Octopus Pie: Volume 2

Octopus Pie (definitive collection)

by Meredith Gran

The Brooklyn stories of love, madness, nostalgia, and displeasing music continue in this second OCTOPUS PIE collection. Eve and Hanna have each other's backs as they navigate the emotional pitfalls of twenty-something life, but there's chaos and confusion to spare.

"It's hard to say where the strength of OCTOPUS PIE really is because Meredith can juggle so many things so well-the humor, the natural touch in the dialogue, the relatability of the characters in the world that she has created. There is a complex, empathetic sort of quality to that world and you feel rather at home in it."-Kate Beaton, Hark! A Vagrant

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Slice Of Life, Webcomic, Comix, Humor

176 pages, Paperback

Published April 5, 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]

This is nice and all, but it seems to be lacking ... something. I'm not sure what. I like Gran's art. I like that she's not afraid to mix humor and drama, whatever the story needs. The strip does grow on you, and at least part of its appeal is seeing familar characters reacting to new situations. There's still a sense that the story is driving the characters rather than the other way around. It also seems, at times, to be trying to be Deep and Significant when it really isn't. I don't know. At times I feel, as a reader, that I'm being required to read too much between the lines, like the writer wasn't able to supply sufficient story so the task falls to me. It's all enjoyable enough, but it just wants ... something. I'm not sure what.

[Alex Sarll]

Creators aren't always the best judges of their own work, but Gran is quite correct in her foreword - this second volume is much stronger than the first, largely for being more ready to evade pat sitcom resolutions and instead capture the messiness of real life, the indecisions and dead ends. It's still funny - the chapter about Victor, whom everyone loves despite nobody knowing how they met him, is priceless. And it's still delightfully wry about modern big city life, from the binds of employment to the risk of meeting unicyclists. But there are places, like Eve's fearful nocturnal journeys home, where it's becoming something even more impressive. I'll definitely be persevering now, even if further volumes don't follow the first two on to Netgalley.

[Lemon Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad my memory is bad because I like rereading Octopus Pie as if it's new to me <3

[Punk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kate Beaton told us to read this, so I did, but pretty much everything about the first volume annoyed me. I gave it another try, and the second volume didn't improve my feelings.

Basically, the art is cute, but the characters are all just bumping into each other as conflicts spring up out of nowhere, then disappear just as suddenly. The relationships aren't meaningful. The moments of honesty are brief. And the cat looks like a dog.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just wish I could make sense of it. Why do I insist on this scattered, unreasonable life?

There's something comfortingly familiar about the general ennui of this comic series. Trying to hack out a living as a twenty-something in a big city in spite of the seeming overwhelming futility and randomness of it all? I think most of us can relate to that.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best comics ever made.

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorous. Cute artwork.

[Sarah Guldenbrein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yah okay, I'm hooked. Characters very lovable. Except Olly, that guy's the worst.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe a bit better than the first?

[Mycala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure about these guys at first, but they've kinda grown on me. They're not always likeable but they're interesting.

[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.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rating for this is on the upper end of 3.5, a step higher than the previous volume. Gran's use of tonal shifts and pacing have made visible improvements, making the comic much more enjoyable and memorable.

I look forward to seeing Gran's style and writing continue to improve.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Octopus Pie, Volume 2' by Meredith Gran is a much better volume. Meredith Gran even admits to this in her forward.

Volume, the second, in which we learn what Eve is short for and meet her brother. She travels home for a crisis in more ways than one. A snow hits and the gang makes do sledding with an odd assortment of things. There is a bachelor auction, a memory of a favorite childhood game show that makes a recurrence at Eve's job. There are run ins with exes and a current boyfriend moves away. One story is about a day in the life of the friendly neighborhood weed dealer. Hannah agrees to watch Park's dog, with funny results.

The art hits a more consistent tone in this volume, and the humor doesn't necessarily rely on the setups from volume 1. I still didn't find it laugh out loud funny, but I found the characters more likable this time.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Virna · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite part was, when Eve and Mor participate in the Supermarket sweeping games! Gah, I hope they have it here. I'll win! xD
The Artwork in this volume is slightly better than the previous volume.

Octopus Pie: Volume 2 ends in a sad note for Eve and Park. Although, this is irrelevant to the review, but I'm so mad I missed my chance to read Octopus Pie: Volume 3 on NetGalley. So now I won't know what happen next to Eve and Park.

Thank you to Publisher via NetGalley for free digital copy in exchange of an honest review!

[Paul Allard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cartoons about relationships between friends and family

Not really my sort of thing: American page-length cartoons about a group of friends and their relationships with each other and with their families. It's all a bit clever-clever without any laugh-out-loud moments. I'm sure that there are people who enjoy this kind of comic but it's not for me.

Black and white line drawings, intelligent and “humorous” writing.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is much stronger than the first one. The characters are established and the stories more focused. I really enjoyed the Supermarket Street storyline and the one about sledding in the city using anything but a sled.

Received an advance copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Daniela Pérez Nava · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun. Victor was awesome.I love his little portrait at the cover.
I still love Eve, and I feel sorry for her at the end of the book, now I have to wait for the next volume. Hope it comes to Mexico soon.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot better than the first. It was more of a story then clips of stories.

[Annice22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review.

In this second volume, the stories focused more on Eve but still featured her friend and roommate Hanna's zaniness.