When most people think of the tarot, the Rider-Waite deck springs to mind. Illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith (with input from academic and mystic A. E. Waite), the deck’s iconic line drawings contain magical/occult symbols that were a departure from previous cards with largely Christian iconography. We’ve seen numerous pop-culture adaptations of the mystical cards, but illustrator Benjamin Mackey’s Twin Peaks tarot has to be our favorite.
The co-creator and artist of SAINTS from Image Comics, Mackey has designed the major arcana from the deck replacing the traditional figures with the residents of David Lynch’s fictional town of Twin Peaks. We can’t think of a better Empress than Piper Laurie’s Catherine Martell. Richard Beymer’s Ben Horne rules as the Emperor with his baguette, the Log Lady sits on her tree stump throne as the High Priestess, and Special Agent Dale Cooper’s Magician has coffee (black as midnight) and cherry pie close at hand.
Mackey will be creating the Minor Arcana as well and hopes to publish the deck, so keep a close eye on his website and social media accounts. He has plans to create t-shirts and potentially prints, too.
©Benjamin Mackey, published with permission
©Benjamin Mackey, published with permission
©Benjamin Mackey, published with permission
©Benjamin Mackey, published with permission
©Benjamin Mackey, published with permission
©Benjamin Mackey, published with permission
©Benjamin Mackey, published with permission
©Benjamin Mackey, published with permission
©Benjamin Mackey, published with permission
©Benjamin Mackey, published with permission