Vanishing Inc. Magic reviews by Jack McCoy

Pit Hartling's 'The Core' is absolutely amazing. It's like an offshoot of A.C.A.A.N. and beautified. The method is deviously clever and so honest looking, it will stump anyone, layperson or magician. I can attest to this from my performing it at the magic shop to both. I will be doing this trick forever in my gigs. Thanks Pit and Vanishing Inc!

Caleb Wiles' '26' is a very clever and brilliantly constructed card illusion. It's easy to do and will fry anyone watching. It seems so impossible and since it uses a normal deck which can even be borrowed, it's very practical. You actually get two tricks with a couple of variations as well for the price. Very highly recommended!

Jim's 'Ghost Move' is an invaluable method of glimpsing a card from practically anywhere in the deck. It is actually my now favorite method and will probably be using it from now on when a glimpse is needed. It's fast, effortless, and very subtle and will fly past the spectators' watchful eyes unnoticed. Though practice is needed (I say this as all magic moves should be practiced until a thoughtless habit forms), it is a very easy method to do. I very highly recommend Jim Swain's 'Ghost Count' and when comparing it's value to it's cost, it's a steal.

My only criticism to the video is, to me, the way overused piano accompaniment to the section titles. This video has many of them and after the umpteenth time my teeth would grind every time the music played. I'm not a fan of the dramatic overfluff many magic videos present of the magician and his creation. In this case it's just the music. Jim's a laid back and calm magician and easy to watch and learn from. Thanks for not spending the first 2 minutes showing him from different angles while he looks at the camera with an "I'm so awesome!" smirk on his face.

Spend the money and burn many brains with Jim's 'Ghost Peek'.

I'm not sure what category 'Pop Fly' belongs in as it's a move but also a flourish and a method for revelation as well. It doesn't really matter and the category I'm putting it under is in the '$10 well spent' category. It's a cool thing to know and not difficult at all to do. Plus, the possibilities of uses for the move is countless. 'Pop Fly' is great and gets my highest recommendation.

This is a great download and easily worth the price. The tricks are not hard to do (almost easy) and are very performable in the real world. The 'No Palm Transpocket' is worth the price alone as it's not only easy to do and looks great but teaches a card process that is one of my all-time favorites and every card worker loves who knows it. 'Lost 22' is very simple to do and there's no way anyone will be able to figure it out. They can really shuffle the heck out of the deck and you'll find their card with little to no effort. 'Horizon Aces' provides a lot of bang with little effort. It's one of those wonderful-to-perform tricks where the work is done early and you can relax and enjoy what's to come with no fear.
Highly recommended

Throughout the years I've always been a huge fan of J.K. Hartman and proudly own all his books. Card Dodgery is no better nor worse than his earlier books but equally outstanding and a must-have for any card magician.

I'm so very impressed with the quality of this book in both its build and contents. My old-fart attitude towards young magicians softens every time I purchase something from Vanishing Inc. I fear less for this wonderful artform when I see what the talented guys here are up to and believe they've taken J.K. Hartman honorably across the finish line if this is truly his last book.

Very Highly Recommended

This is a favorite purchase of mine and have used it in the real world close to 20 times now, and it never ceases to completely amaze. I use it to introduce myself anywhere there's a table of people. Gary Jones teaches you the patter he originally used with the gimmick and it's what I use. I walk up with the notepad open and Sharpie ready to write. I ask if they're ready to order which always brings many different reactions (some are great). When they refocus on my hand they see I'm holding a deck of cards which I then say "O.K., how about a card trick then?" as I hand them the Sharpie for marking a upcoming selection. The reactions are always truly amazed. The video doesn't do justice to the realism of the gimmick. People swear the metal rings are real and are fully stunned with the vanish. It is well made and required no ditching or difficult sleights whatsoever. The deck is normal and can be used for whatever's to follow. You'll be performing it immediately and often.

I've learned many 'Spellbound' routines through the decades and agree this is one of the best, it's definitely the prettiest I've seen. The price is, in my opinion, a steal for what you get. This is a series of unique and clever moves, some easy, others not quite so but I guarantee you'll be doing a couple of them in your spellbound routines in no time. No trick coins, just beautiful moves and practice to give it fluidity. Highly recommended.

I'm 54 years old and have performed card magic thousands of times in my life. There are a handful I love to perform and often do, because they're fun and really amaze whoever I'm showing. 2 of those favorites come from this book, 'Relative Interchange' and 'Masque'.
Though there are countless packet magic tricks, these will feel new and fresh to you. There is a difference in these packet tricks by Phil Goldstein, mainly due to his very unique and genius mind. None of the magic in this book is self-working, all require a tad bit of handwork, but easy stuff such as biddle steals, Elmsley & Jordan counts, multiple turnovers, that level of stuff. By inducing simple sleights into his tricks, Phil has created some very stunning and visual packet show pieces. I could go on and on about this book but I'll stop here.
I will end by saying this is one of the best books you'll ever purchase and will beome one of your favorite books from that point on.

Enough has already been written about how great this deck is, and I agree completely. I thought I'd mention the nice clear plastic case it comes in. I'd buy a few if they were available separately. They'd be great for extra protection of my collector's deck, or for certain mentalism routines,or imagine Josh's 'Phantom Deck' where not only the cards turning blank, but the case as well.

This is a must-have for any card enthusiast. Pit Hartling is very talented and creates unique and clever magic showpieces.

If you don't have a mummy mystery prop, here's one and at a great price. The props are attractive and the method very clever. It can be repeated, that is depending on your spectator(s). If a person who's sharp eyed, or with debunking intentions, is in the group I don't recommend it. The same applies to re-examinations of the prop, post-effect. Other than that, it's an excellent and well made brain buzzer for any close-up magic person or person'ette (I've no idea what that is). End note: The props can be used in a '3-'Choices' type of routine, and followed by the 'Mummy Mystery' effect, which not only adds proof of you're predictive and mind-reading claims, but the props were used twice with 2 different methods so there's nothing to compare, nor reason for re-examination. These even look intriguing in my display case.

What a delight it was to find out another book by card master J.K. Hartman was released. I couldn't click the link and add to my cart quick enough.

This book is more complex in methodologies than his past offerings, with more requiring gaffs, gimmicks, extras, and / or setups. Some of these 'more effort needed' tricks have really strong endings, there are a couple I'll be performing at my next magic get together to make my fellow magic buds drool. One thing for sure about J.K. Hartman, his magic is less (and wrongfully) known in the magic world and card groupies can have a lot of fun with it. I've absolutely stunned the sharpest of minds with with his card magic. It's also funny when they inquire and I credit J.K. Hartman. Their expressions are great because they want to learn it and know the immense body of work he's put out and also know I won't divulge what book and page to find it at. If you're a J.K. Hartman fan this book's a must. If not, any J.K. Hartman book is a must.

It's amazing this book is still available and what a price! Um, if you're reading this, stop right now and purchase it. There is so much great card magic inside it. Mr. Hartman's work is immense and this book was a follow up, almost brothering if you will to his massive 'Card Craft'. Get this book while you can.

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this book, yet make this review worthy of your time? Well, I suppose I'll just say that, for the price of this book, it's a no-brainer and my #1 choice I recommend you make since you're obviously interested. The book is heavy and square (10.25" X 10.25") but opens anywhere and stays open. It's a beautifully produced book. I know Jack Parker was aware of the quality Andi Gladwin puts into his books and I'm sure he knew this would be amazing. This book is amazingly produced in the highest order. It's got that classic look and feel to it; timelessly solid, like the oldies in a library. Andi concreted Jack's friendship and magic for many future generations to come, which I hope he can take comfort in knowing.
The magic in the book goes without saying, there are masterpieces inside. Their difficulty ranges from easy to challenging, but all doable with practice and all with a great reward for your arsenal. The very 1st trick is a card trick that I guarantee you'll be doing from then on.

I've carried this around for a long time now in my wallet as a quick go-toer at a moment's notice. I've even messed with fellow magicians heads with it. I only do effect #1, mind reading. It's very strong and anything after it would be overkill anyway. For that effect alone, plus the fact it can be kept in my wallet I say it's a buy.

This has been my everyday wallet now for probably 3 years. It's a genuinely nice and real man's wallet. The secret loading slot is so very convenient in everyday situations. I keep my driver's license and insurance cards in it. When needed, I open my wallet, unsnap the flap and remove them as normal. I can then close my wallet. When handed back I simply slide them in the slot and they're back to their original spot. This way I don't have to keep my wallet open while waiting nor fumbling putting them back in. In more crowded places I put the wallet back into my pocket where it's safe. When I retrieve my cards it's easy to insert them into the slot and wallah, already in the window of my wallet that's already in my pocket. I bought my brother one for these reasons, he's not a magician. He loved it and is still using it.

Vanishinginc as once again produced an outstanding book in both quality and material. Of course the author of the material is the ever thinking Ben Harris who must have many sleepless nights getting brain-locked on a premise and juicing it for every drop possible. He truly is a visionary and one I've been a fan of for a long time. The book met and in ways exceeded my expectations, though I've gotten spoiled to Vanishinginc's level of production I tend to take it for granted.
As usual, the book is solid, heavy(ish) and very well produced. It even has a pocket inside the back cover for holding the props. I recommend purchasing an additional set of the props where those in the book can just stay there until the extras become worn. I love also the full size images within the pages for later scanning and printing. This sort of detail make this a complete book for a fascinating principle by one of magic's greatest thinkers.

This isn't a review for this particular item but another consideration along this premise, J.K. Hartman's 'Garden of Eaten' in his amazing book 'Card Dodgery', which at this moment is available here. It's my personal favorite of the 'Cannibal Cards' variety, not discounting these in 'The Vault' of course, just another for your consideration.

What do you get for $15? You get 4 nicely illustrated cards. The entire routine is accomplished with basic sleight of hand. If you're a card person, you'll probably come up with other or even better uses for the set. I'm not suggesting the included routine is bad, it's perfectly fine for laypeople though it does involve reaching into strangers' pockets. Ones own shirt pocket or any concealed area will work just fine (under a napkin, handkerchief, in a hat, etc.).

The routine in more detail is: 3 jail cards and a Houdini card are shown. The Houdini card & 1 jail card are both placed in a spectator's pocket. The Houdini card is removed from the pocket, the jail card left behind, and inserted face down between the 2 other jail cards. Magic Magic Magic and the 3 cards in hand are the jail cards. The spectator removes the supposed jail card from his pocket and it's Houdini! There's a good chance you're right now going, "Ahhh." and you'd probably be correct. The actions in my opinion are rather odd as per the instructions and the effect is more Houdini switching places with a cage card than he disappearing and appearing in a pocket. It could be the latter with alternate card handling which you might already know. The price and quality of the cards doesn't make it a bad purchase. You'll have a lot of fun with them, especially if you don't have any Houdini themed cards. I do suggest purchasing it with other items so the shipping cost isn't tacked onto the end of it alone.

I'll keep this short and sweet since there's not that many in stock. I didn't get mine from here but would like to mention how clever it truly is. There are no steps or eliminations. Any suit can be named and it will be the anomaly. The cards are very cleverly constructed as Bob Farmer tends to do with his creations. I can't say it's better than B-Wave or other variants because all blow minds but Alice's Revenge is to me the coolest and cleanest method. This will mess with your fellow magician's heads who know other versions.