I'm not sure why this trick is getting any good reviews..I was as excited about this trick as anyone,until I received it..I gave it a chance and practiced it,then performed the effect for a few people..Both people saw the gimmick,even when I did it w/out much light. The gimmick is WAY to easy to spot and is not workable for the real world! Save your money...

This is a very good package. The price is a bit steep, but then we are paying for someone's blood, sweat, and tears (with some mark-up for the house), so I completely understand.

I've read some of the reviews, and I'm confused as to how some of the people are getting caught so often with this gimmick. The only opportunity to get caught is during the "clean-up phase", and the only reason that should happen is because it's rushed, or unpracticed. Granted, the "on the floor" version leaves you a bit more susceptible, but considering the powerful reactions and extreme safety of the in-hand version, I don't see why you'd stray too far from it. In a somewhat low-light setting, the floor version would be basically flawless, so if you're worried about it ... save the floor version for the dimly lit restaurant or club.

My concerns, once I watched the DVD, and attempted the trick for the first time, were less about someone seeing the gimmick at the end of the trick, but seeing it during the "pre-punch" segment. I had an idea during the DVD, and started doing it, only to find out that he actually recommends it during the "construction" portion of the disk. (this shouldn't be a spoiler, but if Penguin thinks it is, then no one will see this review) I would highly recommend getting some fine tipped permanent markers to touch-up color your gimmick (find a white marker too, believe it or not). From my experience, after that was completed ... this thing is completely stealth. Even the "move" that people keep referencing in their reviews isn't really a move at all. It's book 1, chapter 2 stuff from any card-handling book (recommend Giobbi's Card College btw). I'm very new to magic, and this "move" is so inconspicuous and miniscule that I'm not even the slightest bit nervous when executing it.

In my mind, this isn't strongest as a closing effect. It's extremely solid, but the REAL convincer for the people I've performed it for has been the fact that I complete the cleanup simply, allow the deck to be examined, and then proceed to use the same deck for a couple of more tricks before putting it away. I've even managed to collapse it into my "8-trick setup deck" (9 now) and completed 4-5 of the others before even leading into the ACR/Hawk.

If you don't try to over-convince, don't dawdle with the deck completely still after the punch for more than a couple of seconds, and don't rush the clean-up phase, this thing goes off without a hitch. I've done it multiple times now, after approximately 2 hours of practice, and it kills.

Final tips:

1. When the gimmick is touched up and added to the deck, you're going to have to work with it to get it worn in a bit. Don't get discouraged when it's getting stuck here and there the first few times.

2. The simpler the clean-up, the better. The signed card takes all of the heat off of you. They go into 4-5 clean-ups ... start with the easiest one, and build on it yourself.

3. Don't do what he says as he says it. Watch the explanation once before even taking the gimmick out of the DVD case. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

I hope this helps.

I've already posted a review but this needs to be said(because the forum for this is not up yet): I am an amateur/semi-pro magician who performs "real" shows part-time for the past 10 years. I have so far performed this infront of several small groups of 3 to 7 people and have NOT got caught with this. If you are getting caught then you are doing this wrong and need to work on your presentation skills and overall card magic.

My recommendations:
1) Not a stand alone "trick" - this is strongest as part of a whole. Add this to your already existing ACR routine.
2) Play with this a lot before you perform!!! You need to know how to use the angles and lighting around you to your advantage before "showing this to friends"
3) If you suck at card magic - then this is not for you. There is skill involved with this. I would rate this at the intermediate level because of the skill required to clean up or add the gaff to a borrowed deck.
4) On one half of the gimmick - use double stick tape instead of the glue. This will be less messy. Reserve the glue for that one spot on the other side of the gimmick.

The only thing self working with this effect is the actual reveal that you see in the demo video. Everything it takes to get to that point and everything afterwards takes skill or practice. Real performers can work around and improve on any inadequacies.

Fist I should say that I am a huge ACR fan and I'm always looking for ways to make mine better. That being said this rocks. Unlike what the one review before me said, I don't think this is a difficult trick at all. There is a version in it that is very easy and very effective. There is a more advanced version, and even that isn't that hard. If you have been handling cards for a decent amount of time, you'll probably be able to do all the moves very easily and if you haven't none of the moves are that advanced. Like any trick you will have to practice but if you want to be good at any trick you will. I highly recommend this and I will be using it in my ACR.

I pre-ordered this item with very high hopes. Unfortunately I am very disappointed and will never use this. I am already selling it to a friend of mine who says he MAY get some use for it. I just knew this would be a killer effect, but what a terrible gimmick. There is almost no way it can be done without being caught, or at least without someone knowing that this uses a gimmick. Please save your money and get something better from Penguin. Hope this helps!!

Wow!! Lots of hype for this effect. I got this 4 days ago and I've been playing with it ever since. Its very visual. But it has quite a few downsides not the least of which is what your left with after the change. Clean up is messy. Very angle sensitive. Reset is a nightmare for strolling or restaurant work. It messes up the rest of your cards with one of the substances thats used.... I can't think of anything really good about this effect other that the fact that you can set it up and do it once and it WILL look good. Its just not for me and my walk around work. Which basically means its going in the drawer. I hope you guys that buy it find more use for it than I will...

When I first got this I was skeptical, The gimmick seems it's a lot more obvious then the one Kolle uses in his performance and also the explanation of the trick. I'm in afghanistan with the army and do small shows for the other men and women in uniform. Well eventually I got the okay to perform a large show inside of our "theater" (it's a big tent with a stage inside)I thought the Hawk would be impractical to use in a stage show so while recording myself with the webcam of my laptop (it's my 'mirror') I replayed one of the videos back and the transformation looked quite good on the lower res video as it was impossible to see the gimmick at all. So I decided to re-record the trick, edit the footage a bit add my name and make it my 'poster' for the show. I had the video looped on a screen off to the right of the stage I was performing on. Towards the end of my routine someone during a talking sequence yelled out "Can you do the trick on the screen?" Now I didn't plan on performing the hawk but I did have it mostly ready behind the table. So I picked up the deck of cards and from the stage to the floor the gimmick is pretty well invisible. I simply asked if they were asking about the trick on the screen to my left and with the misdirection of gesturing with my hand towards the screen flicked my hand and the card went from the face of a queen to the red back of a bicycle card, under no cover and instantly. The crowd went pretty crazy and for clean up I simply showed all sides of the deck from the stage and then just tossed the whole deck back behind the table.

This trick certainly has it's uses and simply knowing how it's done is worth the price because the idea is great for creating other tricks. They also include a lot of product to make your own hawk gimmicks which I discovered doing this allows you to mess around and create a much nicer looking gimmick. Don't give up on this, if you're like me and enjoy taking common tricks and making some thing new out of them then this is for you.

Honestly the effect is impressive and I like where Alexander's head is at on this...brilliant. The hype for this is intense, but lets talk turkey. Frankly angles are weak. For a one on one situation, mindblowing. A crowd?...Risky. It is truly not for novice performers and it's an awful lot of work for a "one-trick pony". Not to mention the mess it makes of your cards. Is great for some, but it's not for everyone so be advised.

Got the Hawk two days ago. I am pretty much a novice but getting rid of the gimmick is just not that hard. The DVD show several very slick and very easy ways to get rid of it. The effect is amazing. I'm going to practice a few more times before I try it in front of anyone. I just need to make sure I am completely confident first. When I practice on my own, I'm amazed at how good it looks. The DVD is very well done. Highly recommend!

Simply, the trick looks amazing and it is amazing. But boy oh boy, getting rid of the gimmick is so horrible. The dvd is horible. The cuts during the dvd are pathetic and no work was put into it. I was scared of buying the trick. Don't buyDon't buyDon't buyDon't buyDon't buyDon't buyDon't buy!!!! I have so much experience with magic trick more than any of the people down below. Dont buy. when i perfomed the trick for a bunch of people they knew it right away, and they were shocked that they saw it becasue all of my other tricks were smooth and sweet and they all saw "the thing" and i couldnt hide it in time. Dont buy