For a decade now, King Brand has been a favorite trick of ours. Visually dynamic, the effect couldn’t be simpler: The deck is removed and only four cards are presented, the two red Kings and and the two black fours. With one pair sandwiched between the other, they visually trade places under impossible conditions. The plot builds in three phases with the final transposition happening in a spectator’s own hand.
King Brand was originally published in Issue One of The Penumbra magazine in 2002.
In honor of the 10 year anniversary of The Penumbra magazine, we’re privileged to present this effect published in the first issue.