J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World Loot Crate “Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts” (Review, Spoilers)

Arriving in a branded box sturdy enough to have saved Harry’s birthday cake from Hagrid’s bottom, the first installment of the J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World Loot Crate is here with scrolls, owls, and a page from The New York Ghost. And unlike Harry’s birthday, this special branded Loot Crate delivers magical goodies six times a year.

Before we take a loot at what’s inside, I’d like to comment on how much Potterlove went into this subscription box. Literally everything, even the packaging tape that reads Muggle Worthy, is part of the Wizarding World experience. Instead of a magazine (the core Loot Crate) or poster (Loot Anime), or postcard (Loot Wear), the Wizarding World Loot Crate announces its contents by way of a sealed scroll. From here, I’m going to detail the enclosures in the proper scroll order.

While core Loot Crate subscribers will also be pleased with their Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them T-shirts, this charcoal gray tee from Bioworld is a particularly spectacular item that presents a page from The New York Ghost. While the news article text is ipsum lorem, the headlines are finely wrought in news fonts that seem to be lifted from the art deco backdrop of the film. It has the effect of making of this shirt not only nerd fashion, but nerd artifact, and will make the wearer a conversation piece.

While I was stunned by the t shirt (or did someone say Stupefy?), my favorite item this month was the Pigwidgeon plush from Quantum Mechanix. Not only is he small enough for little hands, he’s big enough for adult collectors to use as shelf candy, although, due to the soothing softness of this plush, I expect some would side with the kids and pet Pigwidgeon to cope with day to day stress. Also, Pigwidgeon is a real scene-stealer; look at him pose. I expect Harry and Hermione only kept Ron around because of how cool Pigwidgeon was. (Kidding. Full disclosure: Ron may be my favorite H.P. character.)

The next item is one of five Funko Pop Vinyl Figures: either Newt Scamander, Tina Goldstein, the Niffler, Albus Dumbledore, or Jacob Kowalski. We received Newt Scamander, sculpted with egg and wand, which is #2 in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them line of nine Pop vinyls.

I expect to see fans rocking this Quantum Mechanix Bowtruckle Lapel Pin in the future at the Harry Potter parties that are still amazingly popular at libraries and bookstores. When I look at this pin–a fandom accessory–I realize that like Disneymania and Star Trek fandom, Pottermania is here to stay. This pin not only has fine imaging, it’s so well made that I could imagine myself wearing it on a lapel, though it’s so large that it would be more of a lapel-bangle.

This Hedwig/Letter keychain from Bioworld looks so durable that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named might have selected it for a horcrux. It’s also an attractive accessory with silver and gold coloring, as well as faux patina on the Harry Potter letter to give the item a vintage look.

Lastly, we have this marvelous MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America) notebook, which, as it is unlined, was claimed by my Harry Potter-loving daughter as a sketch book.

The first offerings from Loot Crate’s Wizarding World were extremely impressive overall, and I’m excited for the future of this subscription service. I expect that subscribers will probably never get used to this much shock and awe six times a year.  The good news for Pottermaniacs is that the first Wizarding World Loot Crate is still available to order.  The theme for the second Crate hasn’t been announced, but you can be sure that it will be chock full of goodies from J.K. Rowling’a Harry Potter universe. 

Loot Crate sent the review copy.