Sam to open her eyes. In doing so, the Wei mirror pulled Himiko's soul out of Sam's body and into the mirror. Sam was then taken to a hospital to be treated. She had been caught on video at the Hamburg gas station and was also held responsible for other robberies and assaults. Antonia, her mother, refused to let Lara see her ever again.
Antonia Nishimura
The mother of Samantha Nishimura and wife to Hisao Nishimura. She blamed Lara Croft for 'destroying her daughter'. In issue #8, Antonia and Hisao made a TV appeal for help in finding their missing daughter after she had escaped from the Halburg institute in Sweden. In issue #12, Antonia was with Sam at her bedside after Lara and Jonah had used the Wei mirror to remove Himiko's soul from her body. Antonia refused to let Lara see her friend ever again.
Hisao Nishimura
The father of Samantha Nishimura and husband to Antonia Nishimura. He had paid a lot of money for Sam to be treated at Halberg Institute, and he and his wife, Antonia, made a TV appeal for help finding their missing daughter after she had escaped from the institute.
Greta
​A clairvoyant. Greta could speak English but it was rusty.

Weapons:

Climbing Axe​
Pistol
Bow

Other Information:

  • Issue #12's cover is based upon a cosplay image by Lili Din