Connect with us

Comics

Review: ‘Resident Alien’ #1

Published

12 years ago

on

The elusive Dr. Vanderspeigle is progressively becoming a crucial town figure in Resident Alien #1, which is incidentally not a debut, but a continuation. As it says at the very beginning of Issue #1, in order to fully get the gist of what’s happened, one should read the true debut, Issue #0, first. That said, you can still understand what’s going on from issue #1. Creators Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, who have already collected critical acclaim for impressive work on comics, such as “Tom Strong” (Hogan) and “Doctor Who” (Parkhouse), have created a highly engaging science fiction story about a stranded alien recluse who starts to live amongst us humans.

WRITTEN BY: Peter Hogan
ART BY: Steve Parkhouse
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse

So far in the series, we’ve learned that a mysterious alien inadvertently landed on Earth after crashing his spaceship, thus destroying it. Indefinitely marooned, he decides to live out the rest of his days in isolation, disguised as the “semi-retired” Dr. Vanderspeigle. However, one day, he is forced to emerge from his hermit life when the police knock on his door, asking him to examine the body of the town’s actual (now former) medical practitioner. From there, the Doc is propelled into a full-blown murder investigation, but he may have also found a way back to where he came from.

This issue of “Resident Alien” really demonstrates the uniqueness of the comic. Peter Hogan combines the genres of science fiction and mystery immaculately, keeping all of the classic elements from both genres intact while maintaining a healthy pace. I was very surprised at the seriousness of the plot; there was a lot less humor than I expected, which I must stress, does not take away from the story. If anything, it adds to it, and gives it a little something different, as most “alien stranded on earth” stories, even outside of the realm of comics, emphasize humor.

I think the funniest part of this comic is that the alien can “disguise” himself, so nobody seems to notice that this guy looks really f*cking strange. Steve Parkhouse uses a classic style of illustration, which works well with the story, as it’s a combination of long-standing genres. The “new-school” touches are subtle, but effective in keeping up with his peers, while still retaining some of the timeless design that has kept comics popular for so long.

“Resident Alien” is off to a solid start. This story could go in a few different directions, so I’m excited to see where our otherworldly Doc is going to end up. Dark Horse should be able to provide some insight with the publication of the next issue, out June 27th.

3.5/5 Skulls

– Reviewed by: Kaity McAllister

Related Topics:
Advertisement
Click to comment

Comics

‘The Toxic Avenger’ Returns with Cover Artwork for First Issue of New Comic Book Series [Exclusive]

Published

3 days ago

on

May 13, 2024

By

With a remake on the way and a new 4K restoration of the original classic now streaming, it’s a good time to be a fan of Troma’s The Toxic Avenger. Additionally, Matt Bors — the founder of The Nib and a political cartoonist who has twice been named a Pulitzer Prize finalist —and acclaimed artist Fred Harper (Snelson) are collaborating on an all-new 5-issue comic book series starring the satirical superhero of the Troma Films cult classic films!

TOXIC AVENGER #1 will land in stores on October 9, 2024.

While you wait, you can exclusively check out the issue #1 cover art from Fred Harper below, along with a set of emojis designed by Harper for the extremely online teens of Tromaville.

“The Toxic Avenger delivers what Troma fans want,” said AHOY Comics Editor-in-Chief Tom Peyer. “The series has violent action, gross mutations, bursting pustules, eye-popping visuals, and trenchant humor.” 

“If there was ever a superhuman hero for these toxic, miserable times, Toxie is the one!” said Lloyd Kaufman. “Only AHOY Comics and Bors & Harper could pull this off…er…mop this up! Toxie and the Troma Team can’t wait ‘til you read -no, experience – the art and stories that the Toxic Avenger Comic Book will explode in your brain, your soul, and your heart. Above all, remember – Toxie loves you and so do I.”

“This series will combine elements of the original films with the Toxic Crusaders cartoon and characters in familiar ways, updated to tell a story of environmental devastation, corporate control, and social media mutation,” said Bors. “The Toxic Avenger is first and foremost an environmental satire, one about a small town and its unremarkable people trapped and transformed by circumstances they don’t control. The story Fred Harper and I are telling is about people frustrated by authorities telling them not to worry about their life, that things are fine, even as their dog mutates in front of their eyes. And at its core it is about a powerless boy, Melvin, who finds out he can be incredibly strong, hideously mutated, well-admired, and incredibly heroic… but still ultimately powerless over human behavior.”

In The Toxic Avenger, teenager Melvin Junko helps run his parent’s junkyard in Tromaville, a small town in New Jersey where nothing much ever happens — until an ill-timed train derailment of toxic waste transforms Melvin into a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength: the Toxic Avenger!

Under a media blackout imposed by Biohazard Solutions (BS) and their PR-spewing Chairwoman Lindsay Flick, Melvin emerges as a hero fighting against BS and the mutated threats that keep popping up around Tromaville.

Eventually Melvin uncovers a vast conspiracy more far-reaching than he could have ever imagined — but he knows if everyone is simply made aware of the crisis, they’ll act to stop it. Right?

Continue Reading