In this episode we take a good look at part of my Black Friday Playing Cards haul, including
looks at a couple of decks specifically released for the post-thanksgiving sale rush.
We also announce the winner of the voyager playing cards.
All that, coming up next…
[Music]
Legend has is it that the term ‘black friday’ got its name because it marked the day most
retailers yearly sales quotas went from a deficit, or in the red, to being profitable,
or in the black.
Now a days we just know it as a crazy day where people line up outside stores in the
middle of the night and trample each other over TVs.
I prefer to participate from home whenever possible--which is easy enough to say when
you’re shopping for playing cards and not TVs.
Anway, that’s brings us to right now.
Several playing card retailers and manufacturers announced several new releases in the lead
up to Black Friday and well, I couldn’t resist.
(Hey babe, you mind going in the other room for a second?)
So let’s see, I managed to snag the David Blaine’s Gold Split Spades, and the Dan
& Dave/Anyone Worldwide Smoke collaboration.
Both of those will be getting the longer review treatment soon.
But in this episode we are going to look at three decks that on the surface fit the all
in black vibe quite well; the Black Hudsons from Theory 11, the black Wheel deck from
DKNG and Art of Play, and the latest black-boxed Red Hellions from ellusionist.
Welcome back to the go-to channel for the playing cards enthusiasts, I’m the Gentleman
Wake.
If you are new here we hope the episode we have in store for you will compel you to like
and subscribe.
If you are already a subscriber then make sure to hit that notification bell be alerted
every time I post a new video.
Before we get into it, you definitely want to stick around to the end of the video for
your chance to win a black wheel deck directly from me.
Details for that giveaway later.
One more thing, comment below and let me know what product, playing cards related or not,
you’d love to see get the gentleman wake review treatment.
First up, these are the black Hudsons from theory 11.
This black colorway version of the deck, the second iteration of the Hudsons, was specifically
created for the Black Friday event release.
The deck comes in an attractive charcoal gray tuck box with gold foil and glossy black accents.
The design of the tuck box is a stand out feature of most Theory 11 releases and this
one is no different.
I reviewed the original green version of the Hudson deck in detail on this channel a few
months ago and a lot of what I said in that review applies here.
Just astonishing detail when it comes to tuck case and back design.
It’s one of my more recent favorites from Theory 11 but if you’ve ever watched a Theory
11 deck review from yours truly you know there’s one area where I just wish they’d go a bit
further.
The back design of the black hudsons again features some really nice architecturally
inspired artwork this time in thin black linework rather than the mint green of the previous
edition.
Truth be told, never was there a more perfect time to make a deck duo-tone than this.
A black field with gold metallic ink against a white poker border was the way to go here.
And AGAIN it’s a missed opportunity.
We know they’ve done it before--as evidence with the citizens deck--it’s just an odd
non-choice.
The faces are standard, with recolored metallic ink standard bicycle courts.
The ace is of course nicely embellished.
The deck handles great as expected from the USPCC.
It’s modern cut, air-cushioned finish.
This version has slightly thicker stock than the green version did which could help durability.
Great for gameplay and magic, but a bit non-descript in the monochromatic black and white motiff
for cardistry.
The black hudson deck is still available at Theory11.com.
Coming up a look at the DKNG black wheel deck, don’t go anywhere.
Welcome back, let’s take a look at another black friday recolored release, this time
from Art of play.
I previously reviewed the entire line of Wheel playing cards, red, blue and green, on this
channel and it’s safe to say that I really liked the DKNG designed modernized interpretation
of the standard bicycle deck.
So I was quickly intrigued by the black on black treatment of the tuck case of this new
version.
The black wheel playing cards come in a matte black premium quality paper stock tuck case
embossed with black glossy ink.
The design is identical to previous Wheel decks down to the sugar skulls and shared-wheel
bicycle back design.
The black on black is a sleek combination that is definitely subtle, almost stealthy,
from a distance looking like a plain black box.
The only spot of color comes from the red and gold foil seal that holds the tuck flap
in place.
Pulling the deck from the box reveals the black colorway back design, again identical
to previous versions with exception of color.
The backs are subtly one-way thanks in part to the four pips in each corner.
These are completely custom cards.
Pips, indices, placement and courts are all magnificently done.
This black version also uses the two shades of gold metallic ink found in the blue and
red editions.
The pips are two toned and uniquely shaped and placed.
The same brilliantly designed borderless court cards of previous versions can be found here
as well, They are all reminiscent of bicycle standard courts down to poses and implements
but obviously stylistically modernized.
This deck feels amazing.
Thin crushed stock, traditionally cut, air-cushioned finish.
The high contrast thick black lines make for unique fans and flourishes in a way that the
Hudson decks faint thin linework did not.
Included in the deck are a pair of metallic skull jokers, a art of play/dkng ad card,
and an additional card meant to act as a replacement for another should a card in the deck be lost
or damaged.
All in all a great deck for just about any purpose with a fantastically sleek looking
tuck case.
All four colorways of the Wheel deck, including the black one, are still available for purchase
at Artofplay.com.
But, if you want a chance to win a black wheel deck directly from me be sure to stay tuned
for details.
Coming up my first look at a deck by Daniel Madison, the relatively new red Hellions by
Ellusionist.
Stay right here.
Daniel Madison has amassed quite a following, both online and in real life.
With his brash and bold sensibilities and his bad boy flair, there’s a lot of fertile
ground to choose from when it comes to playing card deck design.
Perhaps some of Daniel’s most well known decks, designed in collaboration with Oban
Jones, when Daniel was still working at ellusionist, was his confessions series.
The Martyrs, Sinners, Saints and Hellions decks.
The Hellions has proven to be the most popular, and this red version represents the fourth
iteration of the deck.
The tuck box for the Hellions deck include several atypical choices.
For one thing the box is printed with the tuck flap seemingly upside down, on the bottom
of the deck.
Additionally what is traditionally considered the front of the tuck is in this case the
back.
The tuck case is primarily black with the title in red embossed lettering.
There’s a blind embossed serpent’s or devil’s tail that makes up the principle
design element on the tuck case.
The sides are white and feature embossed type that reads “Don’t play cards with the
devil.”
The card back design is represented on the back with some minor variations for instance
the bottom reads “Open to forfeit all” and there are a couple of symbols that read
Daniel Madison and another that says Oban Jones on it.
The entire design here on the tuck box is embossed.
The card backs feature a slew of intricate details.
For one thing there are devils in each of the four corners.
They hold tridents at a downward 45 degree angle, stabbing through the Madison logo.
Which here takes on an iron wrought appearance.
There are flames spewing up behind the logo.
Several arcane symbols adorn the center of the card backs promising a connection to the
occult.
There is of course the double x’s in the center.
To each side, there are small circles depicting pyramids and triangles with the copy “As
above so below” on one symbol and Madison’s personal mantra ‘Magic is dead’ on another.
The back design is rife with complex detail and Madison himself goes into the inspirations
for some of the choices--citing inspiration from David Blaine’s gatorbacks.
You can watch the video linked above to hear it from the horses mouth so-to-speak.
He also talks about the inclusion of some of his friends on the deck’s court cards,
we’ll see those in a second.
Included with the deck are two jokers.
One features a faustian contract for relinquishing one’s soul to a ‘soul taker’.
Madison’s autograph below identifies him as the soul taker which leaves a blank space
for his victim.
The second joker, a black crow’s feather sitting in an ink well filled with a red liquid--that
from context we imagine to be blood--cause after all how else would you sign a contact
to sell your soul?
There are two gaff cards included as well, a double backer which features the unmodified
back design on one side and on the other an image of the devil’s clawed hand on the
other.
Incidentally the hand is covered in tattoos that make it look very much like Madison’s
hand.
Also included is a ace of clubs three of hearts split card designed specifically for a Tony
Chung effect.
The pips are relatively standard although the pips for the diamonds and hearts are outlined
in black.
The size of the spot cards pips and their placement is also slightly shrunken from what
we’ve come to know as standard.
The power ace in this deck is the Ace of Diamonds, which includes a nicely illustrated image
of another devil and echoes the copy found on the sides of the tuck box.
The court cards are unique.
Most appear strongly rooted in bicycle standard courts which some modifications.
For one thing roughly half of the court cards feature standard figures with closed eyes--as
if dead or dying.
The other half feature some friends and colleagues of Madison’s.
Mark Carl Bruce is the King of Clubs.
The Deck’s designer, Oban Jones, is the King of Spades--there’s also a hidden 9
of spades reveal on the rain guard of the sword.
Oban Jones’ wife is the queen of spades.
Rapper Sage Francis appears on the king of hearts--it’s also a one way design, featuring
the typical sword in one orientation and a microphone and red devil horns in the other.
Madison himself is immortalized on the king of diamonds.
Also one way, he has a card reveal--the 9 of clubs--on one outstretched hand.
The deck is printed by Cartamundi on the touted b9 true linen finish.
The same stock and finish as seen on the Copag310’s I previously reviewed in depth on this channel.
That means this deck is a little thicker than your standard bicycle deck but it handles
nicely regardless.
The deck is modern cut but faros well in both directions.
The cards flourish and fan nicely and are perfect for gameplay and magic of course.
The red Hellions deck is still available at Ellusionist.com, as are the other decks in
Madison’s confessions series.
Before we go, congrats to orangemoney52 for winning the voyager playing cards giveaway,
contact me via instagram to claim your prize.
For a chance to win a black wheel deck here’s what you have to do.
1.
Like this video.
2.
Be a subscriber to this channel.
And 3.
In a comment below tell me which is your favorite black-themed deck in your collection.
Also don’t forget to comment below as to which product--deck related or not--you’d
like to see me review.
Special thanks to my Patreon producers for their contributions.
And thank you for watching!
Please be sure to click subscribe if you haven’t already and click down here to watch another
video.
Coming next time, the National Playing Card Collection Day decks.
I’ve been the Gentleman Wake, see you again soon.