As a spin-off of a comic of a tabletop roleplaying game, Pathfinder: Goblins! is a fun and lighthearted read that manages to hold its own as a standalone series.

So how did we go from pen and paper RPG to a goblin comic book? The brilliant team at Paizo Publishing took advantage of their wildly successful Pathfinder roleplaying game and ran with it, creating the Pathfinder Society, Pathfinder RPG Beginner Box, Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, and Pathfinder Comics (to name a few). They have a rabid and loyal fan base, and teaming up with Dynamite Comics to create this series is just another way to give back to their gamers.

This month’s issue is broken down into two short stories, “To Read or Not to Read” and “The Way of the Goblin.” The former, and better of the two, is a cheeky take on Shakespearean history and the goblin that overcomes his fear of reading. The second story revolves around a goblin leader’s frustrating attempt at teaching tactics to his pack, and the predictable bedlam that ensues. Writers Ron Marz and Ray Fawkes maintain the series’ tradition and find yet another way to make bumbling, stupid goblins bumble and look stupid…it never gets old.

Though there are a myriad of artists, all of which deliver entertaining albeit average illustrations, Jennifer Meyer‘s cover art and storybook inserts stand out amongst the rest. Meyer scales back the bright, familiar sequentials and delivers charming, fairytale pages in the midst of the first short story (it’ll catch you off guard when they show up). Her attractive cover is just a taste of the four storybook pages.

As Graphic Policy continues to branch off into new arenas, I am sure one day I’ll review some of Paizo’s other products, even though their site states, “players need only the single 576-page core rulebook,” to play Pathfinder (yikes). For now, I’ll stick with their comics…they are a nice break from the Marvel and DC universes that can oftentimes take themselves way too seriously.

Story: Ron Marz, Ray Fawkes Art: Lee Moder, Craig Rousseau, Jennifer Meyer, Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque
Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

Dynamite Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review