Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose is a comic book series created by writer and artist Jim Balent. The series follows the adventures of Tarot, a powerful witch living in an alternate version of Earth known as the "Black Rose Universe." Born to a coven of witches, Tarot develops her powers at a young age and undertakes a journey to become the protector of her realm. She possesses a magical deck of tarot cards that serve as tools for divination, spellcasting, and even combat. The comic book explores Tarot's life as she navigates her role as a witch, battles various supernatural creatures, and deals with her relationships with both mortals and magical beings. It delves into themes of magic, spirituality, and personal growth.
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. 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.
It delves into themes of magic, spirituality, and personal growth. Throughout the series, Tarot often finds herself at odds with her sister Raven Hex, who is a powerful sorceress and an antagonist in the story. Their complicated relationship adds depth to the narrative and leads to many dramatic moments.
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.
I would like to wish a very happy birthday to comic book artist Jim Balent, who was born on August 15th.
Jim Balent, who both writes and illustrates the series, is known for his distinctive art style that combines elements of fantasy, horror, and pin-up art. His attention to detail, intricate backgrounds, and visually striking characters make Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose visually captivating. First published in 1999, Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose has gained a dedicated fanbase and has been praised for its unique blend of fantasy and horror. It has also received criticism for its overt sexualized portrayal of its female characters, which some argue can detract from the story's substance. Despite the controversy, the series has enjoyed ongoing success and continues to be published to this day. It has spawned numerous spin-offs and has been collected into graphic novel compilations. Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose remains a popular choice for fans of fantasy, witchcraft, and dark, adult-oriented comics..
Reviews for "The Tarot Renaissance: The Impact of Tarot Witch of the Black Rose by Jim Balent"
1. John Smith - 2 stars - I found "Tarot Witch of the Black Rose" to be quite disappointing. The artwork was beautiful, I'll give it that, but the storyline was confusing and all over the place. It seemed like the writer tried to cram too many different elements into one comic, and the result was a messy and unsatisfying read. Additionally, I found some of the dialogue to be cheesy and forced, which made it hard for me to take the characters seriously. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this comic to anyone looking for a coherent and well-written story.
2. Emily Davis - 1 star - I really didn't enjoy "Tarot Witch of the Black Rose". The artwork was the only redeeming quality, but even that couldn't make up for the lackluster writing. The storyline was weak and predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting. The excessive sexualization of the female characters was also off-putting and felt unnecessary. I couldn't connect with the story or the characters, and I was left feeling disappointed and unengaged throughout. I would advise others to steer clear of this comic unless they are solely interested in the art.
3. Mark Thompson - 3 stars - "Tarot Witch of the Black Rose" has some visually stunning artwork, but unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make up for the flaws in the storytelling. While the concept of a tarot witch and her adventures has potential, the execution fell short. The writing felt disjointed and lacked a cohesive narrative. Moreover, some of the depictions of magic and witchcraft felt cliché and unoriginal. If you're looking for a visually pleasing comic with a unique concept, you might enjoy this, but don't expect a well-crafted and compelling storyline.