Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Well, that's odd.

It occurred to me this morning while I was running (what, I can run!) that I have never done a post on Tarot the Witch of the Black Rose.  I mean it seems to have everything that ends up in my games; red headed witch, lots of supernatural and fantasy creatures, scantily clad women and at least lip service to real practitioners.

Maybe because I haven't actually read any of the comics.

Reading synopsis and overviews online though, "Tarot" or Rowan sounds like what is typically called in my games a "Witch Guardian".  Sorta like a Warden of the Dresden Files, but more focused on protecting the coven than being the Wicce secret police.  I like that she has a winged cat, that is something I have used in my games too.

I am a fan of Holly Holly Golightly's webcomic "School Bites" and she is one half (or two/thirds even) of the Tarot creative team.

Other parts of it though look fairly cliche'd and even drifting into softcore (neither of which I mind, but everything in it's place after all).

I have seen that includes such notables in witch/wiccan community as Fiona Horne and Raven Grimassi.  Not that it matters that much to me, but I have to admire Balent's attention to detail.

The reviews I have seen are somewhat mixed.  There are lot of positive ones to be sure,  but there are others complaining about the cheese-cake factor, nudity and sex.

So have any of you read it? Is it any good?
Can you give me your thoughts, comments?
Anyone know where I can buy the collected editions?

9 comments:

elrics said...

Here you go, everything you need to know about Tarot:WotBR in one high-larious blog post: http://www.the-isb.com/?p=980 . You're welcome. :)

Trey said...

I was just about to say my friend and occasional GM Chris Sims opines on it quite frequently, but elrics gone and linked to his blog, so there you go.

elrics said...

If you want to know more, there's this one:
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/08/19/tarot-63-naked-werewolves/ . Chris Sims has kind of a thing for Tarot.

Timothy S. Brannan said...

Haha.

Ok. I'll have to read these later. Thanks for the links.

Timothy S. Brannan said...

Wow that is crazy.

Is it wrong that I am now even more curious?

Trey said...

Probably. But you're an rpg-blogger--let your freak flag fly! ;)

Darius Whiteplume said...

I probably have the first 20-ish issues. I could get a bit clichéd, and the breasts are ridiculous, but it has some coolness. I enjoyed that there was not too heavy a story arc. They'd break off and do related characters or one-shot stories. Heavy arcing is what drove me from comics in the first place.

I don't know if they ever bundled it as a "graphic novel" or not.

Holly G! said...

Hi Tim!
I'd be happy to post you a comicbook
I'll pick one out based on what your fav genre is...best for you to have a private taste- I think...why have others control your brain...the wires tend to hurt!
I'm so happy you enjoy my School Bites- means a lot to me- Jim and I work pretty much everyday...maybe a few breaks for Fable3-dinner and cuddles ; )
And what I do on Tarot is interior colours,lettering-production and some modeling- (and yes my breast can be pretty ridiculous!...family curse)
please ping me direct on my email holly@jimbalent.com
Hoping you're havin' a very Merry Hexmas!
Many Hexy Hugs
Holly G!

Timothy S. Brannan said...

Another plus for Tarot in my book, Jim Balent also did covers for Red Sonja.