Resident Alien has cleverly skirted around disclosing the true name of Alan Tudyk’s character, Harry Vanderspeigle, by having him pronounce it in an amusingly garbled manner. However, the original comic series provides insight into what the character was called prior to the creative vision of showrunner Chris Sheridan. Adapted from a comic book series by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, Resident Alien has introduced several alterations to the initial storyline, particularly with respect to the protagonist’s genuine identity.
Throughout the series, Tudyk morphs into an extraterrestrial being, allowing him to depict two distinct representations of the same character. He has played a pivotal role in the series since its debut in 2021 and is set to return in the forthcoming season 4. Tudyk’s portrayal of Harry serves as a foundation of the show’s unique charm, particularly contributing to its comedic elements. Yet, the live-action adaptation has conveniently omitted a significant aspect of Harry’s backstory from the comics, as it poses a logical conundrum.
Harry’s Original Name in the Comics: Captain Hah Re
The Name “Hah Re”: A Comedic Twist on “Harry”
In the series, Tudyk’s character is consistently known as Harry Vanderspeigle, a name he inherited after taking on the human identity of the person he killed upon his arrival on Earth. By assuming Harry’s physical form, he also unintentionally adopted his name. While Harry has offered a glimpse into how his name is pronounced in his native language, Tudyk’s interpretation leaned towards improvisation, culminating in a series of humorous, nonsensical sounds. In contrast, the comics reveal that the character’s authentic alien name is Captain Hah Re.
What truly stands out is the fact that Harry is depicted as holding the rank of captain among his extraterrestrial peers. Whether this holds true for Tudyk’s iteration remains unknown, as he has yet to demonstrate the competence expected from a starship captain, particularly given his failure in the initial mission to eliminate humanity. This may indicate that the captaincy is an exclusive attribute tied to the character found within the comic narrative.
How Resident Alien Avoids an Odd Canonical Coincidence
Why “Hah Re”Would Be an Awkward Live-Action Inclusion
It becomes clear that the Resident Alien series has intentionally abandoned the use of the name Hah Re. While it may work as a clever written gag, having Tudyk announce his alien name as Hah Re would feel excessively direct, especially after he has chosen to introduce himself as Harry. This also introduces a rather peculiar form of foreshadowing that veers beyond mere coincidence. The creators of the comics cleverly paired the names Hah Re and Harry to facilitate the narrative twist, but such a device isn’t necessary for the television adaptation.