Tensions couldn’t be higher in The Nice House by the Sea, and that’s knowing everything will come crumbling down at some point. The conflict between two worlds, the lake house people and sea people is nearing its clash, but who will come out victorious? The sea folks are incredibly smart and perfectionists, while the lake folks are simply normal folks who were friends with alien Walter. It looks like it could go badly for them, but in The Nice House by the Sea #6, there may be an edge we didn’t see coming.
Much of The Nice House by the Sea #6 is focused on Norah and Max’s conversation, which was also the big cliffhanger of issue #5. They once dated, and there’s plenty of baggage between them. Given they stand at the cusp of possible annihilation for the sea or lake folks, their past relationship makes things all the more complicated. It’s a facet of this series and the previous Nice House by the Lake series that firmly connects sci-fi drama with keen emotional stakes.
After the usual opening with a character standing in the rubble of whatever comes next, the issue dives into Norah and Max confronting one another. Álvaro Martínez Bueno renders Max in glitchy strikes as if the rain is damaging her, which is juxtaposed well with Norah not being phased by it at all. She knows what Max is and won’t let it get in the way of her rage.
Their conversation is interesting, with nice commentary on the lake location, but ultimately, it comes down to Max underestimating Norah. Max also assumes her sea folks will easily destroy the lake people. There’s a lot of doom and gloom in between their conversation, tightening the stakes to come.
Meanwhile, the sea folks have a compelling conversation about what they do next. Given how they were torturing Oliver in the last issue, it’s nice to see a bit of morality among them. They are debating whether to kill the lake folks or try something different. Their decision goes about as dark as you’d expect. Bueno’s character is on point in this scene, with Jordie Bellaire’s colors casting them in an evil red. They’re up to no good, and the visuals back that up.
They’re all so infatuated with Oliver.
Credit: DC
Another excellent sequence in this issue is a montage of panels showing what the lake folks are up to. It helps convey that they probably aren’t ready for what’s coming. However, the effort being put into this narrative seems to be setting up a possible break away from expectations. Buno maximizes the panels well, with only a single panel going with a bit of dialogue, and much of the page is white.
The data page emails didn’t work for me, adding to the Max situation. They were overly dramatic and felt unnecessary to me. Maybe it’s because I’m not overly invested in any one character.
This issue effectively heightens the suspense with strong character-driven drama, ominous visuals, and a sense of impending doom, though the added email sequences feel a bit overdone.
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