This Might Hurt Tarot Deck

The This Might Hurt Tarot is a 78-card deck that reinterprets the classic Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) system for a modern audience. Created by cartoonist and illustrator Isabella Rotman, with digital coloring by Addison Duke, the deck maintains the core symbolism of the RWS tradition while shedding its medieval context. This approach makes the deck both easy to read for those familiar with RWS and highly relatable to contemporary life.

The deck features modernized clothing and scenery, embraces diversity in its characters, and lovingly acknowledges queerness, making it a more inclusive tool for self-reflection. Many of the court cards and select Minor Arcana cards are portraits of real people in Rotman's life, adding a personal and grounded dimension to the archetypes. The Minor Arcana suits—Swords, Cups, Wands, and Pentacles—each utilize a limited color palette inspired by their associated element, further enhancing the deck's cohesive aesthetic and intuitive readability.

Printed on high-quality 350 gsm art paper, the cards measure 4.75"x 2.75" and feature shiny gilded edges, available in either gold or holographic black. The deck is housed in a sturdy cardboard box with gold foil accents and a magnetic closure. While designed to be readable with any RWS guide, a digital guidebook was planned, with a printed version offered as a stretch goal, ensuring comprehensive support for readers.

The artwork is hand-drawn by Isabella Rotman with technical pens on Bristol board, then digitally colored by Addison Duke. This collaboration results in clean, confident linework combined with a vibrant, yet often muted, color palette. Each suit employs a limited color scheme, for example, the Suit of Wands uses warm yellows and oranges, while the Suit of Cups leans into blues and greens. The style is reminiscent of contemporary comic art or graphic novels, with expressive characters and dynamic compositions. The imagery updates traditional RWS scenes with modern clothing, diverse body types, and inclusive representation, making the archetypes feel current and accessible. The overall visual tone is engaging and direct, avoiding overly ornate or abstract elements.

This deck is ideal for tarot readers who appreciate the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith system but desire a modern, inclusive, and relatable aesthetic. It appeals to those seeking diverse representation, including queer individuals, and readers who prefer a contemporary art style over classical or fantasy themes. Both beginners and experienced readers will find it accessible, with its clear RWS symbolism and intuitive visual language. Collectors interested in indie decks with strong artistic direction will also appreciate its unique blend of hand-drawn lines and digital coloring.

Isabella Rotman, a cartoonist, illustrator, and self-publisher based in Chicago, began drawing the This Might Hurt Tarot as a personal learning tool while teaching herself to read tarot. What started as a casual project to internalize symbolism evolved into a full 78-card deck over two years of dedicated work. She collaborated with Chicago-based colorist Addison Duke, known for their work with Dynamite and Image Comics, to bring the hand-drawn linework to life with digital color. Rotman's inspiration stemmed from a desire to create a deck that was both deeply personal and universally relatable, reflecting the diversity of modern life.