Review by Frank Plowright

The Books of Clash Vol. 5 begins with a surprise. We’re so used to stories about members of the Jazzypickleton Cucumbers that it’s easy to forget this world is populated with many others, usually the cannon fodder on the receiving end of a good bashing. That’s certainly the case for the goblins, who’re not the sharpest tools in the box, and it’s among them that Gene Luen Yang sets this story.

Goblins come from Flurgburg, and refer to every other place and people as “ungoblin”, but young CJ, Crag Junior, is slightly different: he’s smart. So’s his father. While all other goblins immediately spend all their plunder, the Crag family invest it because they have a mission. Yang keeps that a secret a while, so we should also, but it’s a touching reference to a story most know. Also noticeable is how Yang subverts expectation about an aggressive bunch in violent times.

It seems Kendall Goode and Les McClaine are now alternating on the art, and Vol. 5 is Goode’s turn to supply enjoyable cartoon detail and characters matching the tone of the story. The goblins look a little threatening, but never greatly so, as they have to be sympathetic for events to have maximum impact. There’s never any doubt about the cuteness quota of new character Fwoomy, who’s meant to be a delight, and is.

Yang also assures that’s the case, investing this visit to Jazzypickleton with a surprising amount of emotional tension stemming from the elder Crag’s unresolved issues. Those are clever, the result of an incident seen in an earlier book and lead to a crisis for CJ who is torn between respect for his father and helping his friends.

The Books of Clash series is never less than enjoyable, and this volume ranks well above. It’s great, and there’s a spotlight on the Skeletons in Vol. 6.