I'll let the pictures do most of the talking. Here's an attractive deck of cards that features an intriguing, hypnotic, black and white back design. And these cards not only look and feel great for your tricks and manipulations with just the right weight, they readily fan - the coating is just about perfect.

I also like the court cards that are printed with metallic ink. Overall, I found the deck to be just about everything that is stated in the ads. If you like to employ "designer" decks of cards in your magic or enjoy collecting them, this is a cool deck to consider.

More Reading:
Review: Karnival Deck by Big Blind Media
The "Dark Deco" Deck

Doc Dixon recently submitted to me some materials for review. Starting strong, the first product I looked at was his "Psychic Cents" ebook. For ten bucks, you receive an ebook that explains a fantastic prediction effect that is baffling as well as practical for many close-up situations, including strolling. Best of all, the effect has some built-in humor that makes it a clear winner.

You bring out a business card wallet that contains an envelope with some pocket change in it. You ask two spectators to name a number between one and nine to form a two-digit number. When you empty the envelope into their hands, the amount of change is found to be two-cents short of the freely formed number. You then show an additional item still in the envelope, a note that reads "I.O.U. two cents." Your prediction was correct.

The effect takes practice but it's not hard to learn and perform and there are no difficult moves. Reset is fast and you can do this as you walk to another location. By the way, if you're thinking "swami," this does not rely on one.

I really like this one and am looking forward to trying it out. Well done. You can reach Doc Dixon's site here.

To promote his upcoming performance with the touring "The Illusionists" production, Kevin James performs his amazing signature piece on the Jonathan Ross show.

If you've never seen this illusion, it's a mind-blower.

You can watch the illusion here.

More Reading:
Review: Freaky Body Illusions by Kevin James
Review: Andrew Mayne's Voodoo Box (Plans)

Criss Angel recently filmed an illusion on Fremont Street in Las Vegas for his new Spike series, "Criss Angel BeLIEve," which debuts in October. According to an article by Mike Weatherford in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the illusion seemed "oddly familiar." In the illusion, Angel is tied to a table with several swords dangling from above. Swords are randomly selected by spectators and allowed to fall. All of the swords are positioned to miss Angel's body, but one is aimed at his heart. Somehow, in this variation on Russian Roulette, Angel escapes injury and death.

"An illusion Criss Angel is staging on Fremont Street for television cameras today sounds extremely familiar to Riviera magician Jan Rouven [who performs a similar illusion in his show at the Riviera in Las Vegas]," says the story. "I think Criss Angel saw it at the Clarion," Rouven is quoted as saying. "He really liked that one. ... We had a fun conversation about it," but Angel never asked for permission to perform it.

You can read the story here.

More Reading:
Magician Criss Angel
Interview with Criss Angel
Opinion: Is Criss Angel Underrated?