Octopus Pie: Volume 3

Octopus Pie (definitive collection)

by Meredith Gran

In this third Ignatz Award-winning volume of the OCTOPUS PIE series, the chaotic magic of Brooklyn continues to complicate Eve and her friends' lives. But while they explore new realms of adulthood — and evaluate their own happiness — the stakes are beginning to rise.

“[A] blend of light-hearted comedy and deeper, hard-to-let-go-of meditations on the struggle for what 'being a grown up' actually means.” — The Onion's A.V. Club

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Slice Of Life, Comedy, Webcomic, Fiction

Paperback

Published April 27, 2016

About the author

Meredith Gran lives and work in Brooklyn as a freelance comic artist & occasional animator. She's been drawing the webcomic Octopus Pie since 2007. She teaches a weekly webcomics course at the School of Visual Arts. She also wrote and drew the Eisner-nominated Adventure Time comic book spin-off, Marceline & the Scream Queens.

Reviews

[Stewart Tame · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original Review: This was my favorite of the first three volumes of Octopus Pie. The strip finally hits its stride and starts living up to the promise of Gran's earlier work. I think it's mostly a matter of getting the timing right. Previous storylines seemed either too long or too short or just ... off, somehow. Gran mixes humor and drama in ways that I don't think I've ever seen before. It's a unique blend that demands just the right touch, not too light, but not too heavy either. It took three volumes, but I think she's got it exactly right. Or perhaps it just took me three volumes to get used to her style. Either way, this was the most enjoyable volume of Octopus Pie yet.

2026 reread: Again, I'd be willing to swear that I've never read this before. Sure, it's been ten years. But you'd think that I would recall *something* about it.

Standout moments from this volume include the entire “Octopus Die” storyline, and the moment where we find out Eve is a member of The Guild of the Ristretto, a secret society of expert baristas. Jacob tricks her into exposing herself by starting to add sugar free creamer to his coffee. She body checks him and smashes the container of creamer on the floor by his head. It's over the top, silly, and deadly serious: a Meredith Gran moment. Moments like this are what keep me reading this strip.

[David Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this volume, and even though I've read all the comics before I wish desperately that I had the others here at home. I adore Gran's characters, and the sense of compassionate whimsy with which she follows them on the road to turning out OK. I don't think there's ever been a better comic on the web about growing into proper adulthood in these absurd times, and lord knows there's been plenty of those.

[Florencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love you eveeeeeeee

[Pratiti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have I been reading Octopus Pie instead of studying for my finals? Yes.
Do I regret it? No.
Will I regret it once I get my grades back? Eh.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best comics ever made, this series.

[Sarah Guldenbrein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drawings are getting cuter. Guild of the Ristrettos arc is too good.

[Astrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this quite a while ago so although I don’t remember a lot of the story, I do remember really enjoying it. It’s one of the few graphic novels I’ve found that is more about adult life and is absolutely hilarious! I loved all the unique and quirky characters and wish there was more to read.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a little weird. I will see how the last o e goes.

[Alex Sarll]

More twentysomething metropolitan angst, poor life choices and coffeecentric conspiracy yarns. Charming, if occasionally far too real for comfort.

[Daniela Pérez Nava · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wrote my review for volume 4 first but It's almost the same thibg with this one: It's funny sometimes, others I just get bored with the non-focused- on-Hannah-or-Eve strips. I can't stand Marygold. I don't know why.