• Chapters: 23
• Status: Ongoing
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Tragedy
• Serialization: Big GanGan
• English Publisher: Yen Press

Synopsis

In a fantasy world of swords and magic, where demons and wars plague the lands, where the people are awaiting a grand hero to give them salvation, who will answer their call? Certainly not this man, he's off killing goblins again.

Fight Ye Not Monsters

Would you become a monster in order to fight a monster? Is it wrong to gaze into the abyss fully aware that it will gaze back? A question well illustrated in the hit manga series written by Kagyu Kumo, "Goblin Slayer". This story presents an absolutely grueling tale of tragedy and suffering that takes the expectations of a hero's journey and smashes it into the dark swamp of reality.

It Takes One to Know One

At first glance, Goblin Slayer is actually quite the simplistically boring character. He has a completely one-track mind about his goals in life, that being killing goblins and nothing else. Every single action, decision, or notion by him will find itself relating to the subject of goblin slaying. He has no reaction to sneers and criticism by his fellow adventurers nor threats of world destruction.

The thing is that when Goblin Slayer starts his journey, he has no purpose beyond killing goblins. Everything he had was already destroyed, so he has nothing to protect anymore. His vengeance is his sole driving motivation. That lust to make other living beings suffer isn't that far from the existence of the standard goblin. Goblin Slayer is fully self-aware of his problems, but he simultaneously can't give up because him being that "goblin" has become so necessary to the survival of villages everywhere.

Goblin Slaying Party

At the start of the story, Goblin Slayer saves a young priestess from a horde of goblins and she then watches him systematically dismantle the nest in the most efficient way possible. He doesn't even spare the helpless baby goblins because he knows what vengeful children like them can become. This experience was not what Priestess expected the start of her adventuring life to be like, but she also just witnessed her entire party get slaughtered and defiled by the goblins just as mercilessly.

Given that continuing to fight with Goblin Slayer would certainly only mean experiencing more horrifying madness, it seems strange that she opts to form a party with him. She states that she wants to continue testing her faith in "the Earth Mother", but I think she has a fascination with Goblin Slayer specifically. Is there actually no place for the stalwart, heroic adventurer in this world? Is that ideal just mere fantasy?

But at the same time, being the Goblin Slayer proves to be a painfully lonesome occupation. There is no fame or wealth, only the satisfaction from ending lives. I think Priestess wants to act as a pillar of humanity for him. Maybe she can be her own self-fulfilling prophecy.

Gore and Violence as Far as the Eye Can See

There are a lot of words that could describe the art design of Goblin Slayer. Vivid. Disgusting. Brutal. Every goblin's death is gruesome and savage to the point of absurdity. Blood and guts spew out of them constantly, gore and fat coats the swords once they slice through them, and they scream and struggle to survive to the very end.

This art style has the function of just looking good. It presents the story comprehensively so that you understand what is happening every step of the way. But at the same time, it also brings out that inner sadist in you. You know that those goblins are "bad guys", so there's no moral consequence to enjoying their suffering. So as you watch, you look forward to goblin skulls getting shattered and their eyeballs popping out of their sockets.

I think the art needed to be graphic and vile because, in a way, it forces the viewer down the same arc as Goblin Slayer himself. Do you begin to enjoy the slaughter too much? What reason do we want them dead again? Wasn't it to save the villagers? Are we just killing for sport now?

Conclusion

Believe me when I say that I'd love to recommend this to everyone, but I can't really do that. First of all, it's NSFW of the highest regard as far as I'm concerned. Secondly, if you don't want to see implications of rape, then steer clear. The women of this story are ravaged and abused on several occasions. And thirdly, if you don't connect with Goblin Slayer's story, then he might get annoying with how he literally only cares about goblins.

But besides that, I think Goblin Slayer is a brilliant take on the generic fantasy story. If you want some dark, cruel violence with some interesting characters and strong world-building, then check it out.