I have been a subscriber to Loot Crate for close to two years, I believe. A friend had introduced me to the service and I thought it would be a fun way to spice up the two beauty boxes I was receiving every month at the time. While I have, for the most part, been pleased with the company and many of the items I’ve had delivered to me- I think my love affair with Loot Crate has finally started to wane. The most recent boxes I’ve received haven’t been awful by any means- but I just don’t find myself getting excited for their arrival the way I do with my POPSUGAR ‘Must Have’ Box, for example.

Not only that, but Loot Crate’s marketing and promotion has gone a bit off the rails. Since subscribing, I am bombarded on a daily basis with e-mails from the service advertising their upgrade option and the other themed boxes they have available (Loot Anime, Loot Gaming, etc.)– and even the monthly mini-magazine is filled with considerably less content and more advertisements lately- which has become a bit redundant and boring to me.

May’s box, with the theme “POWER” has the distinction of not only being one of my least-favorite boxes I’ve received to date- but also my last one with the service, as I unsubscribed shortly after it’s arrival at my door.

Let’s take a look inside:

Up first were the usual items, the monthly collector’s pin and mini-magazine. Inside this month’s “POWER” edition were the usual item breakdowns and fan-submitted photos, a history of the different variations/versions of The Incredible Hulk, an interview with ‘Warcraft’ star Robert Kazinsky, a chocolate muffin mix inspired by Thanos, and a Q&A with Fatshark CEO Martin Wahlund among advertisements and a couple of games/puzzles.

I was admittedly not that enthusiastic about this month’s theme, so the mini-magazine didn’t quite hold my attention like past issues that were more centered around the themes of villains or horror stuff.

I’ve received Q Figurines from QMx in the past- and they’ve always been really detailed and well-made. I know it’s hard to tell by the photo (100% my bad) but this Hulk figurine lives up to their high standards. It’s pretty cute- and although I’m a big Marvel fan- I think I’m going to be gifting this one to a friend of mine who is more into Bruce/The Hulk than I am (I’m more into Captain America, personally) since I know they’d appreciate it and find a nice home for it!

The second Marvel item in this month’s crate (and the funniest) was this Infinity Gauntlet oven mitt by ICUP. Designed to withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees, I thought this item was pretty clever and unique- and definitely not something I would have respected.

Although I do my fair share of cooking and baking, I would hate to risk ruining this glove by accident- so I think I’ll keep it in my kitchen as a backup. Just in case.

I don’t know a thing about Dragon Ball Z. Not a thing. For the longest time, I thought it was a spin-off of the Pokemon games (I’m still not entirely sure it’s not) but this dragon key chain thing from Surreal Entertainment– once the hard plastic chain part was removed- has since made a beloved toy for my dog to play fetch with. I think that means my dog is now officially a bigger Dragon Ball Z fan than I will ever be?

Finally, the last item in May’s Loot Crate was their monthly t-shirt. Although I haven’t played ‘Warcraft’ in a very long time (those were dark days, my friends. Dark days.) I actually really like the length and the softness of this cotton tee- and the design on the front of it is subtle enough where I wouldn’t be mortified wearing it out in public (Loot Crate has had some hideous t-shirts in the past, for clarification.)

Overall, I wasn’t really overjoyed with May’s Loot Crate. While the shirt was nice and the oven mitt was a funny touch- nothing in the collection of items I received really jumped out at me or made me want to rave about the box at length.

I would say I’ve had a good run with Loot Crate- and I may re-subscribe in the future someday- but for now, I think we need a break from each other. Just until they re-find their groove and get back to focusing on quality- not quantity.

xx

Next up on my list of monthly subscription services is my 2nd favorite of the bunch- Loot Crate! April’s collection of items, all based around the theme of ‘QUEST’, arrived at my door a few days after my GlossyBox turned up. With only my POPSUGAR ‘Must-Have’ box still somewhere in the mail, it gave me plenty of time to thoroughly review this one for the blog!

When I think of ‘QUEST’, the first thing that (unfortunately) comes to mind is staying up all hours of the night in my early twenties and playing ‘World of Warcraft’ with my friends as we tried to level our characters up while staying fueled on nothing but Gatorade and Domino’s Cheesy Bread. It was a dark time, indeed- but completing those quests was serious business.

I had sort of expected something WoW-related in this month’s crate- but sure enough- I was pretty surprised by what I received.

Let’s take a look inside!

First up are the usual suspects in every month’s Loot Crate- the mini magazine and collector’s pin. This month’s edition included the standard breakdown of items included in the box and some featured fan photos- but April’s issue did not have any Q&As, interviews, or games/puzzles. Instead, the magazine was chock-full of advertisements for some of Loot Crate’s other subscription options, the beginning of a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ story that could be continued online- and a couple of random (non-alcoholic) drink recipes inspired by mystical quests throughout gaming history.

I have to say it, and not to be completely and unnecessarily picky- but the non-stops ads were a bit much. Coupled with the multiple daily e-mails I get from the company for their other services/offers- I’m starting to feel a little overwhelmed by it.

The first (and my favorite) item in April’s Loot Crate was this ‘Labyrinth’ t-shirt from Ripple Junction. I’m loving the colors and how soft the fabric of this shirt feels- and of course you can never have enough David Bowie in your wardrobe. I thought this was a fitting and lovely tribute to a talented man, a classic movie, and the ‘QUEST’ theme for this month’s box.

The ‘Labyrinth’ t-shirt wasn’t the only apparel item I received this month. Hyp Hosiery also threw in this pair of Harry Potter socks featuring a print of each of Voldemort’s Horcruxes on them. It’s funny, right before I opened this month’s crate- I was talking about how much I wanted to go to the new ‘Wizarding World of Harry Potter’- and if this isn’t a sign I should book that trip, I don’t know what is!

Perhaps the most bizarre item I’ve ever received in a Loot Crate, ever- I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this plastic Vikings drinking horn from Chronicle Collectibles. Unique? Definitely. Practical? Not as much. As funny as it would be to roll up to my next house party with this in tow- I think I’m going to be giving this to a friend of mine who I know will enjoy it way more than I ever could.

The same friend who will be getting the Vikings drink horn will also be gifted with this silicone 20-sided die shaped ice mold to add to whatever drinks they plan on using the cup for. Although the exterior of this mold doesn’t really reflect it- the photos inside the mini-mag show that the ice is supposed to come out pretty neat looking. Maybe I’ll try it out to see for myself!

And finally, April’s Loot Crate included this ‘Uncharted 4′ mini-poster from Playstation that I’ll be gifting to a gamer friend of mine who is also a huge Nathan Drake fan- although I gotta’ say the quote on this one is pretty badass. I really like that and will probably use it as a personal mantra someday in the future!

All in all, while I really liked the shirt and the socks in this month’s crate- April’s box was a bit underwhelming to me.  It wasn’t the worst assortment of items I’ve ever received since I first started subscribing to the service- but it definitely wasn’t the best, either. I’m not entirely sure the ‘QUEST’ theme was represented all that well here.

Yesterday, it was revealed that May’s theme would be ‘POWER’- so I’m curious to see what Loot Crate includes in the box to really implement that idea.

‘Til next time!

xx

With this week marking the release of the highly-anticipated ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice’ movie (spoiler alert: Wonder Woman is the only one who matters)– it seemed appropriate that Loot Crate’s theme for the month of March would be “VERSUS”, especially since the theme can span across so many other famous feuds throughout movies, television, comics and gaming.

This month’s Loot Crate was the last of my usual three subscription services that I receive to arrive at my door, and I thought it was a nice way to round out the list!

One of the feuds predominantly featured in March’s “VERSUS” theme was ‘Alien Vs. Predator’ (such a guilty pleasure of mine.) Not only did the box come equipped with an AVP figurine- which I’ll get to shortly- but the monthly collector’s pin also celebrated the feud. Although I don’t typically hang onto the pins every month, I think this is one I’ll keep for myself. It’s kinda’ adorable!

March’s monthly mini-magazine was chock-full of extras- including a Spock version of ‘Where’s Waldo?’, a guide to defeating any opponent ever (and another guide on how to perfect your villain look), a look inside Harley Quinn’s purse- which is eerily similar to what’s in my own purse- and an interview with the artist behind this month’s t-shirt, Juan Ortiz.

The magazine also featured the usual item breakdowns and fan-submitted photos too, of course.

While I’ve typically enjoyed every figurine I’ve received since first subscribing to Loot Crate, the detail of this ‘Alien’ one from Titan Merchandise makes it one of my favorites. It might be hard to see it from the picture, but this glow-in-the-dark toy is actually pretty large in size- and heavy!- and will undoubtedly find a home on one of my shelves or the shelves of my best friend Sean (who is also terrified of anything extra-terrestrial so this will be a lovely addition in his room, I think- especially if I don’t tell him I’m putting it there!)

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but my dislike of all things Jesse Eisenberg has all but ruined any excitement for ‘Batman V. Superman’ for me. I don’t know if Ben Affleck or the appearance of Wonder Woman can coerce me into watching the character of Lex Luthor get butchered by Eisenberg’s overall awfulness- but I’ll do my best to get through it.

Despite that setback, this super-strength wallet from DYNOMIGHTY has a pretty cool design to celebrate the movie- although I’m not sure that this is something I’d carry around with me. I have a feeling my Superman-fanatic friend, Evan, will appreciate this more than me- and I’ll be passing this along to him the next time I see him!

Although I’ve always been more of a Poison Ivy kind of gal (see HERE)– I also know that every Ivy needs her Harley, and for that- I absolutely love this exclusive HQ comic book I received in this month’s Loot Crate! Up until now, I’ve never had the courage to cosplay such a wild and endearing character- but I gotta’ say I’m pretty tempted, now!

My favorite item in March’s Loot Crate has got to be this reversible and really well made Daredevil/Punisher hat from BIOWORLD. I don’t know how many of you have been watching the latest season of the show, but Jon Bernthal (insert heart-eyes emoji here) has been CRUSHING it as Frank Castle. It is the role he was born to play. He’s the perfect mix of brutal and understandable all at once. I highly recommend everyone who hasn’t caught up yet do so immediately!

I’ll definitely be wearing the Punisher side of this thing on a regular basis.

I’m really loving the vintage style/feel of this fitted Star Trek t-shirt in this month’s crate. I’ve worn it a couple of times since I received March’s collection of items- so it’s starting to stretch out a little more the way that I like my shirts to fit. It’s soft and comfortable, and the design is so kick-ass! I’m really loving this whole ‘a shirt in every crate’ goal that Loot Crate has been striving for lately. They’ve all been so much fun!

And there it is, March’s Loot Crate- another great assortment of toys, accessories, and trinkets. The theme reveal for April’s box should be arriving in my e-mail any day now- but I’m hoping that there’s some ‘Captain America: Civil War’ stuff coming up in the future!

xx

Although I’ve enjoyed every one of Loot Crate’s themed assortments these past few months, I nearly hit the roof in excitement when I’d first heard that February’s crate was tailored almost entirely to my interests with a ‘DEAD’ theme (that might sound a little morbid to some, sure-) and as the shipping date grew closer and closer- I actually caught myself routinely checking my e-mail for my tracking code so that I could monitor my crate’s progress in the mail and figure out when exactly it’d arrive at my door.

It’s well documented that I’m one of the biggest ‘Walking Dead’ fans in the history of, well, ever- but I was also really eager to see what kind of ‘Deadpool’ goods I’d get in this month’s crate, too (the movie is fantastic and very fun, by the way- for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. Get out there and watch it! You’re going to love it!)

Loot Crate didn’t get sidetracked. They stuck to the theme this month and they stuck to it well- making February’s crate one of my absolute, all-time favorites since I first subscribed with the service way back when.

Let’s take a look at what I got!

I always like to flip through my mini-magazine each month, since there’s almost always something that catches my eye and keeps me interested/entertained- but February’s edition was particularly fun. Not only did this month’s magazine feature a ‘Deadpool’-inspired taco recipe (which I will be attempting and potentially blogging about shortly,) an introduction to the character of Wade Wilson/’Deadpool’ to help those unfamiliar with the character to catch up, an interview with ‘iZombie’s’ Rahul Kohli, and a “Which ‘Walking Dead’ Character Are You?” quiz (I got Carol!)– but there was also a pretty fun guide to surviving a zombie apocalypse among the pages of item breakdowns and fan photos, too- although now that I have a samurai sword in my home- I think I’m well-equipped for anything.

I also have to say that Loot Crate’s continued efforts to make their monthly collectors pins look actually collectible (and not cheap) is admirable. This month’s pin was pretty cute, since it was a zombie-fied version of the crate itself- and I’m sure my niece will get a kick out of it.

I do apologize for the quality of this photo, since you can’t quite see the figurine properly- but I had a mini-moment of “I can’t take it out of the packaging!” (I know, I know) and had to make do. This exclusive figurine from Quantum Mechanix designed specifically for Loot Crate- that depicts Deadpool atop an explosion/flames- can be set up with a light shining through the translucent base to make the flames look like they’re actually glowing, which is pretty cool. It’s a decently sized figurine, too- nearly taking up half of the crate!

Although I think this would be fun to get set up on one of my bookshelves- light shining in the base and all- I believe I’ll be passing this figurine onto my equally enthusiastic comic book fan-friend. He has an entire section of his room dedicated to things like this. I know he’ll love it!

My second and final ‘Deadpool’-related item in February’s Loot Crate was this t-shirt that speaks to me on a personal level (there are few things in this world that I love more than quality tacos) courtesy of Fifth Sun– and I’ve already sported this out and about since I received it- much to the amusement of people I’ve passed in public who recognize the character (and given the film’s success- who COULDN’T recognize him?)

I’m loving Loot Crate’s promise of a shirt in every month’s crate this year. I can never have too many of these sorts of things. I love them.

I love, love, LOVE McFarlane Toys. Their attention to even the smallest details is something to behold- and this mini, kind of bobble-head-ish and pose-able figurine of Rick Grimes is no exception. Putting this little toy together was simple, and I just can’t get over how spot-on it looks. From the bandaged hand to the wristwatch to perfecting Andrew Lincoln’s glare. This thing is incredible- and I’m really hoping to find the Daryl one somewhere, too!

And finally, one last ‘Walking Dead’ item- and probably my favorite thing in February’s Loot Crate- was this throwback to season 2 in the form of a soap-on-a-rope version of Daryl’s walker ear necklace from A Crowded Coop. I started laughing when I saw this package at the bottom of my crate- and I couldn’t stop. I never, in a million years, would have expected something as brilliant as this- and I love it so much that I don’t ever want to remove it from it’s packaging. It’s just too perfect.

All in all, I absolutely adored February’s Loot Crate. I thought it was the perfect way to celebrate the release of ‘Deadpool’ and the return of ‘The Walking Dead’ without straying too far from the theme and/or including a bunch of knick-knacks that would take away from the quality and unique-ness of the handful of items that were inside the box. I’m so happy with each thing I received!

I haven’t learned March’s theme yet (any day now!) but if it’s half as good as this ‘DEAD’ one- I’ll be happy.

xx

Next up in this week’s wrap-up of my January subscription services is my 2nd favorite company- Loot Crate. For those who need a refresher, Loot Crate is a monthly subscription box service that sends out different “nerdy” and geek-centic items for gamers/comic book fans/cult classic enthusiasts/etc. centered around the designated theme for the month (for example, past months’ themes have included but were not limited to “Villains”, “Combat”, and “Horror” just to name a few.) Items can range anywhere from toys to t-shirts, accessories to books. You never really know what you’re going to get until it arrives at your door!

January’s theme, to coincide with the recent limited-episode reboot of ‘The X-Files’ and new trailer for ‘Independence Day II’ (WHERE IS WILL SMITH?!) was ‘INVASION”. Now, having openly admitted my fear of all things outer space (‘Gravity’ was essentially a horror movie for me)– I was a little nervous in my not knowing what to expect. Fortunately, Loot Crate didn’t include anything too traumatizing- and I actually enjoyed January’s box very much.

Let me show you what I received!

First up in January’s Loot Crate are the usual items: the monthly collector’s pin and mini-magazine. It looks like Loot Crate might be trying something different with their pins this year, because the one I received this month was actually pretty nice quality (no offense to the company, but their pins leading up to this point looked pretty flimsy and cheap.) I can’t say for certain I’m going to start becoming an avid collector- but it did catch my eye!

This month’s magazine, touching more on the “INVASION” theme, offered tips on how to survive an extra-terrestrial takeover (everything I learned about that I learned from the movie ‘Signs’, however,) and a really handy guide to catching up on ‘The X-Files’ with key plot points and character breakdowns.  The magazine also featured a rather freaky article about different types of invaders already here on Earth (castrator barnacles, anyone? Yikes.) and small games and puzzles within it’s pages. I always turn to the mini-magazine when it comes to reviewing the products I’ve received, too- since it includes a lot of helpful information.

Part of Loot Crate’s re-vamped style for 2016 included the promise that each month’s box would feature a t-shirt, and although some of their past designs and collaborations have been questionable- I’m really liking the look of this ‘X-Files’ shirt- a collaboration with Threadless and created by the winner of a design contest. The fabric of the shirt is soft-not scratchy- and it’s big enough to not have to worry about shrinking it right away. Awesome!

I think my favorite item in January’s Loot Crate was this plush Facehugger from ‘ALIENS’. I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw it- and then I turned it over, saw it’s adorable little face- and laughed even harder. This is going in my bedroom for sure- because I know it’s going to look pretty incredible when I prop it up against my pillows.

The plush also came with a rubber band so that I could attach it to my face if and when I decide a selfie is appropriate (and I suspect I’ll be taking one in an hour or so.)

A couple of weeks ago, I hosted my best friend Sean’s 30th birthday party at Dave & Busters. For those who are not familiar- it’s a chain restaurant/bar/arcade for adults only- even though there were a ton of toddlers running around for some inexplicable reason. But I digress. While we were there, waiting to be seated, we made our way to the arcade and I made my way to an old school style ‘Space Invaders’ game to brush up on my skills. Ten intense (and infuriating) minutes later, and I had to walk away to rest my cramped up joystick hand.

This candy-colored figurine is definitely less stressful than the pixelated ones on the screen- and dare I say, cuter? I shouldn’t have any difficulty finding a spot for this somewhere.

The second and final ‘X-Files’ related item in January’s Loot Crate came in the form of this water-resistant LED flashlight (with batteries!) which is actually INSANELY helpful and has found a home in the glove compartment of my car in the case of an emergency. I love when Loot Crate includes items like this from time to time, because they’re not only fun- but they’re practical, too.

I always recommend keeping a flashlight and batteries somewhere in your vehicle- so this came right in time just as I was getting ready to update all of my emergency kit gear for the next big snowstorm we have here in New England!

Oh God. I knew this day would come. The day where I’d have to finally open up and admit that I’m not a fan of ‘The Fifth Element’. Not at all. I actually can’t stand the movie- and I cringed when I opened up this prop replica of the Multi Pass featured in the film. I’ll be gifting this one for sure, since I have a couple of friends who love TFE and will no doubt get a kick out being able to use their own identification cards in place of Leeloo’s (the ID card can be replaced by simply sliding it in or out of the plastic holder.)

If I were a fan of the movie, I’m sure I’d be happy with the quality of this replica- but I’m just… Not… So…

Moving on!

My mother is currently in the process of making preparations to convert a large workshop my father built in her backyard a long time ago into a mini-movie theater- complete with reclining seats, lit aisles, a marquee and a vintage popcorn maker and concession stand- among other things. Since she began the project, she’s been collecting old Hollywood memorabilia- so when I saw these two high quality vintage sci-fi art prints in this month’s Loot Crate, I knew she’d love to place them on the walls when she eventually got the place decorated. These are fantastic prints (and I love ‘War of the Worlds’!)

Overall, I was pretty happy with this month’s Loot Crate. I thought the items that were chosen to be included were unique but consistent with January’s theme. I have a couple of things I’ll be keeping for myself and a couple of things I’ll be gifting to loved ones- which is always a plus with a subscription service.

I was just recently notified that the theme for February’s crate was going to be “DEAD” (as in ‘Deadpool’- yay! And ‘The Walking Dead’- YAAAAAAYYY!) so I’m already super excited to see what I get!

xx

Hello! I hope all those who celebrated had a wonderful Christmas. Mine was phenomenal- spent with family and friends by the tree- and I’ve been preparing for the coming New Year by making some NYE arrangements and putting together my last posts of 2015- including this one!

To wrap up my monthly subscription box reviews for 2015 was December’s Loot Crate. With the recent release of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (which I’m FINALLY seeing for the first time tonight after successfully avoiding spoilers until a group of my friends could all coordinate a day and time to go and experience it together), it seemed appropriate that this month’s theme was ‘GALAXY’.

Of course, “GALAXY” can mean a lot of different things for a lot of different people- and isn’t just limited to the ‘Star Wars’ world. For that reason, I thought Loot Crate did a pretty nice job of incorporating other galactic-centric franchises in December’s assortment of items.

Let’s take a look at what I received!

As usual, the first items I’m going to get out of the way are the two that are included in every Loot Crate- the monthly collector’s pin (which I admittedly don’t collect at all) and the mini-magazine. This month’s edition featured a look back at the service’s themes throughout 2015 (and where it was revealed that every crate in 2016 would include a t-shirt!), a Q&A with designer Drew Wise- who is the creator of the shirt in this month’s assortment of items- and an interview with Chris Lee, the Executive Producer of ‘Halo 5: Guardians’

Before I’d opened this month’s crate, I had wondered why it looked and felt so bulky- but once I laid eyes on this metal, hinged-top ‘Halo 5’ ammo tin- it made sense. Most of the items in December’s crate were actually stored inside- if that helps gives you an idea of how much room this product has- and how useful it can be for storage. I love the design, and I plan on using this for holding mail, postcards, etc. for safe keeping.

HAN! I love this exclusive Funko POP! Vinyl bobble-head doll. It’s by far my favorite item in the box and will be joining the multiple (and I mean multiple) Funko figurines I’ve been collecting over the years. This is actually my first ‘Star Wars’-related one- which makes it all the more special to me. It’s adorable!

This is the droid I’m looking for. Keeping up with ‘The Force Awakens’ trend, Loot Crate included these bright, cute and warm crew socks with a BB-8 print. This is the item- much like my Han Solo figurine- that I will be shamelessly keeping for myself. You can never have enough socks- especially ones as fun as these!

I’ve owned a vintage denim jacket since my teens that is covered with patches from bands I liked in high school, sports teams (specifically the Red Sox), inspirational quotes or mementos from places I’d traveled to- but I think I still have enough room on the back of the jacket where I can press on this ‘Galaxy Quest’ patch for good measure. It’s hard to tell from the photo- but this item is a pretty decent size! It’ll definitely be noticeable!

Christmas may be over, but there’s still technically a few days left in the 2015 holiday season. For that reason- I’m going to sport this galaxy-inspired 8-bit holiday sweater shirt at least once before New Years. Designed by Drew Wise- this tee is cute and comfortable- and something I’ll be putting away for next season when I have to attend holiday parties and want something unique to wear.

Finally, December’s ‘Digital Loot’ was actually for the ‘Halo 5’ players on XBox. This card contains a special code to obtain a REQ Pack in the game- which come loaded with a bunch of cool things and collectibles for game play. I unfortunately don’t own an XBox- so I’ll be passing this along to a friend of mine who does and who is also a big ‘Halo’ fan. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it!

I had a lot of fun with December’s crate. I thought it was a nice way for Loot Crate to close out what has been another fantastic year of geeky goodness. I haven’t heard what the theme is for January’s box just yet- but I’m sure it’s going to be great!

xx

Even though my November Loot Crate arrived a couple of days before Thanksgiving, the general hustle and bustle of the holiday kept me from sitting down and properly reviewing it until now. Coincidentally, November’s box was probably one of the first assortment of items I’ve received since initially subscribing with the service that I’ve been rather disappointed with. That had nothing to do with my tardiness, of course. That’s just my own fault.

November’s theme- “COMBAT”, had endless possibilities- but the overall selection of toys and trinkets fell a little short, in my opinion.

Let’s take a look at what I received:

Kicking things off in last month’s box were the monthly mini-magazine and collector’s pin. This month’s edition, which featured it’s usual subscriber-submitted photos and item breakdowns- also had a small write-up of famous video game rivalries (including my favorite from ‘Motal Kombat’- Sub Zero v. Scorpion), an interesting article by Lola Binkerd detailing the world’s fascination with stories where kids are pitted against each other in fights-to-the-death (think ‘Hunger Games’)– and an interview with WWE commentator, Kyle Edwards.

In the entirety of the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, I’ve only ever seen the first movie- which I thought was good, but didn’t get me as hooked as some of my friends who have since religiously read all of the books and have watched the movies as they are released. For that reason, I’ll be hosting my own ‘Hunger Games’ among them- where the winner will take home this replica pin of Katniss’ tribute token.

May the odds be ever in their favor.

Loot Crate is always dependable when it comes to sending me things that I have an absolute ball wearing around my house, but may have some difficulty getting away with in public. Add these Shredder sunglasses/mask from ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ to that list. While I admittedly enjoyed sporting these while doing karate moves around my place to the amusement of my roommate and to the horror of my dog- I think I’ll be passing these along to my niece or brother- who will probably get more use out of them.

My best friend is going to kill me for admitting this, since he grew up on it and will always and forever hold a special place for it in his heart- but I’ve never liked ‘Street Fighter’. It always bored me, so I wasn’t particularly thrilled with this special edition comic book designed by Loot Crate for this month’s box. I’ll be passing it along to him, for sure- because I know he’ll love it!

Blizzard Entertainment, who owned a considerable amount of my income (and my soul) years ago when I played ‘World of Warcraft’ all the time- have adorable-ized some of their most famous and memorable villains in their ‘Cute But Deadly’ series. These stickers are precious (LOOK AT KERRIGAN!) and will also be given to my niece to decorate her notebooks with.

Probably my favorite item in November’s Loot Crate, this Vault Boy bobble head, made to commemorate ‘Fallout 4’ (side note: post-apocalyptic Boston is scarily fun) has found a home beside my PS4 in recent days. It’s a great quality item that stands about 6″ tall. I think this will be the toy I shamelessly keep for myself instead of giving away to any of my friends!

Finally, another ‘Cute But Deadly’ item was included in November’s Loot Crate. I received a pint-sized, detailed Zeratul figurine from ‘Starcraft’. Like many of the other toys in November’s crate- this one is going to my niece. She’s a little too young to know who these characters are or where they come from- but she’ll enjoy it nonetheless.

With the exception of the bobble head figurine- I wasn’t really impressed with November’s Loot Crate. With all the rivalries out there in video games, movies, comics and television- I felt like this assortment of items was very limited.

December’s crate, themed ‘GALAXY’ (just in time for the new ‘Star Wars’- oh yes!) will hopefully be an improvement.

‘Til next time!

I admit, when I first heard that this October’s Loot Crate theme was “TIME”, and not something horror-related like last year’s assortment of items (which is still one of my all-time favorites) I was a little disappointed and slightly worried that I would be let down despite the teasers and not-so-spoilerish-spoilers that Loot Crate occasionally released leading up to the actual box shipping out. I knew in advance there would be some ‘Back to the Future’ stuff and of course- items from ‘Doctor Who’- but the rest was a mystery!

I have to say, this month’s crate surpassed my expectations (in a good way) and I was pleasantly surprised with what I received.

Let’s take a look!

First and foremost, as always- was my monthly collector’s pin and mini-magazine. The magazine, completely revamped, featured a more in-depth look at Loot Crate’s product team (and their new “LEVEL UP” subscription service) and a pretty handy guide to cosplaying beloved time traveling characters like Marty McFly and Bill & Ted. There was also a pretty fun flow chart to help determine which of the Doctors from ‘Doctor Who’ is the Doctor for you (try saying that four times fast.)

The magazine still features subscriber photos and item descriptions, too, of course.

With October marking the 30th Anniversary of ‘Back to the Future’ (and last week marking the day and time Marty travels to 2015 in ‘Back to the Future II’) it seemed fitting to include these two incredible collectibles in this month’s crate. The first, an exclusive Funko POP! figurine of Doc, which is just way too cute for words (I’ve already put it on display in my kitchen!)

And the second ‘Back to the Future’ item was this decently sized replica of Marty’s Hoverboard with it’s own little display stand. It’s pretty neat- although it makes me wish I had a real Hoverboard of my own. Somebody please get on that. It’s 2015.

I am just going to put this out there and say that I’ve never really been a ‘Doctor Who’ fan. I know (most of) the characters and I know the overall plot- but I’ve just never been able to immerse myself in the fandom like the way I do with a series like ‘The Walking Dead’ or ‘Silent Hill’. I do have a few friends who are OBSESSED with the Doctor, however- and I’ll be giving this ‘Sonic Spork’ to one of them soon since I know they’d get a kick out of it!

Finally (and sorry for the wrinkles. I took a photo right after I unrolled it,) I loved this cozy, cotton and retro t-shirt featuring my favorite time-traveling dudes- Bill & Ted! I can’t wait to wear this out and about soon. It’s fantastic, and might be one of my favorite t-shirts that Loot Crate has included in a box since I started subscribing!

Now, to some- it might seem like there’s not a lot of items in October’s box. Loot Crate typically sends a lot of smaller items every month- but the overall value and quality of the collectibles and clothing included this month surpasses what I paid for it- and that’s good enough for me. I really loved everything I received- and the ‘Doctor Who’ spork will make a fun gift!

November’s theme was recently revealed to be ‘COMBAT’, and all I know is that there better be something ‘Mortal Kombat’ related included in it!

I can’t wait to check it out.

xx

When the theme for September’s Loot Crate, “SUMMON” was announced- I wasn’t sure what to expect. As a recovering World of Warcraft addict (I don’t want to talk about it,) I immediately thought of those nights spent frantically trying to summon a pet or complete a spell to protect my poor little Blood Elf while someone from the opposing team (usually my friends who were playing one room over from me) kept attempting to kill me over and over again.

I also thought of my favorite shows from my early teens, like ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and it’s spin-off companion series, ‘Angel’- where summoning ANYTHING almost always resulted in a disaster.

I kept an open mind as I went through the contents of September’s box when it arrived- and here’s what I got!

First up are the usual suspects: my monthly collectors pin and mini-magazine. Aside from the usual puzzles, fan photos, articles, interviews and breakdowns of items in the box- September’s magazine also had the distinction of including a set of five perforated cards printed on card stock to be used for a tabletop game (a sixth card that was included had the instructions printed on them.) I’m going to have to figure out what each card represents before I attempt to play it with anyone- but it looks interesting!

The item that caught my attention almost immediately in September’s crate was this knitted Pikachu hat that I have to admit I think is SO ADORABLE (although I don’t think I’d wear it outside the house.) I remember playing the Pokemon game on my friend’s Game Boy (the big, clunky one) back in Jr. High when the franchise was just starting to get popular, and not really understanding much of the story apart from “oh, these weird little animals are cute and I have to catch them!”- so this was a fun little blast from the past. The hat also has knitted PokeBalls on it, which cracked me up.

I haven’t watched ‘The Simpsons’ in aaaaages, so I wasn’t sure if this Homer/Buddha-hybrid figurine was something cooked up on the show or if it was just something Loot Crate came up with themselves, but it’s still cute (and the fact that it came in a take-out style box was a nice touch.) I think I’ll be gifting this to a friend of mine who is a huge fan of the show and it’s characters since he’ll appreciate it much more than I can!

I KNEW there would be at least one WoW-related item in September’s Loot Crate! I just knew it! This stress ball, molded in the likeness of a Hearthstone, is definitely going to come in handy on those rougher days at work when I need to squeeze away my frustrations. I think this might be my favorite item in September’s box- apart from the Pikachu hat!

Speaking of Hearthstone- I also received a collectible coin and card pack code for the game in this month’s crate. I remember sitting in on a panel at San Diego Comic-Con ’14 that gave audience members a preview of what the game was going to be like- and I remember thinking that my friends, who are big fans of WoW, would probably enjoy it. For that reason- I’ll be gifting this to them since they’ll get more use out of it!

September’s crate did not include any ‘Digital Loot’, just an advertisement/flyer for the aforementioned card game that was included in the monthly mini-magazine.

Finally, I’ve only ever seen a couple of episodes of ‘Supernatural’ and never really got into it (although I have a hard time enjoying anything Jared Padalecki is in because of his overall terrible attitude and presence across social media,) but my two older brothers LOVE the show- and I know one of them will get a kick out of this replica of the Chevy Impala that is said to be prominently featured in it. Loot Crate’s mini magazine states that the license plates on this replica are of the original Kansas ones- which are apparently hard to come by?

Overall- I thought the “SUMMON” box was really creative! There were quite a few items I wouldn’t have expected (and some I definitely would have,) and the quality of everything was impressive.

I had expected another horror-themed box for October, but it was recently revealed that next month’s Loot Crate would have a “TIME” theme- so I’m bracing myself for some Doctor Who items!

xx