Fradella Adventure Tarot
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Oct 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| rota |
21 Oct 2002 |
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As an old comics fan, I'm thrilled to see this. The imagery is consistently well-drawn and inked in a style that draws on Marvel Comics' 'silver age' history, specifically work by John Romita and Jack Kirby.
The artist (whoever it is) had to stay away from any characters that might be considered to have infringed on copyright, but did a remarkably good job under those restrictions.
The interface is quite nice: useable and easily readable. Putting the card designs into a spread-creating website is a wonderful alternative to actually (and expensively) publishing a deck.
I want this deck! Not to use, but just to have around. I think it's great.
I'll be interested to hear other reactions.
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| Lee |
21 Oct 2002 |
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On the site it says that they had planned to publish a physical deck but ran out of funding, so they won't be publishing it, and are posting the cards on the site instead.
-- Lee
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| MeeWah |
21 Oct 2002 |
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Joywalker: This sounds like the Fradella Adventure Tarot Deck & Book Set that U.S. Games has available. As a long-time comic fan, it is on my Wish List.
From the U.S. Games catalog:
"Created by Frank Fradella
Illustrated by J.P. Dupras
A unique collection of imagery featuring the characters from the Cyber Age Adventures Universe. The art is rendered in a fantasy comic book style complete with heroes and villains. The suits are creatively depicted as Blades, Masks, Staves, and Discs. Fradella Adventure Tarot combines powerful images with a fantastical approach to true tarot. The book that accompanies the deck provides insight into the unique stories behind the characters, illuminating the traditional meanings of the cards. Each character is given special attention, and even the most experienced reader will find a new depth in the familiar imagery."
Does it not sound absolutely wonderful??!!
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| Demonesse |
22 Oct 2002 |
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Cool! This is a very original looking (although the characters themselves may not be) deck, and I like it!! Gave me a rather good reading, too. Made my day :D
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| Jeannette |
22 Oct 2002 |
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According to the last information I received from my contact at U.S. Games, the target release date for the USG edition (which will be a deck and book set) was "sometime in November." I should be receiving more information soon.
-- Jeannette
http://www.tarotgarden.com
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| Maan |
23 Apr 2003 |
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*BUMP*
I was wondering if anyone bought the deck yet?
I'm eying this one for some time now and i can even get it now thru a dutch internet compagny.
is its worth buying the set or should i go for the deck only?
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| Jeannette |
23 Apr 2003 |
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Originally posted by Maan
*BUMP*
I was wondering if anyone bought the deck yet?
I'm eying this one for some time now and i can even get it now thru a dutch internet compagny.
is its worth buying the set or should i go for the deck only?
Maan:
I've been leafing through the book the past few days, as time has permitted, and I'm rather enjoying it. I'm not sure it would be useful for everyone, or that everyone would find it as entertaining as I do. I guess it depends on whether or not you're interested in a little more "background" on the comic book/graphic novel stories that inspired the images. The minor arcana "pip" cards are obviously patterned after Waite and Smith in their symbolism, so it's certainly not necessary to read the book to figure out any "special meanings" from the cards. But reading the little mini-backgrounds on the characters depicted is kind of fun (for me, anyway).
-- Jeannette
http://www.tarotgarden.com
P.S. -- I've got a few extra copies from our preorder batch of the Fradella that I'd offer to Aeclectic members at a 10% discount, until I start heading out for my May shows (at which time, I fully expect to sell any copies I have left at the shows I'll be attending). Anyone who is interested in buying one at the discount price should contact me to arrange a purchase by 30 April 2003.
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| Shade |
27 Apr 2003 |
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I'm really annoyed with US Games about this deck. The store I work at has had it back-ordered fro months and every time I call to get more info about a publication date no one ever seems to know what is going on. It should not appear on their website or in their cvatalog if it is not available unless they print a disclaimer to that effect.
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| Jeannette |
27 Apr 2003 |
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Originally posted by JohnnyVoodoo
I'm really annoyed with US Games about this deck. The store I work at has had it back-ordered fro months and every time I call to get more info about a publication date no one ever seems to know what is going on...
JohnnyVoodoo: I don't know what other types of experiences you've had with publishers and suppliers, but from Lori's and my dealings with specifically with tarot publishers and distributors, we've found time and again that "premature" product announcements are a common problem -- certainly not restricted to the Fradella set or U.S. Games. While I never received a detailed explanation as to why there was such a tremendous delay in the publication of the Fradella set (nor did they owe us such an explanation -- only the best info they could provide about revised release dates, when available), I must say this in defense of USG and other tarot publishers:
Due to the nature of the industry, they (the publishers, and by extension, the distributors) are not entirely in control of the process. Often the tarots (and any accompanying books) are produced "on contract" with artists and writers that are not directly employed by the publishers themselves. Schedules are made, deadlines are set, of course -- but if the people producing the work do not (or cannot) deliver as promised, the publishers' options are limited. They can cancel the project, or they can wait. It's not like they can easily "fire" a deck artist and have some other company employee finish the work. The logistics of consistency, if nothing else, would limit the feasibility of such action.
One could make the argument that products should not be announced until they are in the warehouse and ready to ship. But unfortunately, the competitive nature of the publishing industry -- like most industries, I expect -- probably makes it difficult not to pre-announce pending products. And customers seem to like to know what projects the publishers have in the works -- the anticipation alone is sometimes half the fun (if it doesn't drag on too long...).
-- Jeannette
http://www.tarotgarden.com
P.S. -- If you want to experience total frustration with companies that announce pending products, and then deliver far off schedule -- and sometimes never at all! -- spend some time working in the computer industry. After 20+ years of that cr*p, the tarot publishing industry seems relatively like a stress-free "breath of fresh air."
;)
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The Fradella Adventure Tarot thread was originally posted on 21 Oct 2002 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.
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