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“Resident Alien” gets third season renewal from SyFy – here’s a comic collection checklist

By John Freeman on July 22, 2022

Cable network Syfy has given Resident Alien an early season three renewal, which is great news for fans of the series.

*Alan Tudyk in Resident Alien. Image: SYFY*

The comedy/drama based on the comics created by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, published by Dark Horse, ranked among the year’s most-watched cable series in the US.

The TV version, starring Alan Tudyk, has been renewed for a third season, and Deadline reports it will consist of 12 episodes. The series second season resumes in the US on 10th August and stars of the show will be appearing at San Diego Comic Con this weekend.

Resident Alien follows the story of a crash-landed alien. Harry (Tudyk), whose secret mission is to kill all humans. In season two, Harry is once again stranded on Earth where he must confront the consequences of having failed his people’s mission to destroy the human race.

The second half of Season Two picks up in the immediate aftermath of the shocking action Asta (Sara Tomko) took to save Harry’s life. They must deal with the emotional fallout of the night all while searching for the alien baby – a search that leads to big realisations for each of them.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Mike (Corey Reynolds) and Deputy Liv (Elizabeth Bowen) solve a big case, Ben (Levi Fiehler) and Kate (Meredith Garrettson) attempt to sell Patience on a new resort, and D’arcy (Alice Wetterlund) fights the challenge of a lifetime. The series also stars Judah Prehn.

From UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Amblin TV and Dark Horse Entertainment, Resident Alien was adapted to television by executive producer Chris Sheridan. Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg of Dark Horse Entertainment, and Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank of Amblin TV also executive produce.

An omnibus edition of the early comic stories was released in 2020, and collections of the stories are also available.

Peter K. Hogan is a British comics creator who started out as editor of cult political British comics Crisis and Revolver in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before working for 2000AD and American comic book publishers Vertigo and America’s Best Comics.

Steve Parkhouse is a writer, artist and letterer whose credits include work for both British and American publishers on titles such as 2000AD and Doctor Who Magazine. His work includes “Big Dave” for 2000AD, The Bojeffries Saga with Alan Moore, Night Raven with David Lloyd, and Joe Casey’s mini series, Milkman Murders, published by Dark Horse Comics. He has been working with Peter Hogan on Resident Alien since 2011.

• Resident Alien is available on NOW TV in the UK

Resident Alien – Collection Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist of Resident Alien collections – all links are AmazonUK Affiliate links, all volumes also available from you local book or comic shop

• Resident Alien Omnibus Volume 1 available here
ISBN-13 ‏: ‎ 978-1506720432

Living undercover as a semi-retired, small-town doctor, a stranded alien’s only hope is to stay off humanity’s radar until he can be rescued. When he’s pulled into a surprising murder mystery by the town’s desperate mayor and struggling police chief, “Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle” learns more about the human condition than he ever wanted to.

Acclaimed creators Peter Hogan (2000AD, Tom Strong) and Steve Parkhouse (Milkman Murders, Doctor Who) deliver a truly unique sci-fi adventure tale with heart and humour!

• Resident Alien Volume 1: Welcome to Earth!
ISBN-13‏: ‎ 978-1616550172

Surviving a crash landing, a stranded alien seeks refuge in the small town of Patience, USA, where he hides undercover as a retired doctor. Masking his appearance using his unique mental abilities and now known as Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle, all the alien wants is to be left alone until he’s rescued. However, when the town’s real doctor dies, “Dr. Harry” is pulled into medical service – and finds himself smack-dab in the middle of a murder mystery!

He also finds police procedural work to be oddly appealing, and it’ll certainly kill time until he’s found.

Collects Issues #1-3 of Dark Horse Comics’ Resident Alien series is collected, along with issue #0, which was serialised in Dark Horse Presents #3-6

• Resident Alien Volume 2: The Suicide Blonde
ISBN-13‏: ‎978-1616554422

An alien explorer stranded in the Pacific Northwest yearns for his home world, but he’s enamoured with ours – especially when it comes to solving murder mysteries! Undercover alien Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle seeks to clear the name of a friend who’s blamed for a college girl’s death, so he leaves the safety of small town Patience, USA, to hunt for clues in Seattle. And those federal agents obsessed with Harry’s crashed starship? They’re only getting closer to nabbing Harry!

• Resident Alien Volume 3: The Sam Hain Mystery
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1616557782

Resident Alien Trade Paperback Volume 3 Sam Hain Mystery

Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle is actually a stranded alien explorer hiding out in a sleepy town in the Pacific Northwest. His short time as a doctor in Patience, Washington, has kept him busy solving mysteries though! With a few successes under his belt, Harry tackles another one after the contents of an old briefcase hint that a murderer could be hiding in town in plain sight – using an alias. Sound familiar?

• Resident Alien Volume 4: The Man With No Name
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1506701530

Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle – a stranded alien explorer hiding in plain sight – has been posing as doctor and solving crimes in the small town of Patience, Washington. After Harry accidentally exposes himself to investigators who are on his trail, a mysterious arsonist and a stubborn federal agent arrive in town to heat things up! The local sheriff must decide if he’ll remain loyal to his inquisitive friend Harry, and nurse Asta finally realises the danger she and Harry are both in.

• Resident Alien Volume 5: An Alien in New York
ISBN-13: ‎978-1506705651

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.

• Resident Alien Volume 6: Your Ride’s Here
ISBN-13: ‎978-1506713229

Harry’s learned a lot about himself and the possibility that other aliens have been stranded on Earth, too.

He needs to figure out what to do with Honey, the only resident in Patience, USA, who sees him in his true alien form, as well as deal with his feelings toward Asta, his best friend. Brad and Amanda’s wedding day draws near, Dan is concerned about Harry’s safety, and a sinister federal agent pretending to be a new Patience resident visits Harry’s clinic for a checkup! There’s a lot going on in Patience!

• More Resident Alien comics on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

• Resident Alien is available on NOW TV i n the UK

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.