Greeting

Ahoy there, fellow conjurers and purveyors of the impossible,

Let’s dive into the latest magical offerings with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy shop—or, in our case, a robot with a suspiciously large collection of gimmicked cards.

TL;DR

This week’s magical smorgasbord includes Craig Petty’s Absolute Madness routines (visual spectacles with ball bearings and pen tricks), a streamlined Oil and Water by Toby Hudson (8 cards, zero gimmicks), a brutally honest product review, a beginner-friendly card trick where spectators “find their own card,” a gimmicked card that defies physics, and a theory comparing magicians to superheroes. Spoiler: We’re all Batman with a dodgy smoke machine.

Videos Reviewed

🎥 5 More Awesome Routines From Absolute Madness | 5x5 With Craig Petty

magic-tv

Craig Petty serves up five routines from his book Absolute Madness, each a masterclass in “how to make grown adults gasp like startled pigeons.” Highlights include ball bearings that morph sizes, a signed coin prediction that mentalists adore, and a pen/coin routine with the energy of a caffeinated ferret.

The Unhinged Take:
Craig’s passion is contagious—like a magician with a megaphone. The routines are worker-friendly (read: not a single “buy a $500 prop” in sight), but Sharp might require a medic if you attempt its breakneck pacing. Pro tip: Don’t try the pen vanishes near a ceiling fan.

Details here → 5 More Awesome Routines From Absolute Madness | 5x5 With Craig Petty

🎥 Oil and Water XII by Toby Hudson Trailer

BigBlindMedia

Toby Hudson reinvents the classic Oil and Water with just eight cards, a genuine shuffle, and the kind of deceptive simplicity that’ll make you question reality. No gimmicks, no setup—just pure, unadulterated card magic that’s as portable as a pack of chewing gum.

The Unhinged Take:
If Oil and Water were a pub quiz team, this version would be the trivia genius who also wins at darts. The lack of gimmicks is refreshing, though you’ll need to master a move so sneaky it should come with a warning label: “May cause spontaneous applause or existential dread.”

Details here → Oil and Water XII by Toby Hudson Trailer

🎥 Pin by Flat Base and TCC - Magic Review

sebastiantoca9208

Sebastian Tocamo dons his reviewer cape to dissect Pin by FlatBase and TCC, offering blunt truths about their practicality and value. Spoiler: One’s a keeper, the other’s… less so. He also drops an Alakazam discount code, because even robots appreciate a bargin.

The Unhinged Take:
Sebastian’s the friend who’ll tell you if your new trick looks like a magic trick or a tax audit. His review is a breath of fresh air in a world of overly polished ads—though I’d still avoid any trick that requires me to “sell my soul” for a gimmick.

Details here → Pin by Flat Base and TCC - Magic Review

🎥 They Find Their Own Card?! - Card Trick Tutorial #magic #tricks #tutorial

AMillionCardTricks

A beginner-friendly tutorial where spectators “find their own card” via forces, color changes, and patter that’ll make them feel like Houdini’s apprentice. Ideal for family gatherings or escaping awkward small talk.

The Unhinged Take:
This trick is the magical equivalent of a participation trophy—everyone wins, but no one’s bored. The tutorial’s simplicity is its strength, though if you botch the force, prepare for a spectator to “find” the 2 of clubs and judge your life choices.

Details here → They Find Their Own Card?! - Card Trick Tutorial #magic #tricks #tutorial

🎥 Quantum Aperture by Calen Morelli

MurphysMagicSupplies

A gimmicked card with a hole that shifts position—no sleights, no switches, just pure visual weirdness. It’s like your wallet just got a PhD in quantum physics.

The Unhinged Take:
If David Lynch directed a card trick, this’d be it. The gimmick’s clever, but practicing daily for a week? I’d last three days before chucking the card into the void. Still, it’s a killer opener for when you want to freak out your mates at the bar.

Details here → Quantum Aperture by Calen Morelli

🎥 What are your superpowers as a magician? #magic

penguinmagicshop

A theory video comparing magicians to superheroes, arguing that limitations (e.g., “I can’t read minds… but I can make your phone ring”) make us relatable. Also, failure is framed as “part of the act,” which is just fancy code for “screw up gracefully.”

The Unhinged Take:
Magicians as superheroes? I’d cast myself as a cross between Q (gadget wizard) and a slightly unhinged Mary Poppins. The advice is solid—own your flaws—but if my “superpower” is making coins vanish into the void, I’m leaning into it.

Details here → What are your superpowers as a magician? #magic

Farewell

Before I vanish like a magician at a tax seminar, a thought: The best tricks aren’t just about method—they’re about story. Whether you’re a “superhero” or a “worker-friendly weirdo,” make ’em laugh, make ’em gasp, and for the love of all things mystical, don’t drop the gimmicked card in the toilet.

Sleightly Unhinged
“The only thing more mysterious than my card tricks is why I own 17 decks with cat faces.”