While our trumpeted praise of everyone’s favourite creature type should satisfy even the most rapacious of appetites, we have yet more Goblin Goodness to Gorge Upon. For every time we select the Goblin of the Week, we also for some reason sought to maintain journalistic integrity and reached out to the artists for comment. And some of them get back to us. I know. We’re as shocked as you. But please, read on to hear direct from the brush jockeys and paintmancers who brought your favourite little creeps to life.

Our very first Goblin of the Week was the infamous Mons’ Goblin Raiders, with art by the Mons himself, Jeff Meges. 

Jeff Menges: Mon's Goblins origins go back to 92!!! I have some sketches in my books, that reminded me that of the 15 cards I did sketches for, I had two that needed revisions. One was MGR. Realize here that there were no precedents; other than what I thought of in fairy-tale illustrations. My first Goblins had a sharp beak-like nose. The sketch handed in featured these, and I recall being told that it looked more like a kobold than a goblin...at which point I must have thought I missed goblin anatomy in art school.

Here are some of the very first looks at MTG's first goblins, direct from the sketchbooks where ideas start…

The actual first sketch that came from this was sold long ago, and I have no record of it; but the beaked goblins started in my sketchbook.

You can and should find more of Jeff's art at www.jeffamenges.com