The Nice House by the Sea #9 puts readers smack-dab in the middle of an all-out war, with the sea-house people infiltrating the lake-house bubble. Thankfully, one side has literally been frozen in place, leaving the other to figure out who they are and what to do next. New information on control and augmentation means real changes for lake-house folk, as well as what to do with the aggressors.
As with all issues in this series, The Nice House by the Sea #9 opens with one of our characters speaking aloud from some kind of doomsday future about their relationship with Walter, the alien who saved them. The ongoing tease that things are going to get far worse, and that every character is, for some reason, separated, continues to feel drawn out, but it serves as a solid window into their relationship before the world ended. It would be nice to see these future flashbacks amount to something with 21 issues into this epic, but alas, we continue to wait. The flashback in this issue involves Walter bringing around new friends, and how that feels to Norah and, I think, Veronica. It’s a reminder of Walter’s emotional manipulation.
The story then cuts to Walter, now a dog, witnessing utter chaos in the fabric of reality. Picking up where we left off in issue #8, Reginald is literally tugging at the strings of reality, and through him, we learn a bit more about how these bubbles work. Getting new info is key in this issue, including lake-house characters learning they can augment their bodies. That information isn’t new to the reader, but given its focus, it will likely play a part in lake-house shenanigans. Other small details are relayed to characters as well, like what Norah has been up to, which the reader already knew.
That gun room seems ominous.
Credit: DC Comics
Much of this issue is the buildup to a moral and ethical dilemma that is being saved for the next issue. That being, if the sea-hosue folks came to kill them, should the lake-house people kill them now that they have a chance? The buildup in this issue is largely getting characters in position, along with the other alien Max, for what will likely be some conversational ramifications. Ultimately, there isn’t any one standout scene or impactful turn in the plot progression. Instead, this is largely set up for what is to be done.
Art by Álvaro Martínez Bueno and colors by Jordie Bellaire continue to be great, if not a little stuffy, given there’s far less spectacle this issue. The most striking page shows a boat from underneath the water, casting a slightly ominous vibe, and then Norah looking back, seeing Max shapeshift into reality. She knows Max is coming, which bookends well with a gorgeous full-page splash. Much of this book, however, is made up of close-ups of characters talking in indistinct rooms. This is a character study with an ensemble, but a few more ideas could go a long way to amp up the visual storytelling.
The Nice House by the Sea #9 is a deliberate setup issue that sharpens the moral stakes without delivering a major payoff just yet. The expanding rules of the world and the looming ethical conflict keep things engaging, even if the pacing slows and the structure feels familiar. It is a necessary chapter that positions every piece on the board, but the real impact will depend on what comes next.
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