An Unlikely Hero
In his newest picturebook, Nobody Likes a Goblin, author and illustrator Ben Hatke 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 Hatke's story, the goblin is the hero.
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 Hatke's other books. Characteristic of his distinctive illustration style and what I like to call "friendly fantasy", Hatke 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 Hatke'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, Hatke plays to all of his strengths and blurs the line between the picturebook and the graphic novel.
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. 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, such as Julia's House for Lost Creatures. In both stories, the characters create for themselves a family of misfits. And this is where they finally find a place of acceptance.