Good morning! It’s 9:00 on a Saturday—time for the Monster Magic Saturday Show. The days are starting to feel a little brighter, like spring is on its way, and there’s no shortage of exciting new magic releases. One of them officially drops on Monday, but I’ve got an early look today to build some anticipation. Let’s dive into this week’s reviews.
Name Dropper – John Graham (£29.99)
Effect: A spectator selects a card from a blue deck, thinks of someone special, and says their name aloud. You divine their card, reveal a gag prediction inside the card box, and finally show that a packet of red cards spells out the person’s name letter by letter.
- Origins & Lineage: Based on Paul Harris’s Anything Deck (1996, Art of Astonishment). Later iterations include Deep Astonishment and Deep X. John Graham first published Name Dropper in his book Stage by Stage (2021). This release saves you the DIY—everything’s pre-made.
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What You Get:
- A leather wallet (just a holder, not gimmicked).
- A packet of printed cards using Maiden backs, with letters that convincingly mimic handwriting.
- A blue deck with one specially printed card for orientation and setup.
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Strengths:
- Pre-printed cards remove the need for handwriting.
- Reset is instant—pack up and you’re ready to go again.
- The emotional punch is huge, especially when the name is truly meaningful.
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Challenges:
- Requires practice to quickly assemble the correct letters while maintaining flow.
- Long or unusually spelled names can be tricky. Solutions include using nicknames, initials, or dropping duplicate letters.
- Teaching: The tutorial runs nearly an hour, with John Graham explaining both mechanics and presentation in detail. Asi Wind joins for extra insights and advice.
- Verdict: Simple, direct, and incredibly strong. This is a closer-level routine that balances card magic with heartfelt mentalism. A true worker’s trick and highly recommended.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/name-dropper-by-john-graham
Spectrum Sharpie – TCC & Craig Petty (£29.99)
Effect: A modern twist on the classic colour-changing knives. A Sharpie logo changes colour, jumps between pens, and finally transforms into a multicoloured logo.
- Props: Comes with three Sharpies—black with red logo, red with black logo, and multicoloured logo. They look and feel like genuine Sharpies, and the printing is durable.
- Method: Paddle moves adapted for pens. The routine is modular: swap logos, change colours, or build into a multi-phase sequence.
- Teaching: Tutorial is just over an hour. Craig covers essential moves—paddle move, rub change, shake change—plus handling tips and ways to end clean.
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Performance Notes:
- Best used as a bonus after the Sharpie has already been in play (e.g., signing cards).
- Strong visual changes that get quick reactions.
- Can be kept short or extended into a mini-routine.
- Verdict: A clever, organic reimagining of a classic. Light, portable, and fun to perform.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/spectrum-sharpie-by-craig-petty-tcc-magic
Paradox Cube by Crazy Sam and Henry Harrius (£45)
Paradox Cube by Crazy Sam and Henry Harrius (£45)
Effect: A spectator mixes a solved cube under a handkerchief. When revealed, the cube is still perfectly solved.
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Props:
- A normal cube and the special Paradox Cube.
- Handkerchief (nothing gimmicked, just well-sized and weighted).
- Tension-adjusting tool and spare stickers.
- Main Routine: Hands-off, self-working miracle. The cube stays in their hands, yet remains solved after mixing.
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Additional Routines:
- Do As I Do with matching solves.
- Behind the Back challenge.
- Surprise Paradox, where the mixed cube matches a photo on your phone.
- Teaching: Includes cube-handling tips, Akira stack solve, one-handed solves, and cube adjustment guidance. Clear explanations from both Sam and Henry.
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Strengths:
- No sleight of hand required for the main effect.
- Packs small, plays huge—ideal as a closer or standalone.
- Genuinely baffling even to magicians.
- Verdict: One of the strongest cube effects available. Pure, simple, and powerful.
Fading – Anthony Vasquez (£22.50)
Effect: A full deck visually collapses into a single card, which can be their selection. Cards may then reappear back in the box, or shrink into a packet for a follow-up routine.
- Props: A single durable gimmicked card, available in red or blue backs. The face value is random.
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When to use it:
- End an ambitious card routine with a startling collapse into their card.
- Begin a packet trick by shrinking the deck down.
- Create visual vanishes and reappearances of the full deck.
- Teaching: 18–20 minute tutorial. Clear and concise, with dubbed/subtitled instructions. Covers handling, angle management, and several ideas.
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Strengths:
- Extremely visual, fast reset, and simple to execute.
- The gimmick blends into the deck until needed.
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Limitations:
- Requires thoughtful routine integration—on its own, the effect risks being just a visual stunt.
- Angles need attention, especially close-up.
- Verdict: Not for everyone, but if you enjoy high-visual gimmicked magic, this is a strong, easy-to-use option.
That’s all for this week’s show! Between the emotional punch of Name Dropper, the playful visuals of Spectrum Sharpie, the baffling purity of Paradox Cube, and the flashy visuals of Fading, there’s plenty to explore.
The sun’s shining, spring’s on the way—so grab some magic, head out, and enjoy the best hobby in the world. See you next week!