Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a poor farmer named Jack. Jack was struggling to make ends meet and provide for his family. Every day, he would work tirelessly in his fields, but his crops would fail and the yield would be minimal. One day, Jack came across a strange-looking cow in the marketplace. The cow had a shimmering, golden coat and looked as if it was from another world. Intrigued, Jack approached the cow's owner and inquired about it.
Additionally, all too often we have unfortunately seen creators get quickly cast aside by major publishers as soon as they’re no longer the flavor of the month, even if they are still doing quality work. Keeping that in mind, I’m glad that Balent was able to achieve some long-term success on Tarot, a property he actually owns.
But, again, I m really impressed with how Balent has stuck with it, producing 141 issues of Tarot Witch of the Black Rose on a bi-monthly schedule, with no end in sight. I feel a really good example of Balent s work with the character can be seen in Catwoman 27 Dec 1995 in a several page sequence which sees Selina encounter simian supervillain Gorilla Grodd.
Intrigued, Jack approached the cow's owner and inquired about it. The owner informed him that the cow possessed magical powers and could produce milk that had the ability to grant any wish. Seeing a glimmer of hope, Jack decided to purchase the magical cow with the little money he had left.
Tag: Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose
I would like to wish a very happy birthday to comic book artist Jim Balent, who was born on August 15th.
Balent’s first professional work was drawing a back-up story that was published in Sgt. Rock #393, which was published by DC Comics with an October 1984 cover date. Over the next decade, Balent did work for several series from independent publisher Malibu Comics.
The first time I recall seeing Balent’s work was on a story in Green Lantern Corps Quarterly #4 (Spring 1993) featuring Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern from the 1940s. This was followed soon after by Balent’s fill-in pencils on Detective Comics #660 (May 1993). Both of those stories immediately left me impressed with his work.
Later in 1993 the first ongoing Catwoman series was launched by DC Comics. Balent was the penciler, paired with writer Jo Duffy and inker Dick Giordano. Balent redesigned Selina Kyle’s look, giving the feline femme fatale a skintight purple jumpsuit, thigh-high black boots and long black gloves.
The series was an immediate hit. Catwoman had always been one of the iconic members of Batman’s rogues gallery, but this series really helped to make the character into a protagonist who could carry her own title.
Balent’s work on Catwoman was both sexy and dynamic, as he really captured both the character’s beauty and athleticism. That later quality was effectively illustrated by Balent in the various sequences in which Selina would be carrying out some sort of dangerously elaborate heist.
Written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Jim Balent, inked by Bob Smith, lettered by Albert DeGuzman and colored by Buzz Setzer (click to enlarge)
I feel a really good example of Balent’s work with the character can be seen in Catwoman #27 (Dec 1995) in a several page sequence which sees Selina encounter simian supervillain Gorilla Grodd. Balent did a great job choreographing this contest that pitted lithe agility against hulking brute force.
The thing that really impressed me about Balent is that even though his art on the Catwoman series helped rocket him into super-stardom, he remained on the book for a total of 79 monthly issues over a six-and-a-half-year period, from August 1993 to February 2000. And during that run he still found the time to work on several other books, such as Purgatori for Chaos Comics in 1996, the Catwoman / Vampirella crossover from DC and Harris Comics in 1997, and the covers of the Supernaturals miniseries for Marvel in 1998.
The 1990s was a time when so many news, flashy artists, having become red-hot, jumped from one title to the next, in the process frequently blowing deadlines. So, I really admired that Balent stayed on Catwoman for a good, long run, never missing an issue, and still finding time for side projects.
Following the end of his Catwoman run, Balent and his wife & creative partner Holly Golightly immediately launched the creator-owned series Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose through their own company, Broadsword Comics, with the first issue coming out a month after Balent’s final issue of Catwoman. Balent writes & draws Tarot, with Golightly lettering & coloring the series.
Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose is an erotic supernatural adventure series. As Balent himself describes it in a 2008 interview:
“The star of the book is a voluptuous, red-headed witch named Tarot. Aided by her bat-winged black cat, Tarot fights to keep the balance between Magick and Man. The fate of mankind lies in the hands of one witch!”
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Balent is well-known for his depictions of sexy, curvaceous women, and there is a lot of T&A, as well as outright nudity, in his series. Your mileage may vary.
But, again, I’m really impressed with how Balent has stuck with it, producing 141 issues of Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose on a bi-monthly schedule, with no end in sight. The series is very obviously a labor of love for both him and Golightly.
Additionally, all too often we have unfortunately seen creators get quickly cast aside by major publishers as soon as they’re no longer the flavor of the month, even if they are still doing quality work. Keeping that in mind, I’m glad that Balent was able to achieve some long-term success on Tarot, a property he actually owns.
Balent is also one of the nicest comic book creators around. He and Holly Golightly are always generous with their time, making their fans feel welcome at comic cons. Michele and I met them at Garden State Comic Fest in June, and it was definitely a positive experience.
One last thing… According to a couple of online sources, Balent was born in 1963. Above is a photo I took of Jim and Holly at the Broadsword Comics booth at GSCF. How in the hell is this man possibly 60 years old. I guess if evil ages you then the reverse can be true, and being a decent person can keep you young. Whatever the case, I hope I manage to look that good when I get to that age.
So, once again, happy birthday, Jim Balent. Wishing you many more to come.
Balent is also one of the nicest comic book creators around. He and Holly Golightly are always generous with their time, making their fans feel welcome at comic cons. Michele and I met them at Garden State Comic Fest in June, and it was definitely a positive experience.
He took the cow back to his humble farmhouse and anxiously awaited the next morning, eager to witness the cow's remarkable abilities. As the sun rose, Jack quickly went to milk the cow and to his amazement, the milk that flowed out was pure and radiant, shimmering with an otherworldly glow. Jack couldn't believe his eyes and decided to test its magical properties. He made a wish for a grand feast to feast upon with his family, and instantly, a bountiful table filled with delicious food appeared before them. From that day on, Jack's life changed drastically. He no longer had to worry about his family's financial struggles, as the magical milk provided everything they needed. Jack wished for a bigger farmhouse, new farm equipment, and even prosperity for the entire village. The magical milk granted all his wishes, and the village flourished with newfound wealth and happiness. However, with time, Jack's greed began to grow. He started making extravagant wishes, indulging in materialistic desires. He wished for endless riches, beautiful clothes, and rare treasures. His family started to distance themselves from him, as they saw him become consumed by his own greed. One day, Jack went to milk the magical cow and discovered that the milk had stopped flowing. Panic surged through him, realizing that he had used up all the magic in the cow's milk through his selfish wishes. Desperately, he pleaded with the cow to produce more, but it remained silent. Regret filled Jack's heart as he realized the consequences of his greed. He had taken the magical milk for granted and had forgotten the true value of gratitude and contentment. Jack apologized to the cow and vowed to change his ways, promising to honor the gift he had been given. In that moment, something miraculous happened. The cow, sensing Jack's change of heart, produced one last drop of magical milk. It was a reminder for Jack to appreciate the simple joys in life. From then on, Jack lived a humble life, grateful for the lessons learned and the magic that had once transformed his existence. The story of Jack and his magical milk teaches us the importance of gratitude, humility, and not letting greed consume our hearts. It reminds us to cherish the simple blessings in life and to use them wisely. The true magic lies not in what we possess, but in how we appreciate and share the gifts we are given..
Reviews for "The Magical Milk Phenomenon: Fact or Fiction?"
- Sara - 2 stars - I found "Magical Milk Story" to be quite boring and unoriginal. The plot was predictable and lacked any real excitement or depth. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked development, making it difficult to connect with them. Additionally, the writing style was simplistic and lacked nuance. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others looking for a captivating read.
- Mike - 1 star - "Magical Milk Story" was a complete waste of time for me. The concept seemed intriguing, but it fell flat on execution. The story was slow-paced and repetitive, making it difficult to stay engaged. Moreover, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, which made it hard to connect with the characters. The ending was also unsatisfying and left many loose ends. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read.
- Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Magical Milk Story," but unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations. The plot felt disjointed and confusing, as if the author couldn't decide on a central theme. The pacing was uneven, with some parts dragging on for too long while others were rushed. The characters were also forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult to invest in their stories. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it.
- John - 1 star - "Magical Milk Story" was a major letdown. The story lacked originality and felt like a rehash of countless other fantasy novels. The world-building was shallow, and the magical elements felt forced and poorly explained. The writing style was also dull and uninspiring, lacking any flair or creativity. I was bored throughout the entire book and had to force myself to finish it. I would not recommend "Magical Milk Story" to anyone looking for a captivating fantasy read.