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Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #1

Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose, Vol. 1

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Tarot Witch of the Black Rose Trade Paperback Vol.1 Story and Art By Jim Balent This trade paperback collects issues 1 through 5, and the short story "Maidens & Monsters". For mature readers.

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

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292 people want to read

About the author

Jim Balent

506 books30 followers
Jim Balent's work has been published by several comic book companies, including Marvel, Dark Horse and DC Comics.He has drawn some notable characters, such as Batman, Vampirella, and the sexy femme fatal, Catwoman.

He has worked on many character designs and posters for the film and video industry. In the year 2000, Jim Balent and Holly Golightly started their own comic book company, BroadSword Comics.

Jim's creation, Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose, is an ongoing story about a voluptuous young Witch who battles to keep the balance between Magick and Mankind. Jim Balent lives in Eastern Pennsylvania with his beloved Witch , Holly, a pesky cat, Brujah and he has a black lagoon that he calls a kio pond.

Jim was never breast fed as a baby.

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5 stars
43 (32%)
4 stars
33 (24%)
3 stars
37 (27%)
2 stars
14 (10%)
1 star
7 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Susan.
1,647 reviews121 followers
March 1, 2015
re-read 10/5/2012 -- Witch Wars, Season of the Witch, The Dragon Witch and The Witch & The Frog

These would be more enjoyable if Jim didn't have such a fascination with HUGE BOOBS!!! ^_^

re-read 3/29/2013
Profile Image for Miss December.
331 reviews34 followers
June 6, 2022
Everything about this is a 10/10- the story, the art, the characters, you name it. Every panel could be framed and put on a wall- it's that vibrant and beautiful. (I mean, the art is done by comic LEGEND Jim Balent, so you know you're in for a treat!) Balent is the master- his work is fun and detailed; he also has terrific storytelling abilities which may or may not come from his decades of work in the comic industry. Readers- you're in great hands. Magick, sisterhood, adventures, escapes, true love, witches, sexuality, demonic pumpkins, dragons, kitties, SALEM!! This is my favorite ongoing series for a reason!

*I see some reviews hating because of the big boobs. If that's all they got out of the volume, I feel very sorry for them. There was literally a dragon in this volume and people complained that a fiercely independent and intelligent woman warrior had big breasts? She also had a sword, healing powers, and could fly. But no- big boobs made their review.
If you can handle a fictional cartoon character with large endowments though, you'll be fine.
Profile Image for Kadance.
68 reviews2 followers
December 31, 2021

That really is the sum of this. The artwork is great but lord there are buxom bosoms everywhere. On the characters, in the background. Everywhere you look super tits, and Barbie poses (you know. . .with on tip toe titties). There is also some very comedic awkward a la golden age of comic era dialogue (I think it is suppose to be ironic). If you are a fan of Heavy Metal, or the early nineties Image comics Jim Lee was part of like Wildcats and such you'll like this.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
574 reviews3 followers
January 4, 2023
This is one of my all time favorite comics. The art is great and the story line is good. You really should read it!
Profile Image for Jay Daze.
678 reviews19 followers
August 12, 2017
I could claim it's my deep interest in Wicca that draws me to this fantastical world of witches, flying kittens, skeleton spirits, fairies and dragons. No, it is the super endowed, top heavy forms of Tarot (Rowan to her friends) and her evil-inclined sister Raven Hex that brought me into this modern day Salem coven. After working for the D.C. corporation on a super voluptuous Catwoman, artist and writer Jim Balent set off on his own to create this fantasy adventure which claims to be "a respectful incorporation of the wiccan tradition".

Obviously I have no idea if it is. (A good sign is that the individual issues of the comic have interviews and spells from real life wiccans, but aren't included in the bound collection. As well, wiccans are given cameos in many of the later issues.)

Nearly every page is pinup worthy. Balent has that naughty humour which I think comes out best when he slips into a more cartoony style -- the four page bonus story "Maidens and Monsters" is a good example of this.

So maaybee I'm learning something about Wicca when I'm looking at Raven Hex's spikes, but really wouldn't it weird you out if I came into your church with an erection? Don't be put off by all my drooling, Balent, in his own comic style, worships the female form. Blessed be!
3 reviews
May 6, 2020
I think this is super sexy, hot and raunchy but it genuinely has a lot of meaning to it. I like that they are exploring witchcraft through the perspective of conventionally attractive pornstar looking women. It confuses and bewilders the reader but shows how sexuality and the craft have always been entwined.
Profile Image for Ashish.
Author 1 book27 followers
November 12, 2013
Once in a while you come across these books. So extraordinarily OTT, where sex, violence, stereotypes, bad writing, plot holes and deux ex machina rank 85 on a scale of 1 to 10, and story happens when you put all of this into a sack in a tumble dryer.
It's so hilariously bad, it's actually pretty good.
This comic also redefines skimpy fantasy armour, generously endowed heroines, villainesses, ghosts, sprites, fairies, demons, and in fact, every single character. When someone C-cup shows up, it's after 8 issues and is so extraordinarily out of place it immediately registers, almost setting off alarm bells.
And then there's some immortal evil overlord lines, shining like diamonds in the darkness, that make it perfect.
"So you don't worship Satan?"
"My religion doesn't have the devil. but if he did exist... he would worship me."
Profile Image for Nikki.
548 reviews4 followers
January 15, 2015
So for my 2015 reading challenge check list I had a graphic novel to read - my friend lent me this to read. The graphics were great but I don't think that the comic type character conversation is for me. Liked the story and loved the graphics
Profile Image for Norman Van Der Linde.
49 reviews4 followers
March 2, 2016
I am sure the writer is passionate about the subject matter, but if this comic took itself more seriously; toned down the way over the top costumes, the blatant stereotypes & cliches, and the fascination with over-sized breasts, it would actually be a really decent comic.
Profile Image for Alan D.D..
Author 39 books79 followers
March 20, 2016
WOW, WOW, WOW AND MORE WOW.
I really loved it! And the art was stunning, the best part, I'd say! Soon I'll make a longer review. Wait for it!
WOW, WOW, WOW Y MÁS WOW.
¡Relmente lo amé! Y el arte fue maravilloso, ¡la mejor parte, diría yo! Pronto haré una reseña más larga. ¡Espérenla!
Profile Image for Derek Royal.
Author 16 books74 followers
November 1, 2014
For what it is, it's not bad. The art is the strong suit here...and even then, the audience here may be more particularized. I know that Jim Balent and Holly Golightly have a dedicated following.
Profile Image for Matt.
203 reviews13 followers
February 24, 2016
Not bad. Writing was a bit repetitive. Art work was great. Story was interesting.
Profile Image for Bob.
928 reviews
July 23, 2016
Beautifully illustrated story of a pair of sister witches, Tarot and Raven Hex, and their struggle to retain control of the "Forbidden Book of Shadows." Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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