There are places and situations where one definitely expects to run into octopuses – in seas and oceans, on other planets, in brothels and harems (much like one can put a box in the middle of the room and a cat will suddenly appear to sit in it, even when one does not own a cat, a nearly-naked woman is almost guaranteed to summon an octopus). But sometimes the presence of tentacles is quite unexpected. Just when you think you’re safe – no, oops, a touch of the cephalopod springs abruptly into your life.
Tentacles at the cinema? No way. What would they be doing there?
« He turns into a monster at the touch of a pretty girl! » Say, that sounds familiar… This is Gross Pointno. 11 (May 1998), cover by Roger Langridge. This nearly-forgotten comic (so forgotten, in fact, that Google will try to correct you if you look its title up) is a delight for those of us who like to bask in a Halloween mood year-round. The plot is not exactly original, yet beautiful art by Roger Langridge makes it a very enjoyable read, especially given the latter’s propensity to add little jokes to the script. Unfortunately, too many issues are sloppily pencilled by Joe Staton, whose art cannot be entirely redeemed, even by Langridge inking it.
Because I’m nice and this January 1st, here’s a link to all the issues of Gross Point, to save you the trouble of hunting them down.
A page from “Welcome to Gross Point”, pencilled by S.M. Taggart and inked by Roger Langridge.
Or you purchase a box of doughnuts and then…
Wacky Packages no. 17 (All-new Series 7), 2010. Art by David Gross, I believe.
How would you feel about going back to the office after the holidays and finding a multi-tasking octopus taking over your duties?
Hogan’s Alleyno. 21, February 2017. The hard-working octopus (it must have been hard to find pants that fit him, but octopuses are dedicated workers!) is drawn by Jack Davis, of course.
I’d say the most unexpected tentacles of all would be found in a For Better or For Worse strip. There’s no way that would happen.
There was a five year period at National Lampoon when the magazine was peaking in the mid-1970’s when Michael O’Donahue would go on these genius high concept prose benders. A typical example would be some 6 page ultimate frat hazing diary which would combine elements of Charles Dickens, Tom Brown’s School Days and the greatest hits (or floggings) of the Marquis de Sade. Piss yourself hilarious stuff. Then the coke would wear off and/or he would lose interest and not know or care how he ended them. MANY of them would just abruptly end with, “…and they all run over by a bus. The End.”
Your “…and they were all carried off by a giant squid” reminded me of this bit of recurring insanity from my well-spent youth.
Who's Out There? 
Great post. RE-posted on twitter @trefology
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There was a five year period at National Lampoon when the magazine was peaking in the mid-1970’s when Michael O’Donahue would go on these genius high concept prose benders. A typical example would be some 6 page ultimate frat hazing diary which would combine elements of Charles Dickens, Tom Brown’s School Days and the greatest hits (or floggings) of the Marquis de Sade. Piss yourself hilarious stuff. Then the coke would wear off and/or he would lose interest and not know or care how he ended them. MANY of them would just abruptly end with, “…and they all run over by a bus. The End.”
Your “…and they were all carried off by a giant squid” reminded me of this bit of recurring insanity from my well-spent youth.
LikeLiked by 1 person