Plop! by Marcos Cruz (£51.99)
Plop! by Marcos Cruz is a trick I wanted to like.
The participant crosses out a balloon on a printed sheet, seals it in an envelope, and you reveal a matching popped balloon on a folded square. The idea is colourful, simple, and strong.
But the envelope’s internal gimmick is easily visible if anyone looks inside, and the tutorial is long, repetitive, and confusing. Some of the reveals are cleaner than others but I found sometimes needs tension or awkward handling. Customising the artwork is possible but time-consuming. Overall, with a redesign to hide the internal gimmick, this could be great—but as sold, it’s flawed.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/plop-by-marcos-cruz
Magic in a Matchbox by Joel Anthony (£39.99)
Magic in a Matchbox by Joel Anthony. I know Joel, so I’m not biased—I’m harsh if anything—but this I genuinely love. A matchbox and three washers: two go into the box, one magically appears in your hand; repeat, and eventually all three end up in the spectator’s fist. As a finale, the matchbox is suddenly full of matches.
The props are ordinary and examinable, the routine is clear, and the gimmick is extremely well-hidden. You’ll need basic coin-style sleights (finger palm, false transfer, a click pass), and the box can be a little noisy, but a casual shake covers that. You also get options for a card reveal and a free-will routine. Charming, baffling, and practical.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/magic-in-a-matchbox-by-joel-anthony
Crystal Clear by Bob Kohler (£30.00)
Crystal Clear is Bob Kohler first trick he has released in years and this is strong. You show a crystal, burn your fingertip with a lighter, produce a realistic blister, then “heal” it with the crystal. Finally, you use it as a crystal ball to reveal a thought-of name. The blister gimmicks are excellent—quick, convincing, and easy to use.
The routine is motivated and dramatic, though it may suit performers with a slightly darker or mystical style. Kohler teaches safety thoroughly and explains several methods for the name reveal, including a simple, devious one that works well. The crystal itself is high quality and nicely presented.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/crystal-clear-by-bob-kohler
Devolve by Rizki Nanda (£25.99)
Devolve by Rizki Nanda is visual moving-hole card effect where a hole punched in a card on the deck grows larger, jumps to another corner, vanishes, and then appears in the freely chosen card held between the spectator’s hands.
The in-the-hands ending is excellent. The gimmick is durable and very well made, though the routine feels slightly over-complicated—the “hole gets bigger” phase doesn’t add much. You’ll need to practise the handling, and you must provide your own hole punch. But once mastered, it’s smooth, strong, and practical, and the gimmick sits flat in the deck.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/devolve-by-rizki-nanda-rn-magic