Since its near the end of the month (where did the month go???), I'm gonna combine the 2 loot boxes I got this month, namely the yearly DinoDrac funpack and the limited J-List box I got this month, because I wanted JP things like a yurei drink buddy and...uh, actually, that's pretty much the only reason why I got the J-List one. The rest were awesome bonuses.
And believe me, they are AWESOME bonuses.
SO let's start with Matt's super awesome box of goodies. I always love the stickers touch. Packed with paper for flowers, I'm already happy. According to the newsletter, this was meant to be halloween in a box.
And boy howdy is it. This box seemed packed with more candy and treats than any other box I've gotten, and we all know what that means. Happy happy Dio.
There are chips, a lollipop, chocolate, you name it, its a handful of the good stuff, straight from a neighbor's bowl into your treat bag, except my neighbor is like all the way across the country.
:3 I'm not sharing. Ok, maybe a little.
I mean look at that. LOOK AT IT. :9 A rice krispies treat is like the Holy Grail of halloween treats. And hell, fruit snacks always rock. I can easily say this is like all the good stuff I wish I could get in my lunch for a snack. Thanks Matt, my tummy will appreciate all the good stuff.
That's not to say the funpack is without the awesome toys too. A couple fake spiders, some more Pop-a-Beads, my own Frankenstein's monster buddy, an eyeball candy and an Evil Eyeball for bouncing. Or spying. Maybe both.
And what DinoDrac pack would be complete without a whole smattering of trading cards. Skeleton Warriors, Tales from the Crypt, Scooby Doo, all these cards are Halloweeny or creepy in some way.
Except She-Hulk, which is only scary if you're scared of lawyers. Which is pretty scary if you're skipping out on a parking ticket or something.
The witch bag is super cute and is a drawstring one too.
Here's a closer look at the He-Man card. I have no clue what the context is but its quite amusing.
I mean Skeletor could just be getting ready to play Cards Against Humanity or Oregon Trail, but Sorceress is having none'o that. Time to call He-Man to fuck shit up. I love that show.
Here's the newsletter that always has good advice, some well-wishes, a sort of inventory of your box, and of course a cool drawing challenge.
The essay this time around is 13 halloween facts, which are all really interesting, running the gamut from passed pop culture icons, to the phobia name of Halloween, to even a way to meet a witch ("seems legit").
The factoid on the movie Arachnophobia amuses me since I have relatives who live in the town they filmed it in. I've always wondered if they found all the spider actors or if some escaped and made their own colony out there.
Also the first factoid on jack-o-lanterns, that the turnip was used and the faces were suggested to represent faces of Christians in Purgatory.
Hmmm.
Morbid. >> In any case, here's the 2 page factoid sheet. Enjoy!
And last but not least, my favorite part of the funpacks: the mini-poster and the sticker, which depicts the DinoDrac mascot waving, and the poster has him as a spider-dino.
Terrifying to say the least >>. Cuz a spider-dino sounds just like twice the danger and scary. I don't need to see a dinosaur with 8 legs, they're imposing enough with 2 or 4. @_@
That said, its an awesome poster. I just don't see myself looking at it at night. D8
That concludes the DinoDrac box, so let's shift our gears to the J-List limited box. J-List offers different boxes with different pricing, so obviously the more money you drop, the more you get but Doc and I opted for the slightly cheaper box. Now if you're not familiar with J-List, its a website chockful of Japanese goods, from the sexy, to the useful, to the beautiful, to the otaku, to even the tasty, and everything in between. If you're not watching their Facebook page, you're missing out. Its also a little ecchi. Be warned. 8D
The box is nice and sturdy, and proclaims the site's motto: "your friend in Japan!". If you imagine J-List kinda being that friend who's living in Japan and occasionally sends you the pick of the litter in all things japanese, you're in the right place.
Number one of the things I'm blessed by living in San Jose, California really, is the availability of Japanese foods and goods through my hometown's Japantown, as well as the japanese markets around the city. Down in southern California, where its much more readily accessible, this kinda stuff is great. But even I haven't seen neato snacks like these. Flavored Kit-Kats are actually a sort of student good in Japan, where the name is reminiscent of a good luck phrase, so much so that its given or consumed by students wishing to pass exams, so Kit-Kats come in all sorts of neat flavors like sakura or green tea (my favorite). The long rod that has Doraemon on it is a puffed rice or corn snack, not unlike a huge, long Cheeto puff, which happens to be MY CRACK COCAINE. Speaking of, these Cheetos are also super cool, with its awesome packaging. Doc and I are fighting over these. Whoever is still alive...that's the person who won the fight to the death for Japanese Cheetos. You don't fuck around with JP Cheetos.
This pair is a bag of candy body parts like eyeballs and fingers, and a plastic syringe with candy syrup in it. There's something kinda off-putting or morbid about it, but LOOK AT THAT PACKAGING. I totally want to inject all that unadulterated sugar into my mouth.
Damn, even when its not hentai related, J-List makes me think inappropriate things XD.
This was why I wanted the box. on the left is, according to the inventory card, Scary Story Gum, which supposedly has a spooky story (think 2chan's weird, creepy story section, kaidan, or even Yamishibai) and a piece of gum. On the right is a drinking glass buddy for the recent yurei vs yurei vs humanity film Kayako VS Sadako. Yes. The Grudge VS The Ring. Who wins? WHO CARES?? ITS YUREI KICKING ASS AND TAKING SOULS. If you're not following Sadako's twitter or Kayako's instagram for it, you're missing out. I bought this box to have either a tiny Sadako or a tiny Kayako (with or without Toshio) hanging off my drinking glasses.
I mean seriously. You have no clue how HAPPY I am to own this. I seriously want the whole set.
Its worth noting, these work with narrow lipped glasses, so she barely fit on my Pom glass, but a wine glass would be quite appropriate.
At right: the scary story in the pack has a piece of nice gum, and a story that I'm gonna have to get translated, but in involves a train, and some giant doll/ghost's face.
Time to board the NOPE TRAIN to FUCKTHISSHITVILLE.
If you're curious, the pics are below, but I'm not sure what order they're meant to be read in so caveat emptor.
The pack has a chance of you getting a No-Face (I assume Nopperabou is the yokai in question) or a Hannya mask, which might look familiar to some. The head of the Himuro family's mask turned into a Hannya mask (called "demon" in the translation). In Noh theater, which represents a female souls that have turned due to jealousy or obsession--a fact that seems odd when in context of Fatal Frame but its an impressive mask to behold. Noh--and Kabuki--theater traditionally is performed on stage, where back in the days before electronic lights and tv projections to get a better view of the actors from farther back. Costumes, make-up, and masks were utitlized to become a short hand in theater to help even those with less desireable seating keep up and recognize what's happening in a play. The Hannya mask is unique in that its emotions can "change" depending on lighting or angle. When viewed head on, the expression is fierce, but from a different angle, it can look sorrowful or sad.
Last but not least are these super adorable pokemon items, specifically a cosplay pikachu gashopon and the most awesome pumpachu purse, made of minky or like fabric. You can't tell me that isn't the best thing you've ever seen. I almost want to make my own pumpkin pikachu. :3 If only it could hold 2 lbs of candy. XD
Here's a shot of the box and the inventory card, which is very nice packaging. J-List really knows how to make you feel special.
So that's my month's loot boxes. If you'll excuse me, I have to go eat my weight in treats. :9
--Dio (10/26/16)
Mario image from theclassicgamer.com.