Xavier Bonet
A Call to the Castle
Xavier Bonet was already immersed in the world of magic before Harry Potter ever knocked on his door—figuratively, of course. As the creator of Lily Medialuna, a comic series steeped in fantasy and enchantment, Bonet had long been crafting spells with ink and paper. But one email from Penguin changed everything.
Unlike most of his project offers, this one came not through a casual digital note, but with a formal invitation to the publishing house’s offices. The moment felt special—and indeed, it was. Penguin had selected him to reimagine Harry Potter for an entirely new edition, with fresh covers and illustrations for Spanish readers.
“It was like… boom!” Bonet recalls. “I went home shaking.”
Following in the footsteps of Dolores Avendaño—who had long been the visual voice of Harry Potter for Spanish-speaking audiences—Bonet was now the first Spanish artist entrusted with the entire series. It wasn’t just a job. It was, in his words, a privilege and a magical connection to something he had carried deep within for years.
A Father's Perspective
Bonet’s connection to the wizarding world wasn’t just professional—it was deeply personal. As a father, he found inspiration in his own children. He credits them with helping him reconnect with how magic feels when you first encounter it as a child.
“My children have helped me maintain that magical perspective,” he says.
It’s this lens—childlike wonder filtered through an artist’s seasoned hand—that defines Bonet’s work. His goal was not simply to illustrate scenes, but to convey the magic of the world: the warmth of Hogwarts, the mystery of the Forbidden Forest, the personality of each character, and the subtle transitions from innocence to growth.
He worked not only to charm longtime fans, but also to invite new readers in. His illustrations needed to appeal to everyone—whether they were returning to Hogwarts or visiting for the first time.
Reimagining a Giant
One of Bonet’s greatest challenges? Harry himself.
“Harry is so iconic—it’s like reinterpreting Mickey Mouse,” he says.
Drawing a version of Harry that resonates with generations of fans—each with their own vision of the character—was a daunting task. Bonet aimed to strike a balance: staying true to the essence of Rowling’s text, while offering a new visual story that still felt authentic.
It was Hermione, not Harry, who came to him most clearly. From the start, Bonet knew exactly how she should look—her strength, presence, and evolution throughout the series made her, in his eyes, the true role model of the books.
“She's a character who shows what you can achieve through effort and talent,” he says. “I believe in her completely.”
Drawing from the Page, Not the Screen
In an era where the Harry Potter films have left an indelible mark on fans' imaginations, Bonet knew he had to do something daring: forget the movies.
“I hadn’t seen the films for a long time,” he admits. “I re-read the books very thoroughly.”
This return to the source was essential. It allowed him to rediscover the details that often get overshadowed in cinematic adaptation—moments of light and darkness, emotional transitions, and nuances of setting. The Chamber of Secrets, for instance, is portrayed very differently in the book than in the movie. Bonet ensured his illustration reflected Rowling’s original vision, not the one ingrained in filmgoers’ minds.
“I’ve had a great team of Harry Potter experts helping me review every detail,” he adds. “The goal was to be as faithful as possible to the books.”
Organic Magic
While Bonet typically begins projects with pencil and paper, the scope of this one required him to work digitally. Each cover and interior illustration underwent extensive revisions—ten to twelve versions per image. Every element was meticulously considered: from the angle of a wand to the texture of a brick wall.
Importantly, Bonet pitched the idea of showing Harry aging as the series progressed—an idea the publisher embraced. His Harry in Philosopher’s Stone is visibly younger than the one who will appear in Deathly Hallows. The series becomes a visual journey, growing in maturity alongside the boy wizard.
He also leaned heavily on environmental design, approaching each scene like an architect building a new world.
“For me, setting is everything,” Bonet explains. “The backdrop isn’t just scenery—it tells part of the story.”
This is especially true for Hogwarts, which he considers a character in its own right. Drawing the castle felt natural. “It came easily, just like Hermione,” he says.
Covers That Tell Stories
To Bonet, a good cover isn’t just a pretty picture—it’s a narrative. Each composition is layered: the bottom represents the journey, the middle reveals the characters, and the background holds the setting. Even the back cover plays a role—offering a contemplative pause in a world that rushes by too quickly.
“There is a visual reading in the composition,” he says. “A narration that accompanies you every time you look at it.”
Color and light are key ingredients in this magic. Bonet’s use of warm hues and luminous textures creates an atmosphere that’s both dreamy and grounded. It’s reminiscent of the fantasy films of the 1980s—Labyrinth, The NeverEnding Story, Star Wars—which Bonet cites as a major influence on his personal artistic style.
And even the spines of the books matter to him. They are part of the whole composition. “The spine,” he says, “is magic too.”
A Hufflepuff’s Heart
Xavier Bonet wears his house proudly: Hufflepuff. Loyal, dedicated, and creative—it's a fitting match for an artist who pours his soul into every page.
Bonet sees the staggered release of the editions as something special—a return to the joy of waiting, of savoring the anticipation. In a world of instant gratification, he celebrates the slow unfolding of a magical series. “That wait... it creates something,” he says. “It makes noise in the soul.”
As the new editions continue to roll out, Bonet hints at more surprises to come. Though he’s had to leave out some beloved scenes, he hopes to return to them one day. The material he’s created behind the scenes—maps, alternate illustrations, unchosen covers—could fill volumes.
“I’ve put a part of myself into Harry,” he says. “Not just to make something beautiful, but something that tells a story.”
Philosopher’s Stone and Beyond
Bonet holds Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone close to his heart. “It was my first contact with the characters,” he says. Seeing the final product in his hands for the first time was overwhelming.
On this cover, alongside Harry, the Hogwarts Express looms large—treated not just as transportation, but as a character with its own role and magic. The iconic elements—wands, owls, scarves, and spells—are all given their due, not as props, but as vital components of the story.
As with any book, much was left behind. But Bonet hopes the future holds space to bring those scenes to life. “Every element has a story,” he says. “And I hope one day, we can tell them all.”
Magic Reimagined
Xavier Bonet’s Harry Potter covers are more than a new visual take—they are a tribute to storytelling itself. From re-reading the books with reverence to building entire visual worlds from scratch, his work honors the spirit of J.K. Rowling’s original vision while bringing something deeply personal to it.
He is not just illustrating; he is interpreting. Translating memory, childhood, patience, and magic into images that live on the page. In doing so, he hasn’t just created new covers. He’s invited us all to rediscover the wizarding world through a different kind of magic—one made of pencil strokes, digital layers, and the quiet belief that the best stories are the ones that grow with us.