THE DARK ARTS

A reminiscent peek into the darker corners of the Wizarding World’s media products.

You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters lead off, logically enough, with spreads on horcruxes (horcruces?), dementors, curses, potions, and Hogwarts’ revolving door of Defense Against the Dark Arts faculty following—along with nods to the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore’s Army. Close-ups of Percival Graves/Gellert Grindelwald and the Obscurus fill out a closing section about the first Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film. On each page, concept art (including, notably, an early portrait of He Who Must Not Be Named with a human, rather than ophidian, nose) and film stills mingle with spoiler-laden expository passages. The latter pay scant attention to the original print stories before turning to offer superficial sound bites from some of the actors amid tidbits about sets, makeup, or special effects. A packet of character cards for leading members of the Order, a sticker sheet, and a sparse handful of loosely attached booklets and miniposters add easily lost (and easily missable) extras to the package.

A spoiler-y aide de memoire helpful for keeping the villains straight.