"Legacy" by The Underground Collective
Suggested Retail USD$39.99
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"Legacy", a new effect by Jamie Badman and Colin Miller (known as "The Underground Collective") has taken an old effect, given it old props, added a couple of old gimmicks to make the most of an old principle, even making everything look old, and in the end create a new, refreshing, and entertaining routine that is worth its weight in gold.

I love this one, folks, and I was not expecting to. Yeah, I'm just that jaded. Oh, come on. When you cut through the presentation, you see what it is: five cards, spectator picks one, you reveal a matching prediction. Hello? Vernon, anybody? And a cursory glance at the props mentioned in the ad told me everything else I needed to know, particularly that it's going to use a method I simply don't like, dressed up a bit to maybe hide things, but really nothing special that I didn't already know, have, or thought about.

Sometimes, ladies and gentlemen, I'm an idiot of the first water. In my idiocy, I forgot a couple of things.

I forgot that this is put out by The Underground Collective, and those two gentlemen have never -- ever, mind you -- let me down. Their thinking is always commercial but, more than that, they have a tendency to add just enough of an artistic flare to make their material stand out.

I also forgot that, when Badman and Miller put together an effect, the working is going to be startling simple and well-hidden, letting the always-engaging presentation take over the reins and drive the method further that it would typically go.

Lastly, no matter what, the effect is going to be as fun for me to perform as it is for spectators to watch.

And that hubris, ladies and gents, almost cost me the pleasure of one wonderful effect that I doubt I'll ever be without.

Yes, the method is old (again, see Vernon). Yes, the prediction is an anemic 1-in-5. Yes, there's little new here when it comes to workings. But the guys have come up with a wonderful handling of the old thing and even added a presentation that is wonderful. Now, you're not predicting anything; your uncle's best card trick, the one that got you started in magic, is still your uncle's best trick, even though he's moved on to the Elysian Fields.

And that makes all the difference in the world.

Badman and Miller have made this flat-out fun. They've also left the door open to more than a handful of different ideas and supplied different props to handle those ideas.

Which brings me to the real pity of reviewing this: I'm dying to tell you how this works just so you can appreciate it, but I really can't. I've dropped hints for those in-the-know (and who don't believe the history of card magic started with Copperfield doing an Ace Assembly) but I'd love to be able to say what would make this whole thing worthwhile to you. The closest I can come is this: "No matter how you reveal the prediction, it will be strong and play huge."

And that's about all I'm going to say about "Legacy". This, folks, is a work of art that is a solid keeper.

This is one I highly recommend without reservation.

"Legacy" by The Underground Collective
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Practicality: 10
Other than packing around the rather slim wallet that comes with this, there really are no big issues. Reset is instant, set-up is a breeze.. I'd caution against even trying to do this in most performing environments unless it's as that One Special Thing.

Workmanship: 10
Everything here is wonderfully assembled and aged very nicely; this is what we call a work of art.

Documentation: 7
The documentation is good, going into an excellent explanation of the basic routine and covering some additional ideas.

Effect: 9
This plays great, period. What's more, you'll likely have as much fun performing this as your spectators will taking part in it.

Presentation: 10
The presentation, with the props to back it up, make this one. This is a simple, not so impressive 1-in-5 prediction that plays huge because the basics are so well done.

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.