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Inspired by the extremely popular Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, in 2015 DC Collectibles collaborated with fine artist Sara Richard to create an official DC Comics Justice League Tarot Cards and they are a beautiful collector’s item to possess, as well as a great way to connects DC comics and the art of divination.
While Richard’s artwork varies in its interpretation of Pamela Colman Smith’s famous tarot art, her character choices illuminate the symbolism and meaning associated with each card. There are a total of 78 cards within Richard’s tarot deck, with 21 representing the major arcana, which is the main focus of this list.
10 Ra’s Al Ghul as The Hierophant (V)
A “master of the sacred mysteries,” The Hierophant card perfectly describes Ra’s al Ghul, aka The Demon’s Head, and one of Batman’s greatest enemies (not to mention the grandfather of his son, Damian). The Hierophant, as well as al Ghul, creates the link between god and man either through religious teachings or through immortality via the Lazarus Pit. While al Ghul is an agent of domination, he has also been a valuable teacher to Batman, a trait that al Ghul shares with The Hierophant card.
9 Superman & Lois Lane as The World (XXI)
While Smith’s art for The World card depicts a nearly nude woman, Richard instead chose Superman and Lois Lane holding onto each other, presumably after Superman saved her and the city in some battle, as the two are suspended in the air.
The World card is about completion and fulfillment, and the depiction of Superman and Lois – arguably DC’s most iconic couple – together after Superman has saved her life not only points to their coupling but also Superman’s status as the ultimate DC superhero.
8 Batman as Justice (XI)
The word “justice” is pretty much synonymous with Batman, and the Justice card in the tarot deck also reflects this, in both description and in the artwork. From the original Smith artwork, Justice’s “sword is lifted in defense of justice, and none can escape it; it points upward, indicating victory, and two-edged to convey that action destroys as well as builds” and in the DC tarot deck, Batman holds a two-edged Batarang to symbolize this sentiment. The card’s divinatory meaning is “justice will be done.”
7 John Constantine as The Magician (I)
Richard’s depiction of John Constantine as The Magician follows Smith’s original visual of The Magician pointing one hand towards the sky as it holds a wand and the other hand towards the ground to symbolize the bridge between the natural and supernatural worlds. Constantine very much embodies this symbolism but Richard sneaks in a little cheek by having a match for his cigarette in his hand pointing up and his other hand pointing directly into a grave. The Magician represents resourcefulness, which Constantine fully embodies.
6 The Joker as The Tower (XVI)
When it comes to choosing a tarot card to represent The Joker, The Tower is the only option there is. While the Smith artwork shows a tower being struck and demolished as a person falls from it, Richard’s art has The Joker in the foreground snapping his fingers and a city in the background explodes. The Tower card represents chaos, catastrophe, and an upheaval. No matter what version of The Joker there may be, these three characteristics can easily describe the Clown Prince of Crime.
5 Harley Quinn as The Fool (0)
The very first card of the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck is The Fool who is essentially the protagonist of the deck. The Fool represents inexperience and potential and is a dreamer who wants more than they have, characteristics similar to DC’s beloved Harley Quinn.
Originally the sidekick-girlfriend of The Joker, Harley has evolved into a full-fledged villain and anti-hero in her own right. The connection between a fool and a harlequin is almost too perfect to pass up, as well as Richard’s clever hyena detail in the card.
4 Poison Ivy as The Empress (III)
Poison Ivy’s connection to Key 3, The Empress, is never as obvious as the description of Smith’s artwork for this card: “The Empress is the Earth Mother, here seated in a blooming garden.” While older versions of Poison Ivy may seem unfit for The Empress as she was a full-blown villain for many years, but a more modern Ivy who is at worst an eco-terrorist is worthy of such an impressive card in the tarot deck. The Empress and Ivy are the embodiment of growth.
3 Wonder Woman as Strength (VIII)
The Strength card perfectly describes Wonder Woman as it is a card of balancing opposing forces, much like the Amazon herself who is simultaneously a warrior and a diplomat. The divinatory meaning of Strength includes love triumphing over hate, a theme that is consistent within Wonder Woman’s stories.
Richard’s artwork for this card is cleverly translated from Smith’s which depicts a woman holding the head of a lion, in complete control of it. Richard has Wonder Woman holding Cheetah in a headlock, easily subduing her.
2 Dr. Manhatten as The Hermit (IX)
Dr. Manhatten from Watchmen is as close to The Hermit as any DC character could possibly be. The Hermit is a solitary man who has closed himself off from the world in order to learn the wisdom that he will eventually share with those who seek it. The key divination words that describe both The Hermit and Dr. Manhatten are introspection, self-reflection, solitude, and withdrawing from society which are all parts of Manhatten’s arc through the original Watchmen series and even the more recent Doomsday Clock.
1 Shazam! as The Sun (XIX)
Often considered the best card in the entire tarot deck, The Sun represents everything good about life and living, as well as “perfect control between the conscious and the unconscious”, something that Shazam and Billy Batson can relate to 100 percent. Even when looking at The Sun card Reversed (its reading when pulled upside down), the card is still accurate to Shazam! as a Reversed Sun symbolizes inner child and eternal optimism. The number 19 is also associated with mythology, the root of Shazam’s powers.
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