Race, species and God
"Goblin" is both a race name and a species name.
One goblin ascended to godhood: The (purple) Dark One, now serving as the God of the goblins.
The gods created goblins as XP for their clerics.
Goblins fight back in two ways: First, the Dark one's plan to use the Snarl to force the gods to give Goblins a good deal. Secondly, founding Gobbotopia, the goblin city-state.
The race "Goblin": Contrasting to the small, imp-like creatures of the Monster Manual, in the comic this race is Medium sized and Green. They are plentiful in the first book (up to comic 120).
The species: includes the orange Hobgoblins race too. Those are introduced in Comic 148. After Redcloak becomes their leader (comic 190) Hobgoblins form the bulk of Team Evils army.
Goblins relations. Gobbotopia
Relations between goblins and Hobgoblins are good when they call all of them goblins. This happens in Gobbotopia.
In Comic 190, when Redcloak becomes leader of a lot of Hobgoblins, he dislikes Hobgoblins, calls them Hobgoblins and treats them badly. Starting with Comic 451, Redcloak starts to respect Hobgoblins and starts calling them Goblins.
Both Redcloak and Jirix use the word "goblin" in their speeches Comic 702 Comic 703 Comic 704 to include Hobgoblins and maybe Bugbears too.
While 93% of the inhabitants of Gobbotopia are (orange) Hobgoblins, Redcloak considers Gobbotopia the golden age of "goblin civilisation". Jirix says "our god has given me a task. No, he's given us ALL a task. ... Goblins WILL take their rightful place in this world.
Claimed accomplishments
After Redcloak's speech a book is given to a Hobgoblin parent, with the words "We've printed textbooks to teach any children you have now about ... the long struggle of the goblin people".
In this book it is claimed that goblins invented guacamole, alternate-side-of-the-street parking, and the oboe.
Known Goblins (race)
- Redcloak
- Right-Eye
- Goblin Dan: Goblin entrepreneur who became wealthy by selling barbecued hydra heads, cut from a hydra the Order of the Stick incapacitated while visiting the Oracle.
- Team Evil Goblins (first book)
- Goblin Ninjas
- Many of Xykon's minions in his dungeon in The Redmountain Hills were goblins. Many of these were apparently Goblin Ninjas.
Trivia
- It is debated whether in comic #10 (Like Enthrall, Only Boring), the goblin guards are speaking Goblin or Warcraft Orcish. Regardless, throughout the rest of the comics, they are shown speaking Common.
- Despite the fact that Goblins are Small Creatures in the Monster Manual, they are clearly taller than Belkar Bitterleaf, and about the same height as Elan, making them Medium creatures in the comic. Apparently, this is because medium sized creatures are easier to draw, and this also makes them more intimidating.
- Most characters give the accurate race name, some characters use the species name: O-Chul in Comic 550, Thanh in Comic 705, Commander "good goblin=dead goblin" in Comic 707).