An Alien Who is Also a Mum is a whimsical 16-page comic book created and published by Philippa Rice. Through beautifully painted illustrations, Rice explores the universal theme of motherhood, highlighting the love, care, and bond between a parent and child, and how parenthood can awake feelings never felt before. The book celebrates the unique and beautiful aspects of motherhood while emphasizing the common experiences that all parents can relate to.
The comic book opens with a fun but touching personal essay from Rice, explaining how she is in fact an alien whilst the rest of her family are “natural humans”. Before the birth of her twins, Rice questions where she came from, “I’ll never know who planted the egg from which I came,” and in the existence of souls. However, as soon as her twins are born, she recognises their individual personalities and how, although identical, both hold their own special spark. A soul. And with that recognition, although she still feels alien, life has become an “exciting adventure” with her children and the “hard bits” are an accepted part of this adventure.
Through the warm colours and textures created by the gouache, everyday family moments are painted as magical and are hugely uplifting. By the end of An Alien Who is Also a Mum , Rice acknowledges new feelings that parenthood has awakened within her from being “drained” to “surprised” but no matter the feeling, whether it’s positive or negative, it is now welcomed. Rice is no longer the alien “observer” who was willing to leave the planet but is now somebody who is “happy to be here” living on Earth. The final splash page extends an intimate insight into her family home, which is pictured as a comfortable and peaceful safe haven. The colours used are bold and bright, just like her future with her children.
Through her heartfelt and humorous reflections, Rice bridges the gap between the familiar and the fantastical, embracing the delightful absurdity of her alien-mum identity while also resonating with the universal experiences of love, belonging, and self-discovery. Page by page, An Alien Who is Also a Mum shares a relatable story of how life immediately changes when entering parenthood and that these tiny humans can awaken parts of you that you didn’t even know existed before.
Philippa Rice (W/A) • Self-published, £1.00+
Review by Ellie Egleton
