Author Spotlight: Ben Hatke
A few weeks ago, I was privileged to hear a superhero in the kid lit community speak with a small but enthusiastic audience at a local library. In anticipation for the visit, nearly every person in attendance was holding a book to be signed, and several young children (along with one awesome adult!) dressed up as his book characters. Although not in a costume, I was just as excited to meet children's author/illustrator, Ben Hatke. I have been a fan of Ben's work for a while now and his graphic novels have become one of the most circulated series in my school library. Through fast-paced plots, cherished characters, and themes like inclusion, diversity, and friendship, these fantasy books continue to captivate both children and adults. With his fantastic new release, Nobody Likes a Goblin, Ben Hatke once again invites readers to experience the adventure of stories.
Best known for his graphic novels, Ben Hatke says he enjoys the challenge of working in different formats. He first ventured into the picturebook genre with his delightful 2014 release, Julia's House for Lost Creatures. "The picturebook is a difficult medium to master," Ben told the audience. He explained that in a picturebook, every word has to count and every included element must serve a specific purpose. Unlike in a graphic novel, there is no room for side jokes or anything that is even slightly extra to the story. With regards to both the visual component and the time available for character development, the picturebook is indeed an entirely different beast from the graphic novel. However, in Ben's words, "all art is found in limitation." And he manages both of these challenging formats with an effortless and charismatic appeal.
In his newest picturebook, Nobody Likes a Goblin, Ben turns traditional folklore upside down and sets out to defend a character that's usually portrayed in an unfavorable light. From Tolkien's Middle-earth to Warcraft to Dungeons and Dragons, nobody's ever liked the goblins. They're the villains, the lowlifes, and the scoundrels. But in Ben's story, the goblin is the hero.
As Goblin determinedly embarks on a quest of his own to search for and rescue a friend, his story suggests that perhaps the goblin is, after all, just a misunderstood and misjudged mythical character. "And, I mean, don't we all feel like the goblin at some point?" Ben asked us. For anyone who's ever been judged on appearance, stereotypes, or their past, little Goblin is certainly a hero worth rooting for. Welcoming the outcast is a theme found frequently in the other Hatke works, but is most noticeable in Julia's House for Lost Creatures. In his picturebooks particularly, Ben explains how the characters gather around themselves "a family of misfits". And this is where they finally find a place of acceptance.
This book is truly a work of art, and the illustrations merit study and attention. In fact, the careful observer might even discover little surprises throughout the story or notice subtle references to Ben's other books. Characteristic of his distinctive illustration style and what I like to call "friendly fantasy", Ben utilizes a pleasing color palette of greens, blues, and yellows, which becomes striking when set against the bleak darkness of Goblin's cave. White and black space are both applied to their full effect, and give the convincing impression of emerging from underground into the light of day. This transition from one to the other also helps to emphasize the dramatic differences between Goblin and those who live above his cave.
The blended watercolors used exclusively to color the images and paint the sparse backgrounds contribute a soft, surreal atmosphere of another world and another time - one which belongs to elves, skeletons, trolls, and adventurers. With compelling ink outlines and Ben's distinguishing brush strokes, the characters in this story project a strong sense of life and personality. The pen of a graphic novelist becomes evident on several pages, in which separate frames within the overall drawing add additional detail and emotion. In this way, Ben plays to all of his strengths and blurs the line between the picturebook and the graphic novel.
Ben Hatke is undoubtedly a supporter of the unlikely hero. But for this author, the "story is king". He says that he does not create picturebooks or graphic novels with the intention of conveying a specific message or teaching a lesson too overtly. In spite of this subtlety - or maybe because Ben pulls it off so well - themes of inclusion, acceptance, diversity, sacrifice, and courage stand out and are arguably more powerful than if they were forced into the story. A couple with their four children were in front of me in the signing line, and I heard them thank Ben for this wholesome quality in his stories, and tell him how much they appreciated that his books were always family-friendly and appealing to all ages.
Ben's wife, Anna, and their youngest daughter accompanied him during his talk and it is obvious from his interaction with them and from his presentation that family is a main source of inspiration for his work. After all, with five daughters all under the age of 13, inspiration for children's adventures - not to mention drawing models! - can't be too difficult to find. In fact, his characters Julia and Zita share names with two of his daughters. Ben explained that his stories are a combination of what he sees in his girls and also what he hopes for them.
When asked about the obvious inclusion of diversity in his books, Ben admits it is a fairly intentional decision. He says that he does want his stories to represent different characters, backgrounds, personalities, and abilities. For example, the main character of Little Robot is African American. A strong female protagonist is the beloved heroine in his Zita the Spacegirl series. And his upcoming fall release, Mighty Jack, will feature a child with autism. Because of this element of diversity - sorely needed in children's literature - Ben's stories are able to connect with boy and girl readers of all backgrounds and all ages.
Despite how thoughtfully he obviously takes his art, life is not all work for Ben Hatke. The author/illustrator says that he believes in preserving a sense of play both in his work and in his life. When he's not on tour promoting his latest release or hard at work on his next project, Ben can be found in his rustic Virginia farmhouse surrounded by his clan of girls. But his hobbies are not your typical pastimes. Proof: the man can breathe fire. He is an enthusiastic archer. Heck, Ben Hatke is even a self-taught acrobat! For all we know, he could be a fantasy character himself who stepped out of his world into ours. Ben also maintains this sense of play when it comes to his art, making sure to put aside "free notebook time" to just create images for the joy of it. More than anything else, it is this joy that shines through his words and his pictures.
"Everything can be a grand, sweeping adventure," Ben Hatke told the audience in parting. "It all depends on how you look at it." There is no doubt that Ben's own adventure as an author and illustrator in the kid lit world is far from over. In the weeks since its release, Nobody Likes a Goblin has been well received by reviewers and children alike, and is an enchanting addition to an already impressive collection of fantasy tales. With another graphic novel set to release in a couple of months and more in the works, Ben Hatke's own quest continues on. And through his magical, meaningful, and epic stories, readers of all ages are welcome to join in the journey.