Tarot Cards from Justice League #22

Those things are freaking awesome! So cool looking! Hopefully DC Direct will release a set in a couple months or maybe release them as special collectibles at cons like the Flashpoint Wayne Casino chips. Though hopefully the former so I can get my hands on some.

@noj: Whilst I do like the idea of comic book based tarot cards, I don't think the cards in this issue can be called tarot cards.

If they want to release a set without using the word 'tarot' that would be fine.

Actually, the word "tarot" is not trademarked, so they could release it under that name. In fact, Vertigo has issued a Hellblazer-themed tarot set in the past.

@rideaspacecowboy: It's not for legal reasons that I say that, it's just that they weren't tarot cards. 26 Major Arcana cards were shown, when there are only 22 in a deck, they weren't numbered, and virtually all of the names were wrong.


Unless it's an unusual version of tarot that I'm not familiar with. I can't claim to be an expert, just someone who knows the basics.

Vertigo Tarot

BB

I would definitely get them if DC came out with some

@v_scarlotte_rose: Well they arent meant to be REAL cards just a fun take on them. A cool collectible

@v_scarlotte_rose: The rules as to how many cards a deck consists of as not as strict as you might imagine, variations are pretty common :) Some decks do also rename or renumber certain cards too.

@bumpyboo: Do you have any specific examples? I couldn't seem to find much variation.

@v_scarlotte_rose: Well there is a deck called the Thoth deck by Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris. They renamed both the court cards and a good handful of the Major Arcana cards too, adding cards like Art and Lust while omitting ones like Strength, and Justice.

But for a more comprehensive look at it, there is quite a good list here, if you are interested ^_^

http://www.tarotpedia.com/wiki/Tarot_Decks:_Non-Standard#Decks_with_more_than_22_trumps

@bumpyboo: I have a couple of decks of tarot cards. I took out death, the devil, the tower, out of them though. That way I increase my odds of a happy future. You can do that and it's still correct right?

@bumpyboo: This looks like quite an extensive list. Should make for some interesting reading. :)


Well maybe the deck in this comic could be considered an entirely new variation. Though I imagine descriptions of each card would need to be written.


If it is that this is entirely new, I can't work out if this is lazy or creative.

@v_scarlotte_rose: I think I'd go with the former lol.

@vortex13: Hahaha! I like the way you think, I may have to steal that one :P

@v_scarlotte_rose: I know what you mean, there are plenty of decks out there which have little or no artistic or cultural significance and just kind of cash in on the Tarot gimmick. It can be interesting if approached as an art project - having drawn a deck myself, I would go so far as to recommend it as a way to become more familiar with the concepts - but it is too common to see it exploited as a marketing tactic. Too easy to pick the right number of images, slap some half-baked associations on there, and then charge people a lot of money for it.

There are quite a few not listed, but it's a good starting point :)

@bumpyboo: Thanks and what I should have said that is a nice list.

Man, I didn't know about these and now I want them

@shadowswordmaster: Hehe, no worries, I knew what you meant ^__^

The set's about 20 quid on the UK amazon.

BB

@bumpyboo: I think gimmick could be a key word in this situation. It seems like the deck was just made up to put characters on the cards and look all mystical.


Pictures drawn especially for the cards does seem like a much better way to do things than just adding pictures that might look right. Even if the pre-exisitng pictures look good, they might not necessarily match up well.


If DC put some proper though into which characters go with which card, and hired an artist to draw all new pictures, it could make quite a cool thing to have. I don't know if hardcore tarot people approve of stuff like that, but it would at least be a nice collectable.

I would try drawing a tarot deck myself, but it would probably look a little silly.

@billy_batson: Hmm it's my birthday in September so I'm going to see if I can get someone to buy me them as well as the Sandman Omnibus Vol 1 HC

DO IT!!!

@v_scarlotte_rose: I agree, absolutely. If taken seriously and approached correctly, it might be interesting to see who they pick for each card. It could even have depth O_O Not holding my breath for anything like that though! But definitely there is an appreciation in the tarot community at large for collectible decks. I have a HR Giger one like that - the cards are a bit too big to actually use, but they are interesting as an artistic object.

As for looking silly, I drew mine a good few years ago on Paint and they are very rough and cartoony :) But it's more about the process, I learned a lot about their meanings that way.

@bumpyboo:

Hmm, Well I have that style of deck trademarked and to use it cost 20 dollars (13.24 pounds) a minute while using the deck.... Ahhh what the heck your a good friend use it as much as you want to, on the house. =P

@vortex13: You'll never prove I stole it! NEVER!!!

Oh wait...you said it's cool. Damn, and I already swallowed the cyani-

@bumpyboo: *Looks at Bumpy in horror*. "MEDIC! Come on!" *begins CPR to try and revive* "don't you die on me! Not today! Not ever!" *raises both hand clasped together around an adrenaline needle slams the needle into heart.* "LIIIIIIIIVVVVEEEEEE!"

@jonny_anonymous: I'll think about it. I need to get back to drawing requests first though. Hardly had any time for drawing lately.

@bumpyboo: Ooh, an H.R. Giger set sounds like it would be interesting. I'd like to look into collecting more decks, in order to see how different artists interpret the cards.

I think I get what you mean. I imagine a lot of thinking about the meanings of the cards would go into deciding what to draw. I might try it, if I can find my tarot book.

I like the idea of the Devil being on one shoulder with no angel being there. :)

@vortex13: Braiiiiiiins....BRAIIIIIIIINS 8D

*tries to nom you*

@v_scarlotte_rose:It's an interesting deck, but I can't get anyone to let me give them a reading with it, they look too dark and people are a little disturbed by them. They just look like trouble ;)

Yes, exactly right :) People tend to have their own personal views on the meanings anyway that come from using them, and working out how to portray what you think it means as an image is a great way of sharpening your ideas.

Hehe, thanks :) I hope you decide to give it a go, whether it is a few cards or an entire deck. Would love to see your style in that kind of setting :)

@bumpyboo: *Sighs* Well s##t! *Gets knife ready to stab through Bump's eye in order to destroy brain* Sorry, but I don't play around when it comes to zombies. *Raises knife*

@bumpyboo: I'm not really surprised, his style does seem like it could be a little off-putting to some people. Perhaps the sexual elements could be a shock too.

I'll maybe try one to begin with and try more if it works. Any suggestions for which one?

@vortex13: You did the right thing *single tear trickles down zombie cheek* You're a good friend O_O

@v_scarlotte_rose: If I was going to recommend a card to start with, I'd choose the one you have the clearest understanding of, the least doubt about, and start from there. I just started with the one I felt most drawn to at the time - The High Priestess :)

@bumpyboo: I'll have to find my book. I haven't properly thought of any of this recently.

@v_scarlotte_rose: Righto :) Well if you ever need anything else on the subject, if you have any questions or are looking for good sites or anything, feel free to ask ^_^

@bumpyboo: O.K. Thanks. :)