What do we know about Goliath of Gath? Not that much if you’d asked Scottish cartoonist Tom Gauld, and with his new graphic novel,  Goliath, from Drawn & Quarterly, he attempts to expand a bit on the story of this giant. Those familiar with the Bible story of Goliath will know him as a ruthless pagan, hell bent on blood, conquer, and challenging one to meet him on the battle field. Well we all know how that story ended, but Gauld isn’t satisfied, and in this graphic novel he goes on a quest to explore the more human side of the giant who fell by stone.

The first task Gauld sets to is stripping away the religious aspect of the story. The only mentions of it are quotations from the Bible that set up certain portions in the story. As this epic opens, we’re introduced to our giant; more gentle than menace, Goliath spends his day doing administrative paper work and hardly seems the warrior type. In fact, as the story opens, Goliath is changing shifts so that he can do more paperwork.

Soon, Goliath finds himself at the center of ending the conflict between the Philistines and Israel. He’s measured for armor, given a shield bearer, and sent on a quest to challenge one Israeli warrior, brave enough to take him on. He announces himself day by day, the reluctant warrior even considers abandoning his post at one point, until that fateful day when his opponent shows up and ends it in one fell swoop.

Gauld’s interpretation of history’s most ruthless giant is heartbreaking and sympathetic, and in doing so restores Goliath to a more human status. He also slaps scripture in the face by having him fall backwards as he dies (In the Bible he falls forward, making for some dispute.). But it’s the human aspect of Goliath’s demise that really makes this story engaging; a misunderstood man a midst those that seek to use him for purposes that are  unbecoming of him and that ultimately cost him his life. Grab a hanky, you’ll be in for some water works.