SUPER HERO THEORY "Lother, know first who you are, then the illusion will seem more real"

- Mandrake the Magician

Besides my love of all that is Disney, comic books have been a huge influence on my magic. Comic books (or graphic novels if you prefer) on the whole are about telling a story in both words and pictures just like in much magic. You see I find inspiration in the archetypes in super heroes and super villains. There are many parallels between magicians and super heroes. In fact, the first super powered costumed crime fighter was not Superman as one might think. It was Mandrake the Magician. Wearing a traditional stage Magician's black silk tails coat and top hat, Mandrake used his powers against evil four years before the arrival of the Man of Steel. (Man, I’m such a geek.)

Even if you’re not an avid comic book reader, I’m sure you’ve either seen one of the many comic book hero movies or seen a comic based TV show. Superheroes, like magicians, have powers or abilities that make them special and unique. The appeal of super heroes and super villains lies in their god-like ability to intervene in the lives of mere mortals, making vast forces beyond our control somehow more malleable as agents of the imagination. I believe, in a very real sense, magicians ARE super heroes. Now that you’re done laughing, if I can get your attention for a second, I might be able to prove my point and, in doing so, give you some insight in how, by choosing the effects that you do, their presentation and the connections with each other and your character, an audience perceives who you are on stage.

As you may know, superheroes, for the most part, are defined by their gifts, even named after them. For example, if I say the Flash or Superman, you know exactly what powers they have. The Flash is the fastest man alive and Superman, as we know, is super strong and can fly. Their personas and characters are developed around these abilities. The Flash as his name suggests, is a fast talker and does even the most basic of tasks with blinding speed. When people think about these characters, their powers and are most likely the first thing that comes to mind. If one mentions Superman, you might think of him flying or using x-ray vision. Talk about Spiderman, and you may think of him climbing walls or shooting spider-webs from his wrists. When you encounter them on screen or in the pages of a comic book, you know what they are about, you know what they’re capable of, and to some extent, you know what

they are going to do. Audiences vicariously experience the challenges and achievements of all these admired protagonists, usually ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances--even when equipped with unique powers or special equipment and skills--and the underlying challenge to navigate through obstacles provides a universal point of reference

So how confusing would it be to see Batman having x-ray vision, or to see Spiderman being able to talk to sea creatures? It’s the same kind of confusion your audience feels when they see a variety of different types of tricks that have no relation to each other or to you whatsoever. Your audience should come away from your performance with an idea of who you are and what you are capable of with your magic. If after you establish yourself as a funny card trickster I think it wise not to follow with your blindfold Q&A act. It destroys everything you have set up about yourself up to that point. Making something that could be stunning, completely unbelievable and unmotivated.

There are many times when I see performances that seem to have no theme or connection between the materials presented. Literally, I’ve seen people start off with coins across, then do ten minutes of mentalism and finish with a straight jacket escape. What’s up with that? What’s the possible connection between these feats? You might reply, “Well I am a magician and I can do anything!” but, what does that say about you? Even Superman had a weakness. Does the audience leave your act thinking they’ve seen a master of all trades, or is the material your doing canceling each other out? (I believe the latter.) Withstanding all of that what does any of these effects have to do with you? Will they even remember who you are? Do they really care about the person they see on stage or at their table doing every trick in the book? Don’t think just because you can perform an effect that is clever that in turn makes you clever. You are just the puppeteer in that case; yes that’s a talent, but the people you perform for learn nothing about the guy pulling the strings and I don’t think that what you really want.

When I decided that I was going to do card magic exclusively about 10 years ago, I felt that there should be rules about what I could do that I would rigidly adhere to. I decided that my character would have no real super human powers. Instead, he would just know more about cards than anyone really should. Not that it would be all skill, but that he would have a higher awareness as well as skill with playing cards because of being around them all the time. I thought of this as kind of being like Batman, who doesn’t have any real powers, just an incredible level of all human skills. The way I saw it, I could find a card and make

it rise to the top, but I could not make it turn blue or rip it up and put it back together again. There had to be limits to my gifts, even with cards. By doing this, I knew that I gave my audience not just a show, but also a character that they could relate to and care about. There was depth to his personality because he couldn’t do everything, but what he could do was more amazing because of this. .

If you don’t have a defined idea of your character, your audiences are confused as to who you are and what you’re about. In fact, I strongly believe that they will dismiss a disjointed act as “some guy who did some tricks.” Your audience not only didn’t connect with you, but the impact of the magic has suffered by not having a believable character behind it. Your “magician” is a person with super human powers of some kind. It’s your secret identity and the types of routines you do produce that character. Your “powers” define you, so choose them wisely. The strongest acts in magic are thoughts that are based on a strong character. These magicians, like superheroes, are easy to remember by their powers. In fact, I think of some acts being like certain comic book heroes. Just like famous comic book heroes, the notable people in our field have made strong choices both in effect and presentations in their work that makes them memorable.

Finally I have some questions I would like you to think about and answer. They may open up a new way to think about your magic. In answering these questions, think about your responses and how you might learn from them.

Thanks for saying with me this far. I hope some of it helps. Now go and use your new powers only for good!

What Kind of Comic Book Hero Am I?

1. Looking at the material you perform now, what super hero are you most like and why? **

2. Why do you choose these tricks, rather than others to perform?

3. What powers (effects) do you avoid and why?

4. What does your material say about you? 5. What magicians do you admire the most? What types of super powers do they have?

** If you can’t find one that fits you, create one. Give it a name. Define its powers.

Villains:

In our talk about what kind of superhero you might be I think it’s important to find out what kind of super powered person you don’t want to be. These are the traps that all of us could fall into if we use our powers for evil (OK maybe not evil but not good to the advancement of the art).

Hackman

Origin:

Lack of creatively, finding the easiest way out,

Powers and Weapons:

You have seen Hackman’s act before, just most likely done by someone else. Not a word he says in original to him or tells us anything about who he really is as a person.

Weakness:

Can be defeated, not only by creating new routines around standard tricks, but also by seeking out tricks and routines in magic’s past that are not done by anyone anymore and performing them. Taking the time to write new lines and bits is another way to stop Hackman’s advance.

Capt Clone

Origin:

Lack of creatively, finding the easiest way out, thinking it’s what everyone does.

Powers and Weapons:

Has the ability to absorb any other magician act within reach with neither remorse nor thought of consequence.

Weakness:

Don’t use the shows you see as places to shop for material. By reading more and having more tools to use, you can make you ability to create stronger.

Mr Invisible

Origin:

Lack of personality, no real connection with the audience.

Powers and Weapons:

A magician that even after being in the room or on stage for what could be hours yet after the show no one can remember the performer’s name or what effects he/she has performed.

Weakness:

Finding ways to really connect to the audience by having them remember you and the effect you do will stop you from becoming Mr. Invisible.