Scott Pilgrim (Volume 2): Scott Pilgrim Versus The World: Scott Pilgrim Versus the World v. 2 (Paperback)

Volume 2 picks up pretty much straight after the genius "Precious Little Life", and while I'd recommend the first volume both purely on its own excellent merits and as part of the ongoing story, I'm not even sure you'd need to have read it to be swept up by this. Scott's obsessive high-schooler Knives Chau lives up to her name in a hilarious, art-vandalising face-off with Ramona Flowers, Scott faces the second of Ramona's seven evil ex-boyfriends - a sell-out actor who he keeps confusing with Luke Wilson - and his band get the opportunity to move into the big league. The mysteries from Volume 1 - what the hell keeps happening to Ramona's head?! - deepen, while new facets of Scott's life - particularly his own past relationships - are revealed.

The art is fantastic, every page intriguing, and the story is a runaway train of sheer inventiveness. However - and here it reminds me of another brilliant graphic novel series, Jeff Smith's 'Bone' - none of the wackiness or joyful lunacy ever obscures the heart this comic has, which beats on every page. This is a moving look at the pitfalls and springboards of any new courtship, the trials and worries everyone has to face, the rewards and the sorrow that relationships can entail. Bryan Lee O'Malley is a man who clearly wears his heart on the sleeve of the wackiest, coolest-looking shirt you ever saw.

In summary - buy this book. In fact, buy two copies - one to keep close, and one to share with all the people you care about. Oh, and maybe a third to keep in the kitchen, so you have its recipe for a delicious vegan shepherd's pie handy.

Fun fact: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is complete and utter genius.

Volume 2 picks up pretty much straight after the genius "Precious Little Life", and while I'd recommend the first volume both purely on its own excellent merits and as part of the ongoing story, I'm not even sure you'd need to have read it to be swept up by this. Scott's obsessive high-schooler Knives Chau lives up to her name in a hilarious, art-vandalising face-off with Ramona Flowers, Scott faces the second of Ramona's seven evil ex-boyfriends - a sell-out actor who he keeps confusing with Luke Wilson - and his band get the opportunity to move into the big league. The mysteries from Volume 1 - what the hell keeps happening to Ramona's head?! - deepen, while new facets of Scott's life - particularly his own past relationships - are revealed.

The art is fantastic, every page intriguing, and the story is a runaway train of sheer inventiveness. However - and here it reminds me of another brilliant graphic novel series, Jeff Smith's 'Bone' - none of the wackiness or joyful lunacy ever obscures the heart this comic has, which beats on every page. This is a moving look at the pitfalls and springboards of any new courtship, the trials and worries everyone has to face, the rewards and the sorrow that relationships can entail. Bryan Lee O'Malley is a man who clearly wears his heart on the sleeve of the wackiest, coolest-looking shirt you ever saw.

In summary - buy this book. In fact, buy two copies - one to keep close, and one to share with all the people you care about. Oh, and maybe a third to keep in the kitchen, so you have its recipe for a delicious vegan shepherd's pie handy.

Fun fact: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is complete and utter genius.