covers!

[leelastarsky]

Okay, I was on my way to bed and thought I'd check my mail before shutting down the comp and I find out we have COVERS!!!

And you lot are busily disecting them and I really have to go to bed and will have to wait till the morning before joining in and reading what you all think of them.  But I wanted to get down my initial, raw response to them before I hear what the rest of you thought.

The US one... I quite like it, though it isn't as dynamic as I think I expected/hoped it would be.  And the colour surprised me.  I guess I was expecting something dark.  This looks to me like Voldie meets his demise in the Love room in the DoM.

The UK one... first up - I just want to say - PURPLE AND BLACK! *high fives self*  

Ok, I've got that out... the front looked like a messy cartoon at the small size.  And when I finally got the large version to load...what leapt out at me?  Ron.  Ron looking terrified, scared, like he's about to wet his pants.  It's bad enough getting that Ron on the movie posters, do they have to perpetuate the myth in canon?!  Is it now canon that Ron is a blibbering wimp?  I am slightly molified by the fact that Hermione looks equally shit-scared, and Harry looks lovely.  All determined and strong.  But my poor Ron!  :~(  He didn't even get the sword!  Dobby has it!

Also, the other thing to leap out at me (once I could see past blibbering!Ron) was the 'Stargate' behind them or that they seem to be falling into.  Interesting.  And 'Goblin Gold'?  I want to spend some time studying it all further!  But I really have to sleep now!  

ETA-  *giggling* not only is there a Stargate on the front cover, but what looks like the Enterprise on the back!  
Okay, I really don't mean to mock; I know it's just a cloud, but the crossover fangirl in me couldn't help but get a chuckle out of that.  All it needs is a couple of phaser beams shooting into the Forbidden Forest (which looks like it's on fire, I might add)...  "We come in peace.  Shoot to kill!"  LOL!  It's an ending I would never have guessed!

Comments

[chickadilly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not crazy about Ron's expression either.

I like your cover version better than all of these, btw! :)

[lillywmw.livejournal.com]

What I told you?Your cover is far away best than all of these!If you had acess to the story you could make wonders!Yes,it seems they are falling in to a hole and I got the feeling that Ron and Hermione were in this place before(because they are wearing rich robes) and Harry came after with the elf!Could it be in the chambers of secrets?And don´t you think the artist used Mickey Rooney as model for Ron and Hugh Grant for Harry?Poor Ron!But better think he´ll get some adventure and won´t die in the begining, and I hope neather in the end of the book!

[melbonfix.livejournal.com]

Well... about the English cover: Not only our badly trated Ron, but also Harry and Hermione look to be really terrified by something or someone, and I agree they are falling down somewhere..
About the American one: I think there is a graveyard in the background...

mmmm... both of them are really interesting, not so dark as I supposed but intriguing!

[chalicushu.livejournal.com]

Oh my God! These are THE covers? The right covers? Maybe it's a 1st april joke?
I didn't like them a bit. I'll speak for myself but I sure wouldn't have stopped near book like DH in my childhood. The child edition cover is... may I say 'flashy'? 'Tastless'? 'Scary-in-a-funny-way'?
The adult UK edition is much better but still... Nothing really gaze-stopping there and it's very adult-like. I got one question: if this book is an adult edition why so big letters? The book is heavy (you can't take it to read in the underground or whatever, the book is very thick (no way it can go in a lady bag ;) ) It seems to me this ridiculous size is due to some marketing strategy to get money because a lot of paper and paint has been used.
The US edition is the best from the three (as far as mediocre covers could do). I know, we in Russia will have only one kind of cover and it would be this.

I wish we all could have your cover, Leela. Like I sad earlier, the artists in Bloomsbury are just doing their work while you truly understand and love the characters.

P.S. Can anyone please enlighten me: this Arthur Levine guy said it's a first wrap-around cover. And what about HBP? I had an impression it WAS a wrap-around cover, was it not?

[hildigunnur.livejournal.com]

There's also one thing. Mary GrandPré is the only illustrator who gets to read the manuscript, if I recall correctly. I don't think the illustrator for the UK cover gets to read the manuscript, just illustrates a scene described to him. I think also the terrified looks on Ron and Hermione are emphasized by the fact that Harry looks so much older, with the manly chin and all.

[adri278.livejournal.com]

I was definitely expecting the US cover to be darker. I had black in mind. The yellow was very unexpected. I do like that it's Harry and Voldemort on the cover though. It looks like they are surrounded by people. Death eaters or the Order? And the children's UK version is rather puzzling. I wonder where they are. Thanks for pointing out Dobby though! I wonder why he's even there??

[vejgurl.livejournal.com]

He didn't even get the sword! Dobby has it!

Is that Dobby or is it Kreacher? Hmmm.....

[suspicious.livejournal.com]

To be honest, on the UK cover, it looks like Hermione is taking it from the back, with how rosy-cheeked and open-mouthed she is. With the US edition, I'm sad that it's only Harry on the cover. At least it's not like the UK one, though...

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[o0godsgrace0o.livejournal.com]

I'm pissed I want the British one. The US cover is kinda boring. :(

[belovedranger.livejournal.com]

I was really surprised by how action packed & scared it looks on the Uk cover. Did you see what looks like a baby dragon on a grey helmet under Harry's arm? Bizarre! exciting!

[sue-parsons.livejournal.com]

Not an HP fan, but I have to say the covers are awful. Echoing everyone else - why don't they hire YOU if they want it done right???

[tattooedsiren.livejournal.com]

I've just seen it. I am quite intrigued by the cover. I love their clothes. They are all looking a bit battered and bruised - which is interesting. As for their facial expressions - I have to say it didnt jump out at me as much as it did for you. But without knowing the contents of the book or that scene its too soon to judge - maybe there is a reason for the wimpy!Ron!expression...

I like it.

[lunafox.livejournal.com]

I was wondering, I can't seem to find the cover art anywhere, could someone post up the link to me, so I can see them too? Please? With Sirius, Severus and chocolate sauce on top? ;D

[leelastarsky.livejournal.com]

The Leaky and Mugglenet both have them posted -
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#article:9653
http://www.mugglenet.com/
:~)

[lunafox.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for posting those up. I'm ashamed I didn't think of it myself...cold meds must be messing with my head. I happen to agree, that those covers don't do a thing for me. I'll likely just get the adult UK version :D

[alicia-mb.livejournal.com]

Oh...no....the UK version...

Not my Ron...not my Hermione...!!!
Why does it remind me of some sort of cheezy cartoon comic book from the 80s?? And, is that house elf about to knock off Harry's head with that sword? Looks a little menacing...ergh, death by house elf...
Yet, all that aside...I really don't like the characterisation...Why, oh why does Ron have to wibble? What is up with Hermione's lips, also? Octopus lips?? And why does Harry look like a bad caricature of a male model? It's the big chin...and the way his arms are positioned in that '80's dance moves' way...hell, the whole cover is 80s.

But anyway, the US version is somewhat better (with the exception of weird Frog/Alien Voldemort) (I NEVER thought I'd be saying that I like the US version better, but there you go) But seeing as us Aussies get the UK version, we're stuck with the weird treasure island cover...UNLESS...weren't there 3 covers last time *hopeful* There was Harry and Dumby over the pensieve, and Harry and Dumby with the fire (we got that one) and Harry and Dumby following Odgen to the house of Voldemorts rellies (I liked that one best). SO maybe, there's another cover *really hopefuly now*

OH - And is that Hogwarts on the back? Because it kind of looks like an ice castle from sleeping beauty or something, I mean, the thorny forbidden forest is adding to that effect!

[theoldcatlady.livejournal.com]

Bright orange?

Ergh. Pyuck.

[mariahgem.livejournal.com]

OMG That is the best! I can see what you mean about the Enterprise! It's almost like the artist decided to throw that in for grins. LOL!!

I agree with the Ron thing too. He should be radiating hottness, not peeing his pants! I hope this book has the smart, logical Ron that we caught a glimpse of in Philosopher's Stone!

[burningpumpkins.livejournal.com]

Ron's PoA face was the first thing that struck me too! I was absolutely outraged -- Hermione's face may be scared, but obviously not as pathetic's as Ron's. I agree with the others -- you should definitely mail a copy of your version of the cover to JKR. She would appreciate it.

[bennmorland.livejournal.com]

STAAAAR TREKKIN' ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

(only goin' forward 'cause we can't find "reverse")