EDICOLA NEWS: THE REVIEWS nr. 276
album: Harry Potter Evolution TC (Panini)
cards: 300 (1-300)
starter pack: binder + 3 packets + 3 cards ltd edition 9,90€
box: 18 packets (8 cards per packet) 2,99€ each
We are not. Before even analyzing this collection, we cannot fail to highlight a purely Italian issue: the cost of the sachets. In fact, for some arcane reason, in Italy the cost of the packet is 1 euro more than all the others. All. Both the European Union (France, Spain, Germany, etc.) and also for non-EU countries such as Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Because?!? We would very much like to have an answer, a fact that we had already reported for the collection of cards on wrestling.
The collection can be considered a continuation of the “Welcome to Hoghwarts” released in March 2021, where among other things the cost of the packet was 1.50 for 6 cards .. in addition to the fact that the collection had a total number of cards more congruous, 216. Here we have 300 and the binder is not enough. Missing opportunity considering that even the back of the cards have their own images and should be enjoyed all the way through.
A long preamble that can be summed up in a simple “sin”, the collection deserves in our opinion, certainly HP fans will not be intimidated by the higher cost of cards compared to the rest of Europe, but if you have friends abroad who plan to come and see you, let them make the purchase.
Evolution is a collection that somehow tries to free itself from what has already been seen previously, through the 7 years of the film saga by showing us how the characters have changed, consequently also the actors who impersonate them. For example Hermione, aka Emma Watson, from child to beautiful young woman.
The first long part of the collection is therefore dedicated to many images of our actors / heroes, the novelty is precisely that in the sheet of 9 cards we find only one character, starting from the first film “The Philosopher’s Stone” to the last “The gifts of death”. Which become 18 for Harry Potter (card 10-27). Following Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. After them they always follow with 9 cards each Albus Dumbledore, Lord Voldemort, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy. With fewer cards Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Rubeus Hagrid, Luna Lovegood, Minerva McGonagall, Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius Black and Dobby.
Very interesting is the part that goes from card 124 to card 180 where we find all the others, from secondary characters to professors, to the many magical creatures. Following the second part of the collection, starting (from card 181 to card 225) from certain epic moments in the films, who has never dreamed of having a Quidditch match?!?
The subsequent choice of presenting the families, with 9 cards each, the Weasley and Malfoy families (from card 226 to card 243) was nice, appreciated and spot on. If magic is the protagonist of the saga, the collection cannot fail to be, too, at the end of a very rich series of cards. From card 244 to card 300 we find magical objects and places, with a grand finale at Hogwarts Castle.
The guide to the collection that we find in the binder is really excellent, first a long introduction that proposes the saga and its characters, to follow the very well structured check list where for each card we have a short and effective presentation. Next to the information on the type of collectible card.
In fact, if Harry Potter saved himself from Voldemort, he could not do the same with the “parallel” fever. The new fashion on which the main publishers (Panini and Topps) have thrown themselves, if they have done so, it is certainly because a part of the collectors goes after it. To us, old comic book collectors, it reminds us so much of the past fashion of variant covers that, at least in Italy, in the 90s they risked blowing up the market. Advise? The parallels are trivially just cards of different colors, but with the same subjects on the card, so if you find them well, if not so patience, you will still have the complete collection. Then, let’s be clear, everyone is free to spend their money as they see fit.
It is a valid collection, also for the care with which it was prepared, having the image on the back of the card, different from each other, is a not insignificant added value, often not seen. In our humble opinion the total number of cards could be limited, at least to 270 so as to be able to contain them all in the binder, being able to look at both the front and the back (267 actually, because there would also be limited ones, at the moment 3).
The heart pushes us to buy many packets and create the conditions for exchanges for our Association with many fans, the collection deserves it. The head instead tells us to go further, because that cost so unfavorable for us Italians compared to all other countries (remembering that the product is “made in Italy”) we cannot accept it and the only thing that Panini can understand is a negative data on sales. Will our gesture be of no use? By the way, done reluctantly? Probable, but it is the only “weapon” in our possession and we use it.
(EN)