Resident Alien Volume 8: The Book of Life

Resident Alien (Collected Editions) #8

by Peter Hogan, Steve Parkhouse (illustrator)

The original comics that inspired the hit SyFy series continue in a new graphic novel!

As his status quo takes another major shift, alien-in-hiding Harry Vanderspiegel unknowingly exposes himself to the Feds again!

His old pursuers are far from his mind, however, as he and his new family move into a new home. In the latest mesmerizing Resident Alien story arc from writer Peter Hogan and artist Steve Parkhouse, Harry hasn’t seen the last of his human pursuers—or his home planet!

Writer Steve Hogan and artist Steve Parkhouse return to the small town of Patience in Resident Alien Volume 8: The Book of Life!

Collects Resident The Book of Life #1–#4.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Death, Romance, Graphic Novels Comics

96 pages, Paperback

Published January 28, 2025

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

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

As comforting as a rerun of Murder, She Wrote, though mostly just table-setting for what is to follow.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

The pacing in this volume felt way off, I get that they wanted to skip ahead to the big day but I almost feel a "one year later..." would have worked better.

I still enjoyed it, but it wasn't quite up to the level of the earlier volumes that I loved.

I do like the hints at where the next volume is going though.

[Niche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this volume interesting for the pregnancy jitters enhanced by it being an interspecies baby. Though I'd already decided to drop the series given "the lead characters must be a couple" development of the previous volume.

[Alex Sarll]

I don't normally deem it a positive when a genre series lets those elements fall away, and on top of that, I'm deeply sceptical about babies. Making it all the more impressive how touching I found the middle issues of this in particular, where apart from Harry still being drawn as an extraterrestrial, Hogan and Parkhouse are pretty much just telling a story about the experience of pregnancy and new parenthood. The use of montage to keep things moving along is especially nicely done.

[عاشور الناجي · Rating 2 out of 5]

يعني بني آدمة عادية سابت كل البشر اللي حواليها وحبت واحد فضائي وقلنا ماشي عادي البشر غاويين رمرمة ، وبعدين تحمل منه وقلت برضه عادي أكيد ده هيبقي الفصل التاني من الحدوتة بقي لما تخلف طفل فضائي شبه أبوه يموتها وهي بتولده ويكشفه للحكومة وتبقي معجبنى ، فتقوم تخلف منه عيل طبيعي مش فضائي معرفش ازاي ، ومع ذلك برضه قلنا عادي أكيد العك جاي مستقبلا ، إنما تسيبوا كل الأفكار دي وتخلوه وهو المفروض قدام الناس الراجل يعني يستقيل ويسيب مهنته كدكتور ويقعد في البيت ياخد باله من الطفل ويرضع ويقلع ويلبس ويغير البامبرز وهي اللي تنزل تشتغل ، فلا معلش دي مش عادي خالص وكانت حركة بايخة وفاقعة قوي الصراحة ، مفيش هنا أحداث كتير أو للدقة مفيش أحداث تستاهل تتحكي أصلا أو تتعمل في كومكس ، وعلي ما وصلنا لآخر صفحة بقي لما الفضائيين أهله أخيرا بيوصلوا للأرض كنت فقدت أنا الاهتمام بالكومك عموما ومظنش حتي هحب اتابعه مستقبلا ، ده يعني في حالة كملوه مع إنه يبان صعب زي ما شات جي بي تي قال
المسلسل أفضل بكتير علي مستوي الكوميديا والمفارقات اللي بيتعرض ليها الفضائي اللي عايش في شكل بني آدم

القصة كانت هادية وبطيئة بشكل مبالغ فيه وكأنه مسلسل نهاري لربات البيوت من اللي بتبقي عشروميت حلقة بأحداث ميتة بلا هدف ، كانت فيه بعض حاجات حلوة لكن ككل مكنش قد كده

[Kyle Spishock · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Since the second omnibus, when the series arguably peaked, I’ve seen a noticeable dip in quality. It’s not that the story isn’t interesting anymore. It’s the way the creators are now rushing through the narrative, as though we are getting quick overview volumes rather than a well-told yarn.
In this latest quickie, our alien doctor in residency is about to give birth to a half-breed child. The trimesters go by in montages, as does the rearing of the infant. A key character dies and suddenly, for the first time in the series’ history, other aliens join the fray.
It’s all way too rushed, and something that could’ve been stretched out.
Now that there isn’t a killer of the week to be investigated, the allure of extraterrestrial settling in a sleepy small town is wearing thin… and fast.

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

Amazing. Thoroughly Enjoyed!

“SO? SO WHAT IF THE BOOK OF YOUR LIFE HAS TURNED OUT TO HAVE THIS SURPRISE EXTRA CHAPTER THAT YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING”

Resident Alien Volume 8: The Book Of Life promises another reliance on allies as Harry deals with him being discovered once again and that’s exactly what happened.

Resident Alien Volume 8: The Book Of Life by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse follows Harry as he delas with fatherhood. The story is interesting, suspenseful.

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

The pacing was smooth, the flow of events segued into one another seamlessly and although I did not see a clear connection between Asta and Harry they’re relationship developed very well.

Journeying with Harry taking his first steps into fatherhood was heartwarming and I am excited to continue the rest of the series.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Ted Lasso sort of read where there's really no dramatic urgency, just nice people enjoying each other's company as they prepare for a big life change (baby alien!). There's a bit of a cliffhanger ending, or what could count for one in this series, as Asta's father passes away and Harry's alien chums have arrived on Earth to check out the newborn. Admittedly, it's hard to get attached to any of these characters now that they all know Harry's an alien, so they all act identically kind of Harry and each other. A dose of spice would be welcome.

Still, it's a sweet and simple read that goes down smooth. I expected to miss the mystery elements, but was ultimately fine without them.

[Daniel Shellenbarger · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine, and as a continuation of the Harry-Asta story from the previous volume, it works, but there's no getting around the fact that what was once a hybrid alien-marooned-on-earth/cosy mystery/medical dramedy/light romance series has become basically just a slice of life story about an alien guy and his human girlfriend and their newborn baby and the small Washington town they live in. The stakes are low, there's no mystery, there's not much drama, and the most interesting plot development is basically just a quick teaser for the next volume on the final couple pages. Again, not bad, but there's not much to it.

[Mee Too · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave 4 ⭐️ not just for this volume, but for constant body of work up to this point. You can always tell the difference between writers who have talent but lack discipline. There work goes up and down, however, in this series every volume is guaranteed to be good if not great. I really appreciate having a writer that will constantly put work into their talent

Looking forward to this new beginning of the series.

[Darth Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honored to be the first one star review for this awful comic. Between the extremely weird cultural appropriation (literally saying Indigenous folks successfully breed with animals) and pronatalist take (why the fuck would a DOCTOR and NURSE not use ANY birth control at all?) of "everyone should be a parent" and "all kids should be born", this was just so needless and bad. Art was on point though.

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series!

Ever since I bought the first volume, I just fell in love with this series. I don't even want to see the TV show. As far as I'm concerned, everything I need is right here in the source material. There are moments of magic with creative teams in comics, and this team has it. Just a wonderful story, beautifully told. One of the most human comics I have read.

[Peter Holz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh dear. Unfortunately this appears to have become another excellent series that has gone past its use by date and does not know when to stop. A very mundane instalment. Volume 6 left the series with a very satisfactory ending. The story should have finished there.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good volume, but I have to say the mood has changed. Asta and Harry are a couple now, and they have a child. This is a very domestic volume, but it does with another major cliffhanger.

[Andres Pasten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bien narrada, pero se siente como una historia intermedia.

[Terry Mcginnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues to be consistently great. I'd read these forever. Keep making them!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkably human.

[Jessica Vega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked how they portrayed Harry being supportive to Asta during and after the pregnancy.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost a star because Dan was my favourite 😔😥

[Oleksandr · Rating 2 out of 5]

This part is even less necessary than previous one. It is hard to remember if anything even happened in this book.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small tale like the most enjoyable of the previous volumes, but almost too small. It goes from 'expecting baby' to 'having baby' without any real tension, mystery, or excitement.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as single issues and wanted to re-read in the trade.
This is another wonderful story. Just all cozy slice of life if the Main Character was an actual alien.
Great stuff.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome volume! Great artwork and good story. I can't wait for the next installment.

[Roberto Di Fazio · Rating 3 out of 5]

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