Unveiled tarot
The Unveiled Tarot was created by award-winning comic book writer and artist Jesse Lonergan and published by Union Square & Co. (an imprint under Hachette Book Group). The deck comes as an 80-card set — the standard 78 tarot cards plus two additional unnumbered Major Arcana cards, The Mob and The Puppeteer. It includes a guidebook with a foreword by comics legend Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy. Lonergan was born in California, raised in Saudi Arabia and Vermont, and spent two years in Turkmenistan with the Peace Corps — a multicultural background that informs the deck's perspective. The Comics Beat featured a behind-the-scenes interview about the deck's creation.
Official Website →Art Style & Visual Character
Lonergan's comics background defines the deck's visual identity. Every card features a distinctive "pictures within pictures" composition — each card contains two layered images that juxtapose, creating harmony or dissonance that generates meaning beyond the sum of its parts. The art style is bold, narrative-driven, and carries a visceral weight that "hits first in the gut, then lingers in the mind." The palette is dark and thoughtful, with a quiet intensity. The whole deck feels like storytelling in motion — each card a panel in a larger, unfolding comic narrative about the human experience.
Core Concept & Symbolism
The deck's core innovation is the dual-image structure: each card's pictures-within-pictures approach emphasizes the multifaceted, contradictory nature of tarot archetypes. This design invites readers to explore the tension between the layered images — finding new meanings in their juxtaposition. The two bonus cards (The Mob and The Puppeteer) extend the Major Arcana with archetypes that address collective behavior and hidden manipulation. The deck tackles the hypocrisies and complexity of the modern human experience, making it a powerful tool for shadow work and honest introspection.
Reading Experience
The Tarot Cake review calls it "dark, thoughtful, and brutally honest, with a quiet kind of intensity that lingers," noting it "raises more questions than it answers, which is its power." MJS Tarot describes the art as encouraging "thoughtful analysis of individual cards and nuanced readings that ground us in the amazing complexity of life." The deck is praised as an instant favorite for shadow work and introspective practice. The dual-image concept means readings are layered and complex, making it best suited for advanced readers who enjoy deep interpretive work rather than beginners seeking straightforward guidance.
Best Used For
- Shadow work and deep introspective readings
- Advanced readers who enjoy layered, nuanced interpretation
- Comic book and graphic novel enthusiasts
- Readings that explore complexity, contradiction, and hidden truths
- Meditation on the multifaceted nature of human experience
- Collectors drawn to innovative deck design concepts
Not Ideal For
- Beginners who need clear, single-image RWS references for learning
- Readers who prefer simple, direct card imagery
- Those seeking bright, uplifting, or whimsical aesthetics
Major Arcana (22 cards)
The 22 trump cards representing life's spiritual lessons and karmic influences
Minor Arcana (56 cards)
The 56 suit cards reflecting day-to-day events and practical influences
Wands
Fire element — passion, creativity, ambition, and spiritual growth
Cups
Water element — emotions, relationships, intuition, and inner feelings
Swords
Air element — intellect, conflict, truth, and mental clarity
Pentacles
Earth element — material world, finances, health, and practical matters
