Goliath

by Tom Gauld

Paperback, 2017

Library's rating

Publication

Drawn and Quarterly (2017), Editie: 01, 96 pagina's

Physical description

93 p.

ISBN

1770462996 / 9781770462991

Language

English

Collections

aanraders, Gelezen in 2017

Description

This story reworks the David-and-Goliath myth. Goliath of Gath isn't much of a fighter. Given half a choice, he would pick administrative work over patrolling in a heartbeat, to say nothing of his distaste for engaging in combat. Nonetheless, at the behest of the king, he finds himself issuing a twice daily challenge to the Israelites: "Choose a man. Let him come to me that we may fight. If he be able to kill me then we shall be your servants. But if I kill him, then you shall be our servants." Day after day he reluctantly repeats his speech, and the isolation of this duty gives him the chance to banter with his shield-bearer and reflect on the beauty of his surroundings. This is the story of David and Goliath as seen from Goliath's side of the Valley of Elah. Quiet moments in Goliath's life as a soldier are accentuated by the author's drawing style, which contrasts minimalist scenery and near-geometric humans with densely crosshatched detail reminiscent of Edward Gorey. Goliath's battle is simultaneously tragic and bleakly funny, as bureaucracy pervades even this most mythic of figures. Goliath displays a sensitive wit, a bold line, and a traditional narrative reworked, remade, and revolutionized.… (more)

Genres

Graphic Novels

Graphic Novels and Comics

Comics

User reviews

LibraryThing member msf59

Yes, Goliath is a big strapping dude. He is also shy, reticent and prefers admin work over anything physical or warlike. One day he is told to don his armor and head out to the Valley of Elah and deliver a challenge to the Israelites.
This is a smart, crafty, retelling of a biblical tale, but from

the reverse angle. It is poignant, bittersweet and thought-provoking. The illustrations seem to be spare and simple but actually pack a nice punch. Once again, this proves how effective and invaluable GNs can be. Highly recommended.

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LibraryThing member kivarson

Tom Gauld retells the ancient Biblical story of Davy bringing down Goliath from a compelling viewpoint--that of Goliath. He brings empathy and compassion to a character who for centuries has represented the malicious unbeatable foe. What if Goliath just wanted to stick to administrative duty in the

Philistine Army?

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LibraryThing member zzshupinga

For such a short book, Tom Gauld paints a story that will give you pause for a short time and consider other stories that you've read and whether or not their ending is different than what's been relayed. We often here that history is written by the winner and in no place is that more evident that

David vs. Goliath. David is painted as a hero and Goliath as a villain seeking to do evil. But what do we really know about Goliath? And that's the story that Tom explores in this book. I won't say much more because it would give things away, but it paints a completely different story than what we've heard before.

Tom's artwork relies heavily on a dichromatic color scheme, brown and black, to create simple, almost childish figures that inhabit the story. The characters have little detail to them, but convey the dignity of the characters. The style works really well for the story as anything with more detail would feel overwrought and overbalance the simplicity of what we're seeing and reading.

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LibraryThing member Sullywriter

A witty, darkly comic retelling of the David and Goliath story.

LibraryThing member hurricanehanna

This is a small book with big implications. It does what it's trying to do, extraordinarily well. I'll be thinking about it for days.

LibraryThing member questbird

Simply drawn but poignant tale of a gentle giant Goliath, who doesn't really want to fight anyone but who is a good Philistine and obeys his orders, shouting out a pre-scripted challenge each day until David kills him of course.

LibraryThing member akmargie

Poor, poor Goliath.

LibraryThing member b.masonjudy

Great insight into the biblical story. Goliath as an empathizing admin worker. The panels that really got me were the zoom outs, when the characters were reduced to primitive stick drawings reminiscent of cave men. Goliath has a lot of heart.

LibraryThing member pjohanneson

Brief and amazing. Like the best short stories, it tells a simple story very well. I wish I could read it again for the first time.

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