Dark Horse Comics 2016
Created & Written by Peter Hogan
Created & Illustrated by Steve Parkhouse
In a town called Patience, Washington, lives a doctor named Harry Vanderspeigle. What
nobody in the town realizes is that Harry’s actually an alien visitor to our planet who
was shipwrecked here a few years ago. Since then, he’s been hoping for a rescue that
may or may not ever come—and while waiting he attempts to keep himself sane by playing
amateur detective. Recently, late-night emergency calls have pulled Harry and some local
leaders from a nighttime poker party to the site of a local disaster . . .
I love this town I mean seriously, okay yes it has more than it’s fair share of oddities and mysteries but c’mon what we see here in this issue it makes me wanna move there. Not so much that a Meth lab blew up a building but when the investigation into that leads to the local bad boy who hears everything yeah it’s his reaction to that conversation that really sums up that this is the place you want to end up in. The writing, dialogue and characterisation from Peter here is absolutely outstanding.
Harry’s been in this town as it’s doctor for a little while now. Sure the FBI is searching for him cause well he’s an alien but he’s made friends, really very good strong friends and connections in this town. Part of me wonders how many people actually know or suspect his secret but don’t care at all because he’s the kind of person he is. He’s a great guy, caring, respectful and above all a good listener. I mean we see some of that come into play and Asta has known for awhile now and her father who Harry meets this issue well…
Steve does more than his share with all this on the interiors. I love the retro look of the Patience and the cars and the way folks dress. The way he can bring the emotion out the characters like a director does an actor. His use of page layouts through angles, perspective and even backgrounds or lack thereof really control the flow nicely.
So the mystery surrounding this man with no name who was found in the burning building this issue was seen around town last issue keeps going. He tells Harry to contact his daughter but little to nothing to go on that’ll be a tall order. Though if anyone can do it Harry can. With Asta’s help of course as the two really do make a great pair. Even if it’s just friends right now though I think the possibility for more is there.
There’s nothing like small town life as depicted by these gentlemen. It’s got a colourful cast of characters and more going on than you can shake stick at. With all the interpersonal drama, the mayor running for reelection and Harry’s own past trying to catch up to him things in Patience are never dull. This is one of the best feel good series i’ve ever read.