Eight years ago Jim left DC Comics’ Catwoman to found his own comic company, to publish creator owned properties. BroadSword has big plans for 2008, Jim and Holly stopped by Newsarama to share them with the fans.

Newsarama: Congratulations on making it to your 8th anniversary. How have you been able to survive, when so may others have failed?

Jim Balent: Wow, that's a strong question to start on! When Holly and I started Broadsword Comics eight years ago, we were told by so called experts in the comic field, that we weren't going to last three issues. Well, its 8 years now, and we're printing issue 50 of Tarot, Witch Of The Black Rose in May and we're still here! In that time period we have seen big and small comic companies fold. We've heard stories of companies vanishing over night owing millions of dollars. We've had friends, fellow artists, who lost artwork and thousands of dollars to fly by night companies. Why did we make it this far and not those other companies?

Honestly I don't know. I don't know the inner workings of those failed companies. I can make some educated guesses from what I saw. A lot of those companies wanted to be big too fast! Several titles launched without building their reader base first. Most spent a lot of money they didn't have. While others just published to make a movie deal. Which is fine if that's your goal, but it leaves a bad taste in the reader’s mouth when they realize that your goal wasn't to make a good comic ... it was to make something tangible to shop around Hollywood. I find it sad that publishers place more importance on movie deals then there comics. Love the comic your publishing first, the movie deals will follow.

Holly and I had a common vision when we started Broadsword. Create something we love, never take our readers for granted. Hit all of are deadline and pay all our bills. It's a lot of work, but the rewards are many.

NRAMA: You seem to be at every major comic and Star Wars convention, how do you travel and still constantly ship your comics on time?

JB: That is tricking. I rarely appear at conventions. One or two max! Deadlines are really important to me and that is the main reason Holly and I have turned down conventions in Europe, Australia and across the United States.

But this year was special; there was a huge Star Wars convention out in LA this year.
We're both huge Star Wars fans and I thought it was important to have Holly experience the con without working it. We had a blast and even bumped into several of our readers. We took photos with them and did sketches. But it comes down to scheduling. Deadlines come first. 

NRAMA: As you said, in May you will reach the 50th issue of Tarot; what you do have planned of the landmark issues?

JB: Laser beams will shoot out of the book as the readers turn each page! The covers will be printed with a special ink so that if the reader applies it directly to the forehead, it will cure the common cold! Also, the story will be so amazing, that once read ... there will be peace in the Middle East... but only for a half an hour. Then things will revert back to there normal chaotic mess. We are hoping that Tarot 100 will be more effective.

Seriously, issue #50 will be the constant high quality art and story that the readers expect when they pick up a Tarot comic. Yes, issue #50 will start a new storyline; Tarot will face a new Male adversary from the fairy realm that is equal to her standing as the Sword maiden to the Goddess. New readers, as well as old, will enjoy this issue because secrets of Tarot’s origin are also revealed. So yes, there are some surprises in this issue, but no, there will not be any insane over the top gimmick that marks issue #50. We are not doing 50 variant covers! But maybe the laser thing would be cool.

NRAMA: I noticed that every comic and trade paperback has a limited edition available on your website (www.jimbalentstudios.com). What do fans get with the limited editions?

JB: There is a deluxe edition that readers can purchase through our web site or comic stores. These books usually come with a signed and number art print or photo print. These images are made specifically for that issue and are a limited print run.

NRAMA: You also have new monthly limited editions of merchandise available, how limited and collectable are these items?

JB: Holly can best answer that question. And here she is.

Holly G: Hi All! I created a special merchandise section on www.boocat.us that has a Design that is up for a limited time. About 2-3 months, but then I take it down-so snap them up while they're there! The best way to stay abreast of our Goodies is to sign up on our Email Newsletter! There are even exclusives and original Art that you'll be privy to!

Here’s the link to the Newsletter! https://app.quicksizzle.com/survey.aspx?sfid=12894

NRAMA: I have heard that there is going to be a two foot high statue of Tarot coming out.

JB: The statue is being sculpted by Claudio Setti, the owner of Martian Factory. He has a background in sculpting for Hollywood and yes the Tarot statue is nearly two feet high! I spoke with Claudio a few years ago and he was very interested in sculpting Tarot. He told me his vision; he DIDN'T want a mass produce piece made in China. He was more interested in making it a fine art piece and limiting it to 200. 123 have already been spoken for sight unseen. I have seen the clay sculpture and I was blown away by the grace and power of the piece! This is Tarot! This is something we are very proud of!

For more information go to our Forum... http://com2.runboard.com/bbroadswordboyforum and check out the Statue section on the Forum.

NRAMA: You have recently started working with the former Playboy model and Witch multimedia celebrity Fiona Horne. How did you meet Fiona?

JB: A few years back I interviewed Fiona for the back of my comic. In the section called "Interview with a Witch" where I ask real Witches questions about their faith and current affairs. Holly and I are big fans of her books and I wanted her interview for my comic. We hit it off incredibly well and I knew someday we would work together. We finally met face to face at the Witches' Ball in Salem Massachusetts in October of ‘07. Holly and I designed the Logo for the Ball and when we heard that Fiona was making an appearance there we decided to make the five hour drive up to see her. Meeting her face to face was both exciting and comforting all at the same time. 

It was like seeing an old friend we knew for ages. Fiona herself even said that to Holly during the course of the night. In the three days that we were there, we watched Fiona perform two concerts. Her new CD came out, Witch Web and she was promoting it. Holly and I were blown away by her performance and her songs and we knew instantly that our readers would just love her music. So to make a long story short, I approached Fiona with the idea of selling her CD on my web site with the added bonus of me creating a limited edition illustration of her to go with her signed CD. She loved the Idea and in 2008 it will be offered on my web site. Also, I pitched her the idea of me drawing her into the comic book where she will interact with Tarot and fight hobgoblins and all sorts of nasties in the fairy realm. Once again she thought this was brilliant and was very excited to be a part of this project.

NRAMA: She’s not just your average fan, clearly. What is it like working with her?

JB: Professional and very easy to work with. With the schedule she keeps in Hollywood, meeting heads of movie and TV companies, making personal appearances, writing books and screen plays, and let's not forget, doing everyday Witchy things, her ability to connect with Holly and myself is fantastic! Like I said it's like working with a friend we knew for ages.

NRAMA: Is this just a one time appearance in Tarot #49? 

JB: At the moment, yes. But that doesn't mean it's the only project we are working on with her. For right now I am schedule to illustrate two full color lithos of her and have her appear in Tarot #49, which is due out in March. Fiona is a strong, sensual and independent woman; she is perfect for comics, movies, or TV. She a bewitching addition to the BroadSword Family.

NRAMA: You also have the 6th volume of the Tarot trade paperback coming out. Many of the publishers are finding that trades make up a considerable portion of their sales. Is this true for Broadsword as well?

JB: The trades do very well for us, that's why we are on out 6th volume. At the same time it's being sold here in the States, a German language edition is being sold over in Europe. We are very pleased with the sales of our trades and our bimonthly issues. But it's not the main bread and butter for our company. The single issues are very strong; people don't want to wait a year for a trade to know what Tarot is up to. We get many emails from our readers now, stating they can't wait 2 months!

NRAMA: Does the nudity in the comic make it more difficult to market in book stores?

JB: I know stores that have my book on the self right next to Spider-Man. I know stores that have my book in the Adult section. Even though my book is a Mature readers book not a XXX adult comic. And I know stores that won't carry my book because of the nudity and... because it deals with Witchcraft and showing Witches as heroic. So, to get my book in every store, I would have to take out all the nudity and all the heroic aspects of my lead characters. That would really water down my book to nothing. Perhaps in the future I will create a title that will be more pleasing to everyone. I know I can do that. But right now I am interested in keeping Tarot the way she is.

NRAMA: It brings up the question, why is there nudity in Tarot? Wouldn't you have a larger potential audience without the nudity?

JB: Possibly. But I think nudity is an important element in the book. Nudity especially fertility, is a big part in Witches' theology. Nudity and sexuality are not bad things, we are all adults and we should stop acting like immature infants every time someone sees a bare breast.

NRAMA: What is your view on nudity in comics, not just Tarot?

JB: I love illustrating powerful women. The women that model for me, can project a senses of power and self-confidence while still being very vulnerable at the same time. This is what I try to capture in all my drawings and in my comic as well. I love the idea that a woman can be so naked to the world and still be the most powerful being on the planet.

NRAMA: Do you think it is more acceptable to show violence in comics than nudity?

JB: Here in the States, yes. Is it right? No.

NRAMA: What do you think it is that makes violence acceptable?

JB: I'm not sure, we're brought up with violence in our cartoons, video games, and movies, and for some reason we seem for the most part to accept it. But, show a woman nude coming out of a bath tub and that crosses the line. It's interesting how acceptable it is to see someone take a life then it is to see the couple making love ... creating life.

NRAMA: In 2008, Tarot #48 will be the 8th Anniversary, Tarot #49 will feature Fiona and Tarot #50 will be the milestone issue. What do you have planned for the second half of the year?

JB: The two foot statue of Tarot, School Bites #4. Comic conventions and appearances and more and more Tarot. Specialty project will be added to our schedule as the year moves ahead.

NRAMA: Speaking of School Bites #4. What is new and exciting in Cherri Creepers life this year?

JB: I will let Holly answer that question. Take it away Holly.

HG: Hello Again! Cherri will be dealing with Devilish Men, Delicious Cupcakes and a Strange little girl. Her Friends too will be navigating some romantic issues and some still struggle with being plasma-ly challenged.

NRAMA: Will School Bites #4 be available through Diamond?

HG: Nope ...I prefer to offer it through our web sites www.jimbalent.com and my all age site www.schoolbites.net I really need to be on a loose schedule to keep all my other BroadSword duties on time.

NRAMA: As we talked about earlier you and Holly do a lot of traveling from convention to convention. I have heard that Holly is now writing travel guides. Is Broadsword publishing them?

HG: It's only one travel guide-for now...I'll do the first printing through BroadSword and then perhaps look for a travel guide publishing house that wants to do a totally new kind of guide!

NRAMA: Are they designed for Witches on vacation or for the general public?