Meredith Gran is a cartoonist who’s been producing the webcomic Octopus Pie since 2007. Set in New York, Octopus Pie began as an Odd Couple-type story, but has grown into a slice of life story focused on a group of friends. It’s through these characters that Gran shows readers how versatile of a storyteller she is. Teetering between comedy and drama, Octopus Pie captures not only the exciting or chaotic times in life, but also the quiet and introspective moments.
All of Gran’s storytelling would not have the impact it does if it weren’t for her art. Over the years she’s refined her character designs, making them iconic and instantaneously recognizable. From there, each of her characters became better actors. As Gran became more familiar with them she began using shorthanded, cartoonish expressions to make theme emote.
In addition to telling her own stories, Gran also wrote and drew Marceline and the Scream Queens, an Adventure Time mini-series for Boom Studios. And just yesterday it was announced that she had been nominated for an Ignatz Award. If you’re unfamiliar with Meredith Gran and her work, you’ve got plenty of wonderful cartooning to consume.
Cover to Listen at Home with Octopus Pie
Eve and Hannah, then and now
Page from the Ignatz nominated Brownout Biscuit, November 2010
Page from Vacation Day, March 2013, this strip was a coaboration with GIF artist by Lacey Micallef. Click here to see this page in motion!
Strong Female Characters, collaboration between Gran, Carly Monardo and Kate Beaton
Illustration of The XX for Hype Machine
Print made for Telegraph Gallery
Marceline character study
Page from Marceline and the Scream Queens #4
