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It’s the first Loot Crate of the year! The theme is INVASION! This box is getting more and more expensive due to the failing value of the Canadian dollar! Let’s take a look at what we got.

I was pretty excited by this month’s theme, especially with the bar having been set extremely high by December’s stellar “GALAXY” crate. This crate was promising to fulfill more sci-fi fandom but with a slant on the (usually) evil aliens that intend on robbing humanity of our freedoms. Or something. What that means is X-Files, Aliens, Fifth Element and Space Invaders swag. Sounds good, right?

It is. Mostly.

Leeloo Dallas Multipass

“Moootlipass. Multi. Pass.”

I am always a little unsure how to feel about prop replicas. On the one hand, they’re pretty cool. On the other hand, unless I am about to do a Leeloo cosplay I am at a bit of a loss about what I can use this for. Maybe if I get into really good shape I will do a gender swapped Leeloo costume? I feel like everyone would enjoy me in a costume made basically out of bandages. One way or the other, this little prop pass nails it and it’s pretty cool.
Happiness: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

X-Files “The Day Has Come” T-Shirt

This was sort of exactly what I was worried about when Loot Crate announced that there would be a t-shirt every month. This generic looking green and black alien abduction shirt looks like something that would sell for 5$ at Walmart. It is barely identifiable as X-Files and it’s the kind of shirt I would resign to buying myself if I really needed a shirt while on vacation. I’d be like “hey, I guess I can sorta justify buying this shirt, since it’s 5$ and I need a shirt”. I really liked the whole concept that it was a fan designed shirt from that contest they ran a while ago, but the payoff was kind of lackluster.
Happiness: ♥ ♥

Alien Facehugger Plush

This item could not be better timed to come into my life. I literally just finished playing Alien: Isolation last week and I’m pretty much at the height of being in love with the Aliens series. I’ve always had a soft spot for the franchise (at least, for the first 3, I prefer to ignore the 4th and AVP films). A good blend of horror and sci-fi throughout. I was super stoked when I saw this stuffed little guy. I do like his (its?) goofy little smiling face, but I would’ve preferred it had the more realistic mouth of the actual facehugger. Yes, it would sort of look like a vagina on a bug but it would be more accurate gosh darnit.
Happiness: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

X-Files Flashlight

This is a flashlight. It flashes… light. I mean, I guess I can put it in the glove box of my car or something. Seriously though, this isn’t a geek thing, it’s just a little flashlight. Was sort of expecting more interesting swag for the triumphant return of the X-Files than a generic looking t-shirt and a flashlight. This would’ve been a single heart, but got a bonus second heart because a flashlight is always kind of useful. I’ve read on /r/lootcrate that some people had some problems with the flashlight overheating, but I left this thing on for a while and didn’t experience anything unusual. Just saying. Maybe just a couple of bad ones?
Happiness: ♥ ♥

Vintage Mini Movie Posters

These are some of my favorite prints they’ve ever included in a Loot Crate. I hope Loot Crate leans more towards this size than the previous mini posters they’ve included in the past. The little rolled up posters often have creases and I’d prefer two small little prints to one creased little poster. They’re also printed on pretty nice card stock. These guys will look pretty cool in a frame and the vintage look means that they’ll look respectable up on my wall.
Happiness: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

January Invasion Pin and Letter 44 Digital Comic Download

They got rid of the buttons and moved instead to classy little pins. It’s a nice upgrade, though I still don’t really see what I’m going to do with all these pins in the same way I didn’t know what to do with all those buttons. I will say that I am more likely to stick a pin on a bag these days than a button, but only slightly. Like, what once had a 0% chance of happening now has a 5% chance of happening. Plus, free digital comic from Oni Press! That’s cool. Oni Press used to be my favorite indie comic publisher back in the day, looking forward to seeing what they’ve got going on in “Letter 44”.
Happiness: ♥ ♥ ♥

Space Invader Vinyl Invader

Of course there would be a Space Invader item. Probably the biggest no brainer of the bunch. I pretty much love whatever figurines they include in Loot Crate and this is no exception. Plus, it doesn’t get much more retro gaming iconic than a Space Invader. This guy will definitely be on display with the rest of my figurines. Ever threatening. To invade.
Happiness: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

So that’s it, I will admit that I was initially a little disappointed with this crate, but the more I think about it, the more it kind of grew on me. The only thing I will say that was a little disappointment was the lack of Invader Zim swag. Not only am I a big Invader Zim fan, but they also clearly had a deal with Oni Press, who are presently publishing the Invader Zim comic book. Think about that guys. Invader Zim. Here’s a pic of where the Space Invader ended up:

Keith does all sorts of things here on 9to5.cc, he works with the other founders on 9to5 (illustrated), co-hosts our two podcasts: The 9to5 Entertainment System and Go Plug Yourself and blogs here as The Perspicacious Geek.