Indie Edge March 2009: Jim Balent/Holly Golightly

This month’s featured creators are…

Jim Balent & Holly Golightly

Jim Balent is the president of BroadSword Comics and creator/artist of Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose. Jim worked on Catwoman for DC comics as a penciler and cover artist from the years 1993 to 1999. In the year 2000 he started BroadSword Comics with fellow artist Holly Golightly. This March they’ll celebrate 9 years of publishing with the release of Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose #55.

Holly Golightly has worked as an artist/writer on well-known Archie characters, such as Sabrina, Josie and the Pussycats and Cheryl Blossom. She is currently coloring and doing production on Jim's Tarot as well as working on her own BroadSword Projects, School Bites and Fears and Ears.

Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose Vol. 5 TP	School Bites Vol. 1 GN

Jim Balent & Holly G.: A Sampling

Check out these titles by Jim & Holly, available for order now!
Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose Vol. 4 TP (APR063028)
Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose Vol. 5 TP (JUN073362)
Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose Vol. 6 TP (PX Edition) (APR083661)
School Bites Vol. 1 GN (JUN042309)

Jim & Holly, what are you reading?

Jim’s Picks:
I am very inspired by the work of Olivia. I have her calendar hanging next to my drawing table and every morning when I begin I look over to her illustrations. She has a great way of capturing the female form. The combination of power and sensuality in her paintings is something that is worth studying whether you are an artist or just someone who appreciates pin-ups.

Red Sonja Vol. 1 TP	Red Sonja Vol. 2 TP	Red Sonja Vol. 3 TP

Another artist I would highly recommend is Frank Thorne. His work on Red Sonja and Ghita is the perfect example of a comic that is well drawn, well told and stars a strong female character. Reprints of his work and current calendars and books by Olivia are a must-have in my studio and I would recommend everyone pick them up.
Olivia 2010 Calendar (See Previews #247 to Order!)
The Adventures of Red Sonja Vol. 1 TP (JUL073426)
The Adventures of Red Sonja Vol. 2 TP (JUL073427)
The Adventures of Red Sonja Vol. 3 TP (SEP073522)
The Complete Ghita—Eros GN #42 (SEP001987) (A)

Nana I DVD	Nana II DVD

Holly’s Picks
Nana by Ai Yazawa. I find a lot of my inspiration in movies — always have. When I was a teen, it was Pretty in Pink and other John Hughes films. Now I find myself drawn to Japanese Teen Chick-Flix to feed my cravings for Friends, Fashion, Food, & Fellas. Nana is Teen Drama Punk Rock Candy and I love every second of these movies... and take fashion notes too!
Nana: The Movie DVD (MAR085035)
Nana: The Movie II DVD (JUN085355)

Kitchen Princess Vol. 1 GN	Kitchen Princess Vol. 2 GN	Kitchen Princess Vol. 3 GN

Kitchen Princess by Natsumi Ando & Miyuki Kobayashi. I love to cook, daydream about food, and watch food-related reality TV. So naturally, my manga has to be peppered with delicious images of food! So if you get lightheaded from a beautifully rendered Bento box or enraptured by a maki illustrated with playful elegance... this is the manga for you! Oh, and there are recipes! Yum!
Kitchen Princess Vol. 1 GN (NOV063487)
Kitchen Princess Vol. 2 GN (FEB073363)
Kitchen Princess Vol. 3 GN (MAY073365)