Joker Tarot

Joker Tarot - all 78 cards through the lens of the fool

In most decks the fool gets one card. In this deck every card is a fool. Pietro Alligo conceived the idea, comic artist Corrado Roi drew it out.

The result is a tarot in which every figure, from court card to major arcana, is translated into the archetype of the joker. Not cheerful clowns, but faces with sharp shadows and ambiguous expressions. Roi's style is recognisable from his comics: heavy blacks, little grey, lines that hold tension.

What you see on the cards

The imagery is mostly black and white. Where colour appears, it is sparse. The figures have large eyes, expressive hands, and postures that tell more than any fixed list of symbols could.

Each face shows something different: mockery, sorrow, rage, insight. The joker wears a mask, but simultaneously reveals what lies beneath. That makes the cards intuitively readable, even if you do not know the traditional meanings.

How you work with it

The 128-page guidebook describes all cards and draws connections to the traditional tarot. Yet this deck works strongest when you look at the faces and gestures instead of fixed definitions.

The fool speaks the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. That makes this deck suitable for questions about blind spots, self-deception or patterns you would rather not see. The images leave little room for cosmetic answers.

Pull one card and look only at the posture of the figure. What does that posture do to you, before you look up the meaning?

About Corrado Roi and Pietro Alligo

Corrado Roi is an Italian comic artist, known for the horror series Dylan Dog. His style is characterised by shadow work and dramatic composition. For this deck he applied that approach to the tarot system.

Pietro Alligo founded Lo Scarabeo, the publisher behind dozens of tarot decks. He designed the concept of the Joker Tarot and chose Roi for the execution.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78
• Size: 70 x 120 mm
• Finish: matte cardstock
• Guidebook: 128 pages, English
• Weight: 363 g
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications / Lo Scarabeo
• Author: Pietro Alligo
• Illustrator: Corrado Roi

Questions we often get

How does this deck differ from a traditional Rider-Waite-Smith tarot?
The structure is the same: 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana. The difference lies in the imagery. All figures are jokers, and the atmosphere is darker and more psychological. The symbolism is open to interpretation.

Is the matte finish smooth enough for shuffling?
Yes. The cardstock is sturdy and the matte coating actually provides grip. The cards do not slip during shuffling.