"Jokers Wild" by Rodger Lovins
Suggested Retail USD$29.95
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

"Jokers Wild", the latest effect from the ever-creative Rodger Lovins, is a practical, easy, visual treat of a card effect, but there's a lot more under the hood than it appears.

The effect of "Jokers Wild" is a clever, straightforward one to be sure. A playing card is selected (no force), signed, and lost in the deck. The performer claims that the bottom card is now the selected card. The deck is turned over and the bottom card is seen to be the Joker instead of the chosen card. After explaining that the Joker is a wild card, the performer picks up the closed card box and touches the deck with it, momentarily covering the Joker. In a blink, the Joker changes to the signed card. The performer opens the card box revealing the Joker inside.

As I said, it's clever. It's also easy to do, relying on gimmicks to get most of the job done (what sleights are required are minimal and easily within the reach of even the casual card worker). Reseting takes all of a few seconds (while some might prefer privacy for it, I found it could be done quite casually going from group to group), you don't lose a lot of pocket space to it, and the angles are very good. You can even use the deck for other card work after the effect (and some limited work before it). Throw in what can be a marvelous visual and an interesting plot, and you've got a really fine effect.

I'll admit to not liking "Jokers Wild" much when I first saw the demo video. The method looked so obvious, so glaringly apparent, that I didn't have hope in this being all that good. But this is Rodger Lovins and his work has been consistently good and, well, I cut him slack on this one. When I finally got it in my hot little hands, I saw an extremely well-made prop, a slick handling, and a whole basketful of potential.

And that's really my major gripe with "Jokers Wild". Lovins' instructions are typically sparse here, but this is something that really needs more explanation. The clean-up, a walking reset, even more thoughts and ideas to springboard into yet more thinking... All of this would have been more than a little welcome. As it is, you're very much on your own here. Now, luckily, cleaning up and reseting while walking are pretty simple things if you've been around the block once or twice, but can be a bit of a challenge for those newer to such things. The additional thoughts and ideas? Same there, too; if you've been there and done that, you'll see lots of potential in Lovins' creation. If not, you'll still get a very good trick out of the deal, but nowhere near as good a one as you'll get if you apply some experience and creative muscle to it.

Therein lies the rub...

You see, if you've got the experience, chances are you'll turn up your nose at "Jokers Wild" anyway since it can be done pretty much without the use of gimmicks and relying strictly on some more advanced sleight of hand. If you haven't got the experience, then you're less likely to get the most out of this as you can. It's the proverbial catch-22. It also could have been avoided with better instructions.

But that's my only complaint with "Jokers Wild"; otherwise this is darn near a perfect trick. It's got some great visuals, a one-two punch of a transposition and a teleportation, and it plays extremely well. With a lot of practicality built into this one, it's hard for the working performer interested in the theme to say "no".

"Jokers Wild" is really good stuff, but it's waiting to be better and that's where you come in.

"Jokers Wild" by Rodger Lovins
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

Practicality: 9
There's a lot going for this one -- an easy set-up, perfect angles, small footprint in the pocket. The reset can be a bit of a challenge -- it's quick and easy, but, done cold, is best done where you have some privacy. With a little thought and a little experience, it can be done easily going from group to group without a problem.

Workmanship: 10
As is typical of Lovins' products, the workmanship is excellent. Handled with care, this one will last a good, long time.

Documentation: 5
The documentation is adequate for learning the effect. More pictures and better descriptions of the key portions of this would have helped a good deal, though playing with the basic idea will get you going through the rough spots.

Effect: 8
As written, this one is a fairly striking piece of magic and gets very good reactions. If you apply some thought to it, think outside the box as it were, this can be a stunning piece of work.

Presentation: 8
The presentation is fine, and the visuals make up for any weaknesses there. But there's a lot more to wrung out of this one and -- using Lovins' visuals here -- the odds are good that a reputation-maker could be lying in wait with this.

Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.