Review: Series! (Superfly Spitfire, Cherry Casino Reno Red)

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Review: Series! (Superfly Spitfire, Cherry Casino Reno Red)

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Second Editions, Sequels, Series, and Surprises!

The first time around isn't always the best. Sometime a good thing comes along, and only gets better with a follow-up. It's not always true, especially in the world of cinema, where a sequel is sometimes just a money grab or cash cow, trying to capitalize on the success of the first film. But it is often true, and it's particularly true in the world of playing cards.

In the custom playing card industry, success often breeds success, and there are many examples of successful designers who have produced a wonderful series of decks with a similar theme, or have gone on to produce sequels that matched or even surpassed the original. In some cases, creators have even been able to create a whole brand around a single successful deck, examples including Fontaines, Virtuoso, and Misc Goods Co. In other cases producers have turned a popular project into an entire series. In this review article, I'll be covering a number of new releases that are second editions, sequels, and series. Virtually all of these decks have predecessors, but now have come out with a shiny new edition or follow-up to the original.

So without any further ado, let's dive into our world of second editions, sequels, series, and surprises! Surprises? Yes, surprises - but I don't want to ruin the surprise, so just keep on reading to find out what lies ahead!

*** SERIES ***

Superfly Spitfire Playing Cards

Estonian cardist and designer Toomas Pintson has produced a number of popular decks under his Gemini Decks label, and the most recent addition is Superfly Spitfire Playing Cards.

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The Superfly Spitfire continues his Pintson's Superfly series, and follows two previous decks: Superfly, and Superfly Stardust. The first deck was inspired by modern streetwear, fashion, and culture, while the second deck offered a modern art and cubist interpretation of the original Superfly deck. This third deck offers a new approach again, along with a new "Spitfire" colour scheme.

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The tuck box introduces us to the three main colours employed by this deck: teal-green, yellow, and black, all on a white backdrop. The main design reminds me here of a finger-print, and brings to mind the idea of making your mark, and leaving your personal imprint on something behind - an idea that should speak to artists and cardists.

The card backs look symmetrical at a glance, but closer scrutiny shows them actually to be a one-way design.

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Another feature of these card backs is something that we don't see all that often in cardistry decks, at least not that obvious as it is here: name branding. The Superfly name is draped vertically across the length of the card, and is used both as an artistic addition, as well as giving the brand added visibility.

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The deliberate name branding also has been applied to the face cards. But the first thing we notice on the faces are the striking colours, which reprise the main colours of the tuck box and card backs, with teal-green, yellow, and black. It's an unusual combination, but I find it refreshing and energetic, and they work surprisingly well together. The teal-green has been used as a substitute for the traditional red, and so is used for the hearts and diamonds.

The most customized treatment of all is reserved for the Ace of Spades, which showcases an oversized Spade pip - brand name edition of course - decked out with Superfly name and style. But all the cards are dressed in this urban streetwear style look.

The court cards have a relatively traditional look in terms of graphic design, but several things make them stand out sharply from a standard deck. First of all, the colour scheme gives them a whole new look. Secondly, the Superfly name is emblazoned very conspicuously on each card. And thirdly, each court card has one pip that picks up the finger-print style design of the card backs - this was a feature of the original Superfly deck and has been brought back with this third title in the series.

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In fact, this finger-print style design is something you'll find on exactly one pip on every single card, including the number cards. This helps ensure that each card has a very customized look.

Once again, name branding has been applied here too, and in small print right in the middle of these customized pips we find it again: Superfly. Whether this is a fly in the ointment or whether it adds to the appeal, I'll leave it to you to decide.

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The two Jokers bring together the deck's signature design in an abstract way, continuing the style of the Jokers from the previous decks but with the new colour scheme, while the two bonus cards are both ad cards.

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The choice of thin-crush USPCC stock leaves little doubt in my mind that this deck was created for cardists first of all. But I find it a very original and fresh design that is equally at home in my hands when doing card magic.

See the official trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq9kniAlzqo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And here's another video trailer from Gemini decks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3VdajgnMZY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Cherry Casino Playing Cards (Reno Red)

Since the debut of an aqua coloured Cherry deck in 2015, the Cherry Casino series of decks has proven extremely popular with magicians, cardists, and collectors.

Now there's a new family member in the series: Cherry Casino Playing Cards (Reno Red).

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The Cherry Casino decks have a retro feel, and have made quite a hit in the world of magic and cardistry, and version 3 of this deck has appeared in several colours already.

The recent "Tahoe Blue" entry in this series is one of my favourite decks in recent times; it's so practical for card magic and playing card games, while also adding an immediate touch of style and class courtesy of the bold metallic ink that is used for the signature "tahoe blue" colour on the tuck case, and all the maroon colours that substitute for the traditional garish red.

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Like the Tahoe Blue deck, the tuck box of the Reno Red deck immediately impresses, because the familiar metallic maroon/red of the cherries has now been applied to the entire box. Minimalism taken to an extreme can become a grand thing, and that's precisely the case here!

Besides the white of the signature label and the small print elsewhere on the tuck box, it's just all red, baby! The ad copy describes it as "pearlescent red", and wants it to get our blood pumping as we get these trusted cards into our hands: "Your heart beats faster as the blood rushes throughout your body ... You begin to handle the snappy, crushed card stock, and your fingers are the first to realize - these are the Reno Red Cherry Casino Playing Cards. It is your trusted tool as you approach the card table ... The pearlescent red of the Reno Red Cherry Casino Playing Cards is symbolic of your lust for greatness."

Once we set the cards free from the box, and check out the card backs, we aren't disappointed. The white borders and pattern all help emphasize the hypnotic effect of the pearlescent red, emphasizing its eye-catching look. As with other decks in this series, the idea is to capture something of the old time casino feel, with classic cherry artwork familiar from iconic slot machines.

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The card faces employ a traditional look that we've come to expect from the Cherry Casino series, which ensures that they are ideal for card games or card magic.

As expected, the Ace of Spades makes a statement of style and brand identity, with an oversized pip that reminds us of the Cherry Casino brand. There are two gaff cards - a blank faced card and a double-backer.

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Unlike some of the other decks, however, the red of the Hearts and Diamonds on the card faces doesn't match the pearlescent red of the card backs. I feel that an opportunity was missed here, because it seems a pity to me that the red of the face cards clashes rather than complements the red of the card backs.

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The distinctive Jokers are an exception, however, with their familiar metallic/pearlescent red. These match the card backs beautifully, and only serve to make the rest of the deck seem unexpectedly ... normal.

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With USPCC's thin crushed stock, the cards themselves handle smoothly and softly.

I can see fans of the Cherry Casino series finding a lot to like here, and perhaps I'm alone in wishing that the pearlescent red had been used for all the red on the card faces as well. But on the positive side, it does mean that this is a very practical and familiar looking deck, which makes it a universal fit that will suit almost every occasion.

See the official trailer from Murphy's Magic here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD1EnzArx-Y" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Recommendation

So are any of these decks of playing cards for you? If you're looking for practical playing cards that you can actually use for playing card games, performing card magic, or for card flourishing, you'll almost certainly find something here that fits the bill.

So where can you get the decks featured here? Any reputable magic dealer or online retailer that sells custom playing cards should have these available. If they don't, send them to Murphy's Magic, which is a magic wholesaler that has an enormous range of products they sell in bulk quantities to dealers and retailers around the world, including a massive amount of custom playing cards. They have a huge network of contacts in the retail industry, and all of these decks should be available from any retailer that sources their decks from Murphy's Magic.

With good looks and good handling, these decks continue the solid contribution that Murphy's Magic is making to the custom playing card market, by supplying quality decks like these to our favourite retail outlets.

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The decks reviewed above are all available at your favourite Murphy’s Magic retailer. Want to learn more? Murphy's Magic: http://www.murphysmagic.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here are direct links for all the decks featured in this review:
- Second Editions: Casual (V2), Mechanics Optricks (Red Edition)
- Sequels: NEO:WAVE Classic, VeneXiana Dark (Revealed Edition)
- Series: Superfly Spitfire, Cherry Casino (Reno Red)
- Surprises: Sakura (Spring Edition), Bicycle Censored
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BoardGameGeek reviewer EndersGame => Playing Card Reviews <=>Magic Reviews <=> Board Game Reviews <=

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