Just curious - has anyone here heard of the comic series Promethea, by Alan Moore?
Heard of it, own it, have read it and re-read it several times over. I credit
Promethea from transforming me from someone who had the vaguest of notions of what Tarot was about into a full-blown, practicing, studying devotee. That book also introduced me to the Tree of Life concepts, and showed me how they tie in with Tarot, and how other fields and concepts like astrology, numerology, mythology, alchemy, magic, chakras, and planetary correspondences can tie in with both. I
love Promethea. I also think that Moore is brilliant in general, I'm a big fan of a lot of his work, and the artist on
Promethea, J.H. Williams III, deserves gigantic praise for his phenomenal performance throughout the entire run (the creators who provided inks, colors, and letters also brought their A-games, but Williams' work is always just a joy to behold...).
I'd urge anyone here to read it. One entire issue is devoted to an exploration of how Tarot's Major Arcana map out the evolution of our reality, and that issue is a) told mostly in rhyme, b) features on-point applications of anagrams of the word "Promethea" to help illuminate each card, and c) lays out a joke told by Aleister Crowley that's said to basically explain magic (in fact, Crowley features fairly heavily throughout the series as a minor but very important character, and I've always had the idea that Moore has a lot of respect and affection for the guy). The extended trip through the Tree of Life, with its various pathways and Sephiroth, is fascinating, moving, and genius (I think, anyway), and the more modern, "real world" sections are also packed with tension, wit, and warmth, too.
Although it is not the best comic book ever written...
Maybe not...but if it isn't, I don't know what I'd nominate instead. It's one of my all-time favorites, and I say that based on a comics-reading career spanning several decades. Seriously, I'd be hard-pressed to think of other comics I like more, and many of the other candidates would also have Moore's name on their spines...