Great trick, easy to perform. If your card handling is ok, then learning this will be very quick. Now at first you'll be underwhelmed at what you receive, but go out and work this for some real reactions. There are two methods presented:

1) Spectator 1 chooses and signs a card, spec 2 simply memorizes another. You reveal spec 1's card has moved to the top, and spec 2 is now holding their card instead of the sharpie.

Version 1 is great for walk-around or table hopping and requires a 5 second reset. The pocket space required is minimal (an extra sharpie) and is an excellent card reveal. Of course if you've done the "memorize your card" bit before, you realize that all spectators forget their card within 30 seconds. So be sure to have them show it around to friends. You receive two special cards but get a PDF on the DVD to print more. NOTE: Use the full sheet sticker paper instead of trying to align up the template with whatever is offered at your local office supply.

How long the cards last depends upon how violent your spectators are with them. But with regular handling should last a good 3 months per card of regular use.

2) A single spectator chooses and signs a card, which transforms into the sharpie.

Version 2 requires you to print out special card stickers and affix them to the deck of your choice. You cannot use the included 2 special cards for signatures, since once those are gone, you gotta buy expensive refills. Alakazam said they were trying to get a full run printed so we can buy a whole deck of these, but until then you're stuck with the print solution. This requires some beginner card work to pull off, but still not all that difficult.

This is obviously the stronger version, as you can tell from the brunette in the demo rambling on about "best stuff evah". Version 1 gets a "wha?" kinda confused reaction, while v2 leaves them speechless.

Whichever method you choose, you will probably be happy with this very commercial effect. Especially at Penguin's price point.

This one is very easy to perform.The misdirection involved is close to a no-brainer. Before performing it I thought it would cause lousy reactions, but I was wrong. If there were cheap refills, so that we could work with signed cards, then this trick would reallly rock.

The idea is genius, performing this is always fun, I've tried it several times since I bought this and the fact it catches the crowd "with their pants off", not ready and surprised is so much fun! The rudeness and hidden light mockery of you boldly handing a gimmick right into the spectators hand with sure knowledge they'll miss it makes reactions!

Yes, it's a good effect with a good idea. But after performing it a couple of times, I notice people being skeptical. The sharpie marker feels so different from the gimmick that most people can feel it. Also, the effects are great if you want a signed card. But whats the point of taking out a sharpie marker if you dont need to sign anything? It's a good revelation but needs improvement. Furthermore, there are only 2 gimmicks so they must be used wisely. The printable ones feel even more different from the sharpie so that's definitely a no. Love the idea, hate the method.

This is a clever and simple effect whereby a Sharpie transforms into a selected card. If you've been doing magic a while and have basic performance and card skills, you should be able to do this with very little practice.

The negatives: you only receive two gimmicked cards so make them last. While they include templates to print and roll your own gimmicked cards, the results simply won't be the same and are more trouble then they are worth. Alakazam is supposed to start selling the gimmicks separately; however, this comes across more as an upsell to an idea which makes the overall effect rather expensive.

The routines on the DVD are pretty stupid in their construction. Suggest you work out your own routine where perhaps the transformation is in addition to something else rather than as the final climax.

at first i thought this would be great, but now after 2 weeks of performing the trick , it only solicits a small reaction from the crowd, I am now adapting the trick so I dont need to switch pens ,

There's something wrong with this effect. The fact that they don't keep the card. You also know that the card won't last you a long time, yet there are no refills for this, and the trick is expensive. I didn't put the time required to learn this. I think you require some very good misdirection skills, and they are not explored in as much detail as necessary here. This is for intermediate magicians or advanced ones.

Not bad! I seem to have troubles (and I have pretty good audience mgmnt skills) with the spectators fiddling the sharpie, even if I just gave it to them for a second to tap the deck. Its like they had anxiety and flipped the pen and boom I was caught. For now I'm holding the sharpie due to those bad expereinces but Ill get the courage up again soon!
Nice idea .. but we do need to make the signed version more user friendly. We need a full deck of these gimmicks very badly!!

Okay, so this effect is very nice. Theres no too much to say. Very easy with a nice revelation. Lost a few stars because you require a lagre set of nards putting the somehting into the spectators hands. The way mine is, Im still trying to figure out how to do this with the texture being less than satisfying. However, still a nice revelation and no paranoia if not done in their hands (although in their hands is always better for reactions). Nice concept. Il lbe trying to find ways to make the texture and things sticking out better so that I can perform it the way I want (on their hands).
Got this in the coolbox so it was a superb deal and has immense potential!

This trick is just a KILLER effect. I looked at the gimmick and thought to myself...this wouldn't work in the real world. BUT boy was I wrong. This effect is just amazing and glad I got it. At times it doesn't work as hoped but the reactions are great. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!