Warhammer 40.000 is not just a dystopian vision of the future; the universe is also a sharp satire of our real world. Of course, there are certain parallels that must not be absent – but one is absurd even for Warhammer: Da Red Gobbo!
In many places, Warhammer draws on models from our reality: the well-known Ultramarines, for example, are based on ancient Rome, Space Wolves and the “Dwarfs” of the Votann conglomerate have a similar culture to Vikings.
This also applies to Warhammer Fantasy, where Wood Elves are very similar to the fairy realm from Celtic mythology – the leaders even have almost the same names, Oberon and Orion. And of course, Warhammer aims to establish a certain connection with the similarity, solely for the critical social aspect of the world.
However, Games Workshop has created a character who has become, more or less by accident, the counterpart of one of the most famous mythological figures of our world, Santa Claus. Behind “Red Gobbo” lies actually a completely different idea, one that fits more with socialist caricatures.
This little green guy in a red coat loves to deliver gifts (of course in a Warhammer way) and has a list of “naughty children,” only missing the white beard. And it all started with a revolution among the belligerent Orks.
Da Boss von da Revolushun!
“Da Red Gobbo” is, as the name suggests, actually a Goblin – or rather, his counterpart in Warhammer 40,000, a Grot. Grots, Gretchin, and Co. are a subspecies of Orks from the 41st millennium, but significantly smaller and weaker.
Accordingly, Gobbos hold a lower status in a society defined by strength and martial presence. They are more or less a slave caste, used for labor, livestock breeding, or as ammunition (both in manufacturing and as actual ammunition). Nevertheless, Gobbos believe in the power of the Ork gods Gork and Mork, which is why they simply accept their status. Most of the time at least.
The first Red Gobbo is actually the leader of a revolution on Gorkamorka, a planet where Orks (unwillingly) landed. To escape from there and return to the ongoing WAAAGH!, they needed a ship and the help of the Gobbos to build it.
However, as the ship did not have enough room for the entire population – and Grots are considered “inferior” for Orks – badges were distributed for those who would be able to get a place.
Outraged by the discrimination, some Gobbos demanded equality, especially since they worked harder than the Orks. This led to a revolution under the “Gretchin Revolution Committee” and their leader, the Red Gobbo.
Kein einzelne Gobbo, sondern eine Sagenfigur
The Red Gobbo is not a single person, but a legend. Any Grot can become the Red Gobbo right where they are needed. If a Red Gobbo dies, the mantle is figuratively and sometimes literally passed on to the next Gobbo.
The idea behind this is that the identity of the mantle bearer is not important, but only that the legend of the Red Gobbo continues to be carried on, both among Grots and Gretchin and among the Orks.
Accordingly, there are several Red Gobbos in the history of Warhammer, by the way in both the worlds of Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar. The death of a Red Gobbo is part of its legend, for: the Orks can kill the Gobbo, but never the idea.
„Bist du ‘n guta Grot gewes’n?“
That the Red Gobbo has become the Warhammer version of Santa Claus at some point was originally just an idea from Games Workshop because it somehow fit. A new collectible figure was released in 2019, and fitting to Santa Claus and his clothing, there was a Red Gobbo.
However, in 2021, the idea solidified through the novel “Da Gobbo’s Revenge” by Mike Brooks. In it, the Gretchin Fingwit becomes the Red Gobbo, and throughout the book there are many parallels to Santa Claus:
- The leader of the Grots is an Ork named “Klaws,” pronounced similarly to “Claus” from Santa Claus.
- Klaws was said to have worn a red armor and had a white beard.
- Fingwit and his colleagues are the “fingers” of Klaws and take care of everything… like Christmas elves.
- During the revolution against Klaws, Fingwit has a list of “naughty boys” that he checks twice, of course.
Additionally, the actual model of the Red Gobbo, which you can use in tabletop play, has a special rule called: “Has You Been a Good Little Grot This Year?” with which Da Red Gobbo can hand a Grot from his unit a grenade that… either causes a lot of damage or explodes immediately. However, there are different datasheets, so the rule is not found everywhere. You can find one of these datasheets, for example, in Wahapedia.
Not just Santa Claus – There’s also Christmas!
Things get a bit strange here. Da Red Gobbo is not the only mythological figure for Christmas; he also has an opponent: Da Black Gobbo. According to legend, both race against each other for Squigmas to see who can steal the most gifts.
Originally, this comes from the fact that the Black Gobbo has stolen packages from under the trees on Squigmas – a holiday of the Orks when they distribute gifts – that the Red Gobbo wanted to steal.
A shootout occurs between the two, during which the pile of stolen gifts explodes and spreads all over the city, prompting the Orks present to celebrate:
There are even similar holidays in the Imperium of Man, like “Candlemas,” which has little lore yet but is said to be celebrated at the end of the year.
The Sanguinala, during which the sacrifice of the “Blood Angels” Primarch Sanguinius is celebrated, is considered by some fans as Warhammer’s Christmas, but likely aligns more with Easter in thought.
The official marketing designation that Games Workshop uses to market Warhammer products during Christmas is called Grotmas
, or in German: Grotnachten.
No matter how cool the story of the Red Gobbo sounds, all of it is still a legend even within the world of Warhammer. What actually happened and what merely serves propaganda and the “idea” is impossible to say.
As a Grot, the Red Gobbo belongs to the Orks, a people in Warhammer known not only for their warlike culture but also for being extremely resilient. This applies not only to extraordinary resistance to injuries but also to one of the greatest dangers in Warhammer: Why are there actually no Chaos Orks in Warhammer 40,000? The community has a simple but clever answer
