This is turning into the type of story that I really like - tragic pasts that are slowly retold over the course of several chapters, by several intertwined characters. Different viewpoints lead to misunderstandings, causing animosity that lasts for hundreds of years as some characters run from their pasts, and others hunt them down for explanations for prior acts.
Pamela, the owner of the Tarot Cafe, is gifted with the art of fortune telling. She’s also cursed by her tragic past. As she tries to help her supernatural customers, she is also seeking a solution for her own problem, which is slowly fleshed out volume by volume. Part of each volume delves into the problems of her customers, and the rest focuses on Pamela’s past.
I wasn’t too impressed with the episodic first volume, but I had already preordered the 2nd. I’m so glad I did! The art is beautiful, very clean and detailed. The character designs are wonderful; I wish everybody had hair so lush and full. There’s not a lot of humor here, but what there is breaks the growing tension skillfully. There’s just enough so the story isn’t weighed down by all this tragedy!
Grade: A - Highly recommended
The Tarot Cafe tells the paranormal tale of Pamela, a tarot card reader who is fated to help supernatural beings living in the human world. Welcoming all who walk through her door-from a love-stricken cat, to a vampire spending eternal life running from his one true love-Pamela deals with the problems of others, until she is ultimately forced to face a deep, dark secret of her own.
Meet Pamela, a tarot card reader who helps supernatural beings living in the human world. She'll help any one who happens to come into her café whether they be human or not.
The Tarot Café is one of the most unique series that TOKYOPOP publishes, and not just because of how amazingly beautiful the art is.
TOKYOPOP licensed volumes 1~4 from Korea and released them here to much love and acclaim. However, the Korean publisher halted publication before the series was completed and this led TOKYOPOP to put together a deal that allows us to complete it ourselves.
So all you fans who have been clamoring for the story of Pamela and her supernatural café to continue will be getting your wish in a major way. Volume 5 is out now and Volume 6 will be released in October. Fans of Sang-Sun Park are in for a big treat in the second half of 2007!
Be sure to check out Sang-Sun Park’s other TOKYOPOP series, Ark Angels, which was our first series created by a Korean manhwa-ga for first publication in English.
~Alexis Kirsch, Editor
Only registered members can post comments
Hello, there are copies of this series (which i own and it's incredible!) available for swap on Mangatude.com if you want to get it but dont want to buy it...you just have to trade for 'em instead! :)
XANIMEBABYX
08.19.2009 12:00 AM
how do you open it1 (stupid mouse)
GOTHICLOITA
05.14.2009 12:00 AM
this is probably really stupid (it is) but what the hell is a clip and a pop (above)?
ENIGMA16
12.08.2008 12:00 AM
Okay, this manga series, is truly the only manga thats ever made me cry. -Sniff-
CUTECANKILL
11.22.2008 12:00 AM
I finally got the last volume. I bought mine at Kinokuniya...so I don't know if Barnes and Nobles have it...or even Borders. Anyway, The Tarot Cafe is a manhwa, not a manga. =] woot! Ah, for those of you who do not know what "manhwa" is...it's the same thing as manga...only from the Korean origion, not Japanese. I don't mean to sound prejudice. I'm just trying to be informative. *bows*
SMARTGEM
09.01.2008 12:00 AM
hi I'm in a RPG name this!! ^^
INOCHAN15
06.22.2008 12:00 AM
hey, ravenred5 i have seen lots of mangas at barns and nobles!!!
WOLFANGEL90
05.30.2008 12:00 AM
AWESOME YEAH!
THEFRUITSONG
05.26.2008 12:00 AM
now the volume 1 preview is gone!
OJAMA56
05.20.2008 12:00 AM
i love these books i personally think they are amazing i would love to shake hands with the writer of this series...amazing amazing amazing its def. a job well done
THEREALKITTYKO
05.19.2008 12:00 AM
where can i buy htis besides online
05.19.2008 12:00 AM
Poor Jester! Gah! I am soooo in love with this manga!
FEELDABURN
05.19.2008 12:00 AM
wow..it's really touching!!
CRAZYASS
05.19.2008 12:00 AM
omg! that is sooooooooooo gd!!!! more!
SHAODW
05.19.2008 12:00 AM
awwwwwwww omg thats sooooooooo sad!!!!!!!!!!
SHAODW
05.19.2008 12:00 AM
Volume 1 was good!
KAMICHAMAKARIN25
05.18.2008 12:00 AM
yes please tell me to!
CRAZYPAKI
05.17.2008 12:00 AM
hey how do you read it? did i miss it? O.o
CRAZYPAKI
05.17.2008 12:00 AM
wft is wrong with the girl at volume one she enjoys others pain
BLOODYSANDNINJA
05.17.2008 12:00 AM
moooore
HYATTCHAN
05.17.2008 12:00 AM
Shuai
HYATTCHAN
05.17.2008 12:00 AM
i want this manga.....all of them
LUNA1SIERRA
05.16.2008 12:00 AM
You can get into the VIP?
MAVERICKKAY
02.17.2008 12:00 AM
Why can't I read this one? I was so enjoing the other chapters!
GRACKO
02.17.2008 12:00 AM
Oh my god! This manga is awesome! But I wish I could access the VIP parts. Does anyone know how to do that?
THORNHEART
02.05.2008 12:00 AM
I just bought and finished vol. 1. The art style is amazing, and I love the stories! -Kira
GREENKITTIE
12.12.2007 12:00 AM
OMG! I just read the parts I was able to read online...and I fricken love this series! I always did find it interesting...I'm glad that I read the snipet I cuold read online... Now...if only I could read the parts online that are VIP...
CLULESSCHIC
12.10.2007 12:00 AM
I have not been able to find the 5th one either...But when I do... *goes crazy* It'll be pure bliss. The Tarot Cafe is by far one of my favorite mangas.
WILLOWINYU
10.21.2007 12:00 AM
loving it i want to buy the book
ORANGEPOP
09.28.2007 12:00 AM
i love it & it is cool
CPSD07
09.23.2007 12:00 AM
i luv this book!
DBTKZK
09.21.2007 12:00 AM
ive read the first 4...cant find a 5th anywhere
BLACKFLAMES9932
09.09.2007 12:00 AM
I read the first 3 books already and i love them. I can't wait to read the 4th one. ^_^
SPICE713
09.01.2007 12:00 AM
Can't wait to read this chapter. ^_^
SPICE713
09.01.2007 12:00 AM
the first one was the first manga i ever read, and im still waiting to find the second one, anywhere....(ive read tons in between, but its only the second one that seems to be unavailable)...excellent read
DROWNINGXINXYOURXEYES
08.28.2007 12:00 AM
I can't see alot of them..... darn....
AURA
08.20.2007 12:00 AM
this book is awsome...i can't wait to have money so i can buy it ^ ^
WIGHTWOLFRAVENWIFE
08.17.2007 12:00 AM
i couldn't find the second one i only found the first one a barnes and noble that sux i wanna know what happens!!! T_T
INUKAMI
08.04.2007 12:00 AM
omg i so cool i luv the cat is so cool
DARKNEKO14
07.28.2007 12:00 AM
i love it. it's great and i can't wait for the next one
NATUREGODDESS1
07.27.2007 12:00 AM
i love this manga!
FIREFLYSNOW
07.24.2007 12:00 AM
SQUEEEELLLL!!I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS MANGA!!!!!!!!!!I CANT WAIT FOR THE SIXTH!!!!!!!HEHHE
DONTBELONG
07.24.2007 12:00 AM
I can't view it?!
VIRGO138
07.23.2007 12:00 AM