EDICOLA NEWS: THE REVIEWS nr. 215
album: HARRY POTTER stickers handbook (Panini)
stickers: 192 (1-180, Y1-Y12)
starter pack: album + 5 packets + 3 card XXL 4,90€
box: 24 packets (5 stickers per packet) 0,90€ each
multiset: 5 packets 4,50€
Tin Box – orange, red or white – 11,90€ (15 packets + 2 cards XXL)
Exclusivity Box 34,90€ (hard cover album + 20 packets + 2 cards XXL + 1 card Jubilee)
Treasure Box 19,90€ (20 packets + 2 cards XXL)
Another Harry Potter album?!? Why not, we answer. It is perhaps the longest-running and strongest mainstream of those of the new millennium, probably second only to Star Wars, but with the difference that it still has a very active market on stickers and cards. Just the last release of cards a few months ago met with a lot of interest.
Of course, there are no new films, even the images cannot be new, so Panini tries to make the product interesting in the setting of the album and in the contents. Let’s analyze how successful it has been.
The basic idea is precisely to give fans notions on how to become wizards, witches and of course students of Hogwarts. A fairly successful cross between a school guide and the secrets of the films in the series. Among the chapters we therefore find the entrance to Hogwarts, its four houses, the subjects of study and a lot of information almost as if it were really possible to visit the castle. After all, just find the right track, right?
What wizards and witches are you if you don’t know how to cast spells? Ample space is dedicated to this fundamental aspect, which is also the backbone of the entire saga. First the pages with a broad description of this world and then in particular on the Patronus, the powerful defense spell, if you don’t know what we’re talking about, go see the movies!
After a taste of the potions, the final pages of the album are interesting, dedicated not only to wands but also to their magical owners: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Bellatrix, Severus, Ablus, Voldemort and the Elder Wand. For each triple stickers with captions of the powers. Most intriguing part of the album!
If you are not tired of learning yet, last few pages to visit Hogwarts and the central poster for the 12 silk-effect Y stickers. The stickers are certainly the added factor of the album, very beautiful, gold frame for the standard ones, red or black for the special ones, larger than usual, they make their figure, even for the choice of photos. The “glow in the dark” are quite common specials for Panini albums, always interesting.
Attached to the 3-card XXL starter pack, they are not the only extra initiatives to the collection, on the Panini website the tin box and above all two exclusive boxes are also announced: Exclusivity and Treasure Box, with additional material to the collection and finally also the hardcover version. Object that has been missing in Italy for some time, if we do not consider the albums related to football.
Taking into account the current prices of the packets and the quality of the stickers, we do not focus on costs, while instead we must point out, unfortunately and once again, the album paper is absolutely not up to the product. Too bad an interesting job can be ruined by this lack of attention from Panini. A bit like going to a restaurant, eating very well, but finding oneself with dirty dishes and glasses. However delicious the food may be, the main memory will always be negative..
(EN)