Resident Alien Volume 5: An Alien in New York

Resident Alien (Collected Editions) #5

by Peter Hogan, Steve Parkhouse (Illustrator)

Resident Alien -- starring Alan Tudyk in the lead role -- is soon to be a SyFy Television Show in Summer 2020!

A stranded alien continues to hide in plain sight in Patience, Washington, posing as the small town's doctor. He has no intention of leaving--unless it's to get back to his home planet! When a startling new mystery catches Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle's attention, he takes a trip to New York City with a close friend, a Native American shaman, and the hope of finally finding a way to communicate with his home world. Peter Hogan (2000 AD, Tom Strong) and Steve Parkhouse (Milkman Murders, Doctor Who) continue their unique, acclaimed science-fiction/murder-mystery series!
Enjoy the fifth collection of the series legendary comics creator Alan Moore dubs, "A pitch-perfect narrative from two of my favourite creators."

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Aliens, Comic Book

104 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2018

About the author

Peter Kenneth Hogan is an English writer and comics creator who started out as editor of cult political British comic Revolver in 1990–1991, before working for 2000 AD and American comic book publishers Vertigo and America's Best Comics.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harry goes in search of someone else like him and ends up in New York.
Because what's a comic book about an alien that doesn't end up in New York?



And once there, he shockingly gets caught up in an unsolved disappearance that only someone with his special skills can unravel.



In this one, you find out a bit more about Harry's past and the woman he left behind on his planet, and all while he tries to make peace with his new life.
If you liked the 1st 4 volumes, you'll more than likely enjoy this one, too.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite story of the series so far. Harry sees an alien code in an artist's signature and heads to New York to find him. I like Harry's trepidation at finding this person and how his friend helps him do it safely. The book maintains its leisurely pace and I wouldn't have it any other way. The conversations are natural, giving the series something of a slice of life feel to them. It's a nice contrast given Harry is a purple alien. I loved Steve Parkhouse's little New York easter eggs like the White Horse Tavern a known hangout for those in the 50's Bohemian set.

Received a review copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extra star for the David Bowie art 👌🏻✨

[Adam Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed watching this story evolve over the last several years. An alien who appears human crash lands in a small town, and ends up as a doctor. Previous collections have had him solving mysteries, but in this book he finds some information that suggests he's not the only alien on Earth, and he heads to New York to track down the possible other alien.

The pacing in this volume is perfect. Almost nothing is extraneous, and yet the story doesn't feel rushed, nor are there any unnecessary narration boxes. A character says he wants to go to New York but shouldn't go alone, and we immediately see the conversation where someone agrees to go with him, and then we're in New York. At no point did the transitions feel jagged to me.

There's some well-played political commentary in this book. It's not Against anything, it's a positive message that goes against certain modern politics. It certainly fits within the plot this book set out in the first volume, and its absence would have been noted.

I recommend this book to anyone who like a quick, easy comic read that's also very satisfying.

[Alex Sarll]

It looks like the next volume will return us to the overarching plot, with federal agents tracking our stranded alien hero, and conclude the series. Both of these things are a shame. But in the meantime, what I love here is precisely the gentle, humane ongoing drama of it, rather than any of the big plot stuff.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first arc that I did not read in the original format of individual issues. Reading it as a single chunk changes a reader’s perspective a bit. It was also only the second arc that didn’t have an initial tease in the pages of Dark Horse Presents (the previous arc Resident Alien Volume 4: The Man with No Name was the first with that distinction) and that kind of changed the pacing as well. This one felt epic. Going into this one, I also wasn’t sure if there was another arc and I honestly thought it might end here. Traveling to New York, New York (the magical city named twice, where dreams become reality) seems like an epic journey that just might spell the conclusion of Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle’s story. Spoiler: it’s not. And I couldn’t be happier. I love this alien dude so much, I don’t want this story to end. But I fear it might. I see there is another volume and it sounds even more like an ending.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent episode in Harry's story, with a not-close-enough encounter with another alien. He leaves Patience to go to New York City, where (of course) he solves a mystery, even though not a murder this time. At the end, there's a setup for his pursuers to find him, or at least get too close for comfort. These books are fast reads, and I'll read the next and final one right now.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Review applicable to the first 5 volumes that I consumed it a single morning.*** A delightful and refreshing series about a stranded ET turned reluctant-detective. The stories are kept refreshingly small, and the two B-stories are dripped out steadily but slowly enough that they never overshadow or hinders the main tale in each volume.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harry travels to New York to investigate a long-lost artist who might be an alien. The inciting incident (Harry catches Asta watching a documentary about the artist) feels so silly and small, but the rest of the story plays out in low-key satisfying Resident Alien fashion. Still, sending Harry to New York means far less time with the locals of Patience, which is a real loss. Might be my least favorite of the series thus far.

[b.c. pellegrini · Rating 4 out of 5]

i just love how many real human friendships harry has in the comics, esp the relationship between him and dan. and how he like dislikes social situations but likes and even seeks out hang outs with his trusted friends, how he relies on others, how he genuinely cares for them and loves the town of patience… i wish the show hadn’t fumbled the bag so bad on these points. also goliath’s story slays so hard

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good. Not much of a mystery to solve. Just a well told story.
This is not your zany goofy (sometimes cringe inducing) TV show - don't get me wrong the TV show is great in it's own way.
Good Stuff.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entire series has had simply wonderful art. But in this episode it was stunning. And the story was so strangely human!
You know what? As I am approaching the conclusion of this saga, I am definitely getting apprehensive.
I would miss Harry. I would miss his entire universe.
Highly recommended.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I'm going to do one big review when I read the last book in the series.*

[Sourov Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[SaraKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good volume. Goliath's story is so sad and I really enjoyed reading about it. Harry's travels to find him with his buddy are great as well.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series feels very unlike all other comics. It's like those small town murder mystery shows where despite having a population of 74 someone gets killed every week and it's up to the plucky unorthodox local detective to sort it out.

So, it's kind of like that except featuring an alien in hiding. And it's awesome.

This volume was a little different in that Harry is off to New York, the first time away from a small town to investigate yet another mystery, but one that might hold the key to him getting home, if that's actually what he really wants.

What I find most interesting about this series is how relatable Harry is, despite being an alien from another world. He's so... human. And I guess that's kind of the point. We're all feel like weird aliens at times, but it's when we make that connection with someone else that makes us feel a little less alone and forces us to question if our current goal is what we really want.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

As he is just coming to the conclusion that he needs to lay low, Harry discovers a mystery that takes him to New York City. Why are there paintings and street art with a NYC phone number written in a trading language only aliens would know? Perhaps he is no longer alone on Earth. Maybe he can go home. I find these books to be very well-written and drawn. This was no exception. And the plots at home get a little deeper as well.

[Travis Duke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another satisfying volume of our humble alien detective. Harry heads up to New york to investigate a strange language that he recognizes. The simple detective story wrapped up in a cool sci fi package is done so well. I love the art, story and characters.

[📚biLi📖 Short 4 Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing. Throughly Enjoyed !

"SURELY THIS WAS A PLACE THAT ANY TRAVELER TO THIS WORLD WOULD VISIT? PERHAPS HE COULD LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THEM SOMEHOW. HE WOULD FIND A WAY.”

Resident Alien: An Alien In New York follows Harry as he attempts to make communications with his home planet.

Resident Alien Volume 5: An Alien In New York promises a step toward Harry being able to go back home and that is exactly what happened.

Resident Alien (2012) Volmue 5: An alien In New York by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse follows Harry as he attempts to find a way back home.

The writing/prose was well written and the world building very realistic.

The flow of events was smooth, you could clearly see how one event segued into the other and I loved to see Asta’s dad being an actionable friend, acting on his words not just saying them, as well as seeing harry’s feelings around him being stuck on this strange planet.

Following Harry through his new york adventures was suspensful and I am excited to continue the series!

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

In which Harry attempts to throw a trail so far that he winds up in New York after reading an encoded phone number. Every day is a new adventure when Harry is involved!

”I guess making money out of something you love changes the way you feel about it.”

I have to say, I really like how Harry is a representation of someone who gets overstimulated. The way he reacts to the intensity of New York’s environment is very similar to how I think I’d react as someone who is hard-of-hearing. This is just a minor element but I adore it a lot! Anything that works to normalize that is fantastic.

I liked this volume’s plot and the thematic focuses on art and love and hopes. That the courses you expect in life may not be what you have in the end, and that the changing of a dream can crush or elevate you. Seems very fitting for Harry’s course thus far.

Again, I’m biased, but I love this series a ton and recommend it highly for anyone looking deep enough to see a review for vol 5 first!

[R.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story for more interesting for how Harry responds to it than the story itself. Harry sees a mysterious phone number written in alien numbers, and against his better judgment decides to call, in the hopes that he might meet another extraterrestrial stranded on Earth. I liked again how this story showed his relationship with Dan and Asta: they're very worried about him doing this and how much danger it could put him in, so Dan goes with Harry and even arranges for some protection to shadow them as they investigate. The actual story behind the phone number is a little less interesting, but overall the volume moves things along, and the background tension ratchets up another notch as the federal agents searching for Harry step up their manhunt.

[Cale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is definitely a step up from the last. Harry sees some interesting symboles in a news report and travels to New York to investigate. In the process, he bonds more with Asta's father, and uncovers a sweet and sad story about another alien, all the while increasing the target on his back by the government group chasing him. A good portion of the story is told to Harry and doesn't involve him, but is still remarkably affecting. The art works well throughout, capturing the big city as well as it has Patience, and even getting to go a bit more fanciful places than usual. All told, this is another very strong volume in the series and very enjoyable.

[Daniel Shellenbarger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry is going a bit stir-crazy, worried by the growing evidence that the people looking for him are getting closer, and when one of the nurses puts up a picture one of his young patients made depicting him as purple-skinned with pointy-ears, he's on the verge of dropping everything and running. However, when he by sheer chance notices alien writing on a piece of art from a famed New York artist, the mystery of the man's disappearance and the thought that other aliens might be on Earth draws Harry to put aside his panic and look into the possibility, and in the process faces the real question that he's been avoiding since volume 1. Another great addition to a great series.

[Kathy KS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry once again encounters another mystery to solve in this fifth of the collected volumes of Resident Alien. This time he actually takes a "vacation" to New York City. After finding "numbers" in artwork that only he can read because of the language, Harry must go find out if there is someone else like him on Earth.

I liked this one a lot, even though I appreciate the Pacific Northwest setting of the earlier volumes. Harry learns more about immigrants, both extraterrestrial and earthbound, and develops more perspective about how lives can be changed.

Yes, I'll continue the series.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well! I read this one in one sitting. Or, one lay-down would be more appropriate, since I was horizontal at the time getting ready to sleep 😴 💤 , but not being able to because I couldn’t let go of the story.

Everything is original about it. Especially the way it crossbreeds genres to render an effective allegory of the migrant experience. Take note that this is volume five in a series that I stepped into without knowing what 😮 was going on. I’ve ordered the omnibus, so as to make sure I don’t miss anything.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good volume of Resident Alien. We see less of Patience this time, as Harry and Dan go off to New York. That's a nice change of pace, and it give Steve Parkhouse the opportunity to draw some nice NYC scenes. We get a little more backstory again. The subplot with the federal agents looking for Harry isn't really present in this volume until the last few pages, which are basically a setup for the next (and final) volume. So, overall, another good story. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Michael Emond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifth volume and I am still enjoying this series. It is well written - the art is solid and it hasn't fallen into a repetitive nature. In this volume Harry goes to NY to track down another alien he thinks might live there.

I warn anyone - this comic series is NOT at all like the TV series that was based on it. But I also think they are both excellent for very different reasons. The Harry in this comic is nice - does not want to hurt anyone and likes to solve mysteries.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was already confused because I overlapped reading these with watching the show (which are not the same) and have further confused myself by going out of order. These are fun, but best read all together-- make sure your library owns them all before embarking!

Recommended for picky GN readers-- there's a clear beginning, you don't have to already be "in" the universe, pacing is good and illustrations are clear.

[Brandon Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little romp with our favorite out of town visitor. A trip to NYC to investigate another potential alien. I'd have liked to have seen a little more fish-out-of-water antics (NYC is a great setting which is hideously underutilized here). But all-in-all, it was a nice little diversion from Harry's small town life.

Fun, but forgettable.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Harry sees something, it leads him to New York. This might be it. He might be saved. Or he might be going into a trap. He gets someone locally to help him out, to make it less conspicuous, or does it make him stand out? LOVED this book!