# J.K. Rowling on her favorite Harry Potter character / new cover art for reissues **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 28, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420 "2013-08-28T18:02:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/1 "2013-08-28T18:02:44Z")
I guessed right - will you? > **[Disney.com | The official home for all things Disney](https://www.disney.com/)** > > The official website for all things Disney: theme parks, resorts, movies, tv programs, characters, games, videos, music, shopping, and more! And I like the new covers, although I wouldn’t say they’re necessarily any better than the originals. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/2 "2013-08-28T18:05:09Z")
Nope, guessed wrong. I picked Harry Potter . But I do like the new covers better than the old ones. They seem more in tune with the actual contents of the book. I think the old covers were vague to keep the mystery going, and they accomplished that. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/3 "2013-08-28T18:27:36Z")
I guessed Hermoine. I don’t particularly like the new covers, myself. I kind of like the 3rd, 5th and 6th. I prefer my book covers to be less busy. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/4 "2013-08-28T18:44:33Z")
I guessed Hermione too, based on an interview I saw where she said Hermione is based on her as a teenager. New covers are OK, but #4 has the worst looking dragon I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/5 "2013-08-28T19:28:13Z")
I figured it’d be either Hermione or Luna. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/6 "2013-08-28T19:30:11Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I guessed Hermione too, based on an interview I saw where she said Hermione is based on her as a teenager. Do you know any teenage girls who like themselves? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/7 "2013-08-28T19:34:23Z")
I guessed Hermione or Ron, based on them being based on her and a guy she used to date. Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/8 "2013-08-28T19:39:56Z")
I guessed Snape. My impression is that it’s the creation and handling of Snape for which she’s received the most approval from established literary figures (though that could be wrong, too…!) ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/9 "2013-08-28T19:47:32Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > New covers are OK, but #4 has the worst looking dragon I’ve ever seen. Looks kind of like a horned toad. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/10 "2013-08-28T20:39:25Z")
I guessed Ron. He’s the kind of funny, moody underdog I think it would have been fun to write. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/11 "2013-08-28T23:15:09Z")
I’d guessed Hagrid. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/12 "2013-08-29T07:08:03Z")
I guessed right. I think it was the elaborate backstory she has revealed for him, that doesn’t even all make it to the books, that was my clue. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/13 "2013-08-29T08:09:42Z")
I guessed right, but it really was just a guess. Otherwise I would’ve guessed Harry, Hermione or Snape. This is my first time seeing the new book covers- reading about them I thought I’d hate them but I actually really like them. I think one day I’d like to have all seven of the books with the new covers. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/14 "2013-08-29T08:46:02Z")
I guessed Sirius Black. He seems a fan favourite, at least, though I didn’t particularly like him all that much. I love the covers. The artist, Kazu Kibuishi, edited a comic book series called _Flight_ that I have the complete collection of, full of stunning art just like that. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/15 "2013-08-29T09:43:41Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > I guessed Ron. He’s the kind of funny, moody underdog I think it would have been fun to write. I thought it would be Ron as well, I never found Dumbledore particularly interesting. On a sidenote, the more I read and learn about J.K. Rowling the more she seems like one of the genuinely good people out there. Good luck to her. I like the new covers as well. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/16 "2013-08-29T09:47:08Z")
I guessed Neville, who went from nebbish to badass over the course of the books and who has picked up a huge fan following as a result. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/17 "2013-08-29T12:44:06Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I love the covers. The artist, Kazu Kibuishi, edited a comic book series called _Flight_ that I have the complete collection of, full of stunning art just like that. Ha! I thought that name looked familiar - I loved the _Flight_ anthologies (especially that crystal … fox? storyline that was seemingly continued from volume to volume), and _Copper_ was a great webcomic overall. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/18 "2013-08-29T14:43:32Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I guessed right. I think it was the elaborate backstory she has revealed for him, that doesn’t even all make it to the books, that was my clue. Hadn’t thought of that, but I think you’re right. I wish she’d disclosed his sexual orientation in the books, though, making it Potterverse canon, rather than as an offhanded comment in an interview after the last book came out. It would’ve been a widely-noted strike against bigotry - consistent with her biting criticism of anti-“mudblood” prejudice, which has obvious real-world equivalents. > [@Disposable Hero](#): > > I thought it would be Ron as well, I never found Dumbledore particularly interesting… Well, OK, this far into the thread, I guess we can discuss her pick - Dumbledore - openly. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/19 "2013-08-29T17:58:28Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I guessed Neville, who went from nebbish to badass over the course of the books and who has picked up a huge fan following as a result. I totally agree. I still stick by the theory that he was the chosen one in his killing of the final true horcrux. So I believe that she is just throwing out another red-herring and keeping Neville in the background yet again. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420/20 "2013-08-29T18:04:44Z")
I would have guessed that she ranks them: 1. Luna - Luna is a true hero in many ways and must be fun to write. She’s a hoot. 2. Neville - Again, a true hero. It could have been him that was the “chosen one”. 3. Dumbledore - He’s hilarious and scary at the same time. 4. Hermione - It’s her. 5. Ron and Harry [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-k-rowling-on-her-favorite-harry-potter-character-new-cover-art-for-reissues/667420.md?page=2)