Mantecore is the name of a something rare indeed - a famous white tiger. Animals have always had a
close connection with magic, but it takes a brave magician to include the big cats like lions and
tigers as part of their routine. This deck is a tribute to the famous Las Vegas magician duo
Siegfried and Roy, whose iconic white tiger named Mantecore was one of the big drawcards in their
popular act, until the time he nearly killed Roy in a live performance in 2003.
The mention
of "Save the Tigers" on the tuck box alludes to the dwindling number of tigers as a result of
poaching. Part of the profits from the making of this deck went in support of Panthera's "Save the
Tiger Fund".
The card-backs of this deck feature Mantecore's face against the background of
his stripes, and the overall design shape is inspired somewhat by the classical Bicycle rider-back.
But of course instead of bicycles, these cards feature the beloved tiger Mantecore, who is also
prowling around the Ace of Spades. In fact Mantecore has a position of honour and prominence on all
the Aces! The Joker is another opportunity to showcase the hero of this deck, while the second Joker
has a card reveal that magicians will be able to use. Meanwhile the court cards have been simplified
and enlarged from the classic set, and the result is a younger look, and colour scheme that matches
the rest of the deck. The pips in this deck are also custom, although they don't differ drastically
from a traditional deck.
The quality of the cards themselves are terrific, because this
deck was produced by Legends Playing Card Company, in both their Diamond and their Emerald finishes,
which are extremely durable, even more so than USPCC produced decks. The design is by graphic
designer Edo Huang from Indonesia, who also produced the Nautical deck, and Benjamin Loo from
Singapore also contributed to the production. - BoardGameGeek reviewer EndersGame
Rare Playing Cards with a Rare White Lion
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