The Magic Lord of the Rings collector box is a special edition item that is a must-have for fans of both the Magic: The Gathering card game and J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy series, The Lord of the Rings. This collector box combines elements from both worlds, offering a unique and exciting experience for fans. The box contains various components that make it a valuable collectible item.
Looking back, I feel like Glinda being a young woman instead of a more crone-like witch was meant to be something of a surprise in the original Oz book.
After many years ruling over the Gillikins, Tattypoo was reminded by her dragon Agnes to look in the Witch s Window, which made her remember her true identity as Orin, the Queen of the Ozure Isles; she then returned there to rule, and was made co-ruler of Munchkin Country with her husband. Teleportation Locasta had the power to move instantaneously from one location to another without physically occupying the space in between - after whirling around on her left heel three times, she would disappear into thin air, being instantly teleported away to her desired location.
The box contains various components that make it a valuable collectible item. Firstly, it includes a set of specially-designed Magic cards inspired by characters and themes from The Lord of the Rings. These cards feature stunning artwork and special abilities that capture the essence of the characters and events from the beloved fantasy novels.
Great Characters: The Good Witch of the North
The 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz” has made that moment when Dorothy first opens her door and walks out into the Munchkin kingdom magical and iconic. It’s hard to forget that moment when sepia tones turn to bright, vivid color and then a woman descends from the heavens in a bubble to greet Dorothy. I mean, even setting aside the amazing color reveal of the world, what kind of magical person can travel by bubble?
When we first meet the Good Witch of the North in the book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, she doesn’t arrive by bubble. She walks up to Dorothy like anyone else flanked by three Munchkin men. She is even dressed like them, with the same pointed hat ringed in bells that tinkle as she moves (although hers is white while everything they wear is blue). Dorothy observes that the men each appear about her Uncle Henry’s age, “but the little woman was doubtless much older: her face was covered with wrinkles, her hair was nearly white, an she walked rather stiffly.” And that is our first introduction to her. Sort of…
The first chapter of the book is “The Cyclone” and starts a while before we meet the Witch or see Oz at all. In the editions that Baum and Denslow designed for the original printing (and which have been reprinted many times since), like every other chapter, it starts with a splash page stating the chapter title and featuring an illustration. In this case, it happens to be opposite the dedication page, which also features an illustration. What’s interesting about these illustrations is that they work together as if related, which can hardly be an accident when Baum and Denslow designed the layout so specifically throughout the book. This pair of illustrations makes it almost look like the Good Witch of the North is controlling the cyclone. As if maybe she summoned it, and Dorothy, deliberately.
In this first (and only for several books) meeting, the Witch of the North does explain that she is a good witch, one of two – North and South – and that there are two wicked witches – East and West – of which the Eastern one is dead under Dorothy’s house. She gives the little girl the silver shoes, but by merely picking them up, shaking out the remains of the Wicked Witch of the East, and handing them to her. Her two feats of visible magic are to turn her hat into a slate and to spin around three times and disappear.
Nevertheless, this is clearly a woman of great power. Before Dorothy leaves on her yellow brick road adventure, the Witch of the North gives her a kiss on the forehead. Where she kisses Dorothy, her lips leave a “round, shining mark” and the Witch says that “no one will dare injure person who has been kissed by the Witch of the North.” And throughout the story, this appears to be true. When she meets the Wizard, he observes and asks about the kiss, but does not comment on it. It’s not until she meets the Winged Monkeys and the Witch of the West that the power it represents becomes evident.
Dale Ulrey’s illustration of the kiss for the Reilly and Lee edition of The Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wicked Witch of the West sees Dorothy and her band approaching and sends (among other sentinels) the Winged Monkeys with instructions to “destroy them all except the Lion” (whom she wants to harness like a horse). When they reach the band, though, they do not harm Dorothy. The leader “saw the mark of the Good Witch’s kiss upon her forehead and stopped short, motioning the others not to touch her.” They know they cannot harm her, so they carry her carefully to the Wicked Witch instead.
The Wicked Witch was both surprised and worried when she saw the mark on Dorothy’s forehead, for she knew well that neither the Winged Monkeys nor she, herself, dare hurt the girl in any way.
L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
What power does this kiss, and the Witch who gives it, have that holds everyone else in such fear? The Witch of the North herself claims that she is not that powerful, but one has to suspect that perhaps that is not entirely true. She certainly seems to be affecting things, even simply by kissing a little girl’s forehead, more than any other single character in the story besides perhaps Dorothy herself! Even Glinda only explains the power of the shoes, she doesn’t actually do much of anything and displays no magic powers. In fact, the Witch of the North is the only character in the entire book who actually does display magical powers!
For the 1939 movie, “The Wizard of Oz” MGM for some reason decided to merge the two Good Witches and make Glinda the Good Witch of the North. She does not give Dorothy the protective kiss in the movie, but she does make it clear to the audience that she is watching over the companions when she makes snow fall on them to awaken them from the poppies. Gregory Maguire kept this compilation character in his book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and the sequels. It carried into the subsequent musical based on the book as well.
Other adaptions have chosen to keep the two characters separate. The musical “The Wiz” turns the matronly Good Witch of the North into Addaperle, a guide who sets Dorothy off in the right direction when she arrives in Oz. In the 1978 film version of the musical they call her “Miss One”, but the idea of the character seems the same. Several of the animated and video game adaptations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz also keep the Good Witch of the North as her own character. Even “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz”, where Miss Piggy plays all four witches, keeps the characters distinct instead of merging them.
- Billie Burke as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz”
- Thelma Carpenter as Miss One in the 1978 film “The Wiz”
- The Good Witch of the North in the 1986 Anime “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”
- Miss Piggy as the Good Witch of the North in the 2005 film “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz”
- Karen Holness as the Good Witch of the North in the television series “Once Upon a Time”
- Amber Riley as Addaperle in the 2015 file “The Wiz Live!”
L. Frank Baum didn’t even give the Good Witch of the North a name in the books. He did call her Locasta in his 1902 stage musical version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but the name never appeared in the books. Ruth Plumly Thompson named her Tattypoo. Adaptations have had a range of names for her. But for a character with no definitive name, she has a big impact!
Dorothy with her magical kiss from The Wishing Horse of Oz as illustrated by John R. NeillNot only does the Good Witch of the North display the only true magical powers not tied to a magical object in the original book, but her power is impressive and lasts. Indeed, that kiss on Dorothy’s forehead is still there twenty-nine books later in 1935’s The Wishing Horse of Oz. That’s an impressive kiss!
I love how understated the Good Witch of the North is. She clearly has great power and is likely causing and guiding a huge amount of what happens in the story, but she takes no credit for anything. Indeed, her touch is so light that it’s not actually clear how much she is involved in the story at all! I love the mystery of her and the glimpse she gives of actual magical power. She’s a wonderful grandmotherly figure, unlike the rest of the witches, which helps her fly so far under the radar that many people forget she existed at all. And that’s real power.
Not only does the Good Witch of the North display the only true magical powers not tied to a magical object in the original book, but her power is impressive and lasts. Indeed, that kiss on Dorothy’s forehead is still there twenty-nine books later in 1935’s The Wishing Horse of Oz. That’s an impressive kiss!
In addition to the Magic cards, the collector box also includes a set of exclusive Lord of the Rings-themed accessories. These may include collectible tokens, playmats, dice, or even a miniature replica of a famous artifact from the series. These accessories add a touch of authenticity and uniqueness to the collector box, making it a coveted item for fans and collectors alike. One of the most exciting features of the Magic Lord of the Rings collector box is the inclusion of a special edition rulebook. This rulebook combines the rules and mechanics of the Magic: The Gathering game with the lore and world-building of The Lord of the Rings. It provides players with a new and immersive gaming experience, allowing them to explore the fantastical world of Middle-earth while engaging in strategic card battles. The collector box may also include bonus content such as behind-the-scenes artwork, developer commentary, or even a code to unlock exclusive digital content related to both Magic: The Gathering and The Lord of the Rings. This bonus content enhances the overall value of the collector box and provides fans with additional insights and entertainment. Overall, the Magic Lord of the Rings collector box is a coveted item for fans of both Magic: The Gathering and The Lord of the Rings. Its unique combination of Magic cards, Lord of the Rings-themed accessories, special edition rulebook, and bonus content make it an essential addition to any collector's shelf. Whether you are a fan of one or both of these franchises, this collector box offers a one-of-a-kind experience that celebrates the magic of both worlds..
Reviews for "The Lord of the Rings Collector Box: Bringing Middle-earth to Your Doorstep"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the Magic Lord of the Rings collector box. The quality of the items inside was subpar and not worth the price. The cards felt cheaply made and the figures were poorly painted. Additionally, the box itself was flimsy and didn't offer much protection for the contents. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this collector box to any serious Magic or Lord of the Rings fan.
2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - As a fan of both Magic and Lord of the Rings, I had high hopes for the Magic Lord of the Rings collector box. However, I was let down by the lack of variety in the cards and figures included. It seemed like the box primarily focused on one aspect of the series, neglecting others. The quality of the items was decent, but nothing extraordinary. For the price, I expected a more comprehensive and exciting collection.
3. Tom - 2/5 stars - The Magic Lord of the Rings collector box fell short of my expectations. The cards and figures included were underwhelming and didn't capture the essence of either franchise effectively. The overall design of the box and its contents felt rushed and poorly thought out. I had hoped for a more immersive experience, but instead, it felt like a half-hearted attempt at cashing in on the popularity of both Magic and Lord of the Rings.
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was not impressed with the Magic Lord of the Rings collector box. The cards were lackluster, and I found the artwork to be uninspiring. The figures included were also mediocre and didn't showcase the beloved characters from Lord of the Rings as well as I had hoped. Overall, I felt like this collector box missed the mark and didn't do justice to the magic of both the card game and the epic fantasy series. I would advise fans to spend their money elsewhere.