Murder of Crows Tarot - black-and-white tarot by comic artist Corrado Roi
Not every tarot deck deals in colour. This one strips away the entire palette and keeps only light, shadow and crow. The result feels raw, almost graphic, and sits more comfortably in a comic book than on a tarot table.
Corrado Roi draws the cards. Roi is best known as a comic artist for Sergio Bonelli Editore, where he worked on Dylan Dog and Martin Mystère. His style is recognisable: heavy contrast, deep black areas and sharp lines. For this tarot deck he uses crows as the only characters.
What you see on the cards
No human figures, no landscapes with depth. Only crows in different postures and situations. The composition is tight and the symbols stay close to the traditional tarot structure. You recognise the Major and Minor Arcana without effort, but the visual language is sparser.
The black-and-white drawing eliminates one visual layer. No warm tones pulling you in, no cool colours keeping you at a distance. What remains is form, proportion and the contrast between light and shadow.
Who this works for
This deck asks more of the reader than a classic Rider-Waite Smith deck. Beginners can work with it because the structure is traditional and the guidebook contains descriptions, but the imagery gives fewer anchors. Advanced readers who are comfortable with symbolism find space here instead.
The 70 x 120 mm format sits well in the hand. The cards shuffle smoothly and the cardstock is sturdy enough for daily use.
Draw one card each day and place it in front of you without reaching for the guidebook right away. Look only at the posture of the crow and at where the light and shadow fall. Let the meaning come to you instead of looking it up.
About Corrado Roi
Corrado Roi is an Italian comic artist who gained international recognition through his work for Sergio Bonelli Editore. He drew for titles such as Dylan Dog and Martin Mystère, both comics with a Gothic undercurrent and dark themes. His ability to build tension and atmosphere with minimal means makes him a logical choice for a deck like this.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78 (Major and Minor Arcana)
- Card dimensions: 70 x 120 mm
- Weight: 550 g
- Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
- ISBN: 9780738766423
- Guidebook language: multilingual, including English
- Artist: Corrado Roi
- Cardstock quality: high-quality with durable finish
Questions we often get
Why did Roi choose only black and white?
That choice fits his background as a comic artist and the Gothic atmosphere he aims for. Without colour, all emphasis lies on composition, linework and contrast. That makes the cards more direct and sharper.
Is the symbolism harder to read because there are only crows?
Not harder, but different. You miss the facial expressions and body language of human figures. Instead you read the posture of the birds, the direction of their gaze and the way they are placed in the space. That asks for more interpretation from the reader.