The Nice House by the Sea is likely many people’s most anticipated comic of the year. It has been a year and a half since the previous series, The Nice House on the Lake, wrapped up, and there are more questions than answers. A big one is how writer James Tynion IV and artist Álvaro Martínez Bueno will make this new series with an entirely new cast connect to the previous series or do its own thing. The answer lies in this first issue!
The Nice House by the Sea #1 is visionary. Tynion and Bueno handle characters well while building a web of intrigue between them. There’s also a larger story unfolding, with the aid that the reader knows what’s going on. Gone is the need to fully explain the end of the world, the whole deal with the “friend” who brought them to their vacation home, and even the capabilities of their new home.
The issue opens with Oliver talking directly to the reader. He sits by the ocean with skeletons surrounding him. We soon learn he’s 33 and an accomplished actor in his field with many awards. Tynion and Bueno make you trust him as we learn he tried to give someone a chance, knowing the world would end soon. He seems kind, calm, and accomplished at a level where he’s at peace.
Would you warn someone the end is coming?
Credit: DC Comics
That’s a common theme among the other guests, who all seem to win awards in their fields. Fans of the first series will note that the guests were picked because the alien wanted to save them when he should have been selecting the best of the best. It appears that in this vacation spot, the alien did as he was supposed to.
Building off the last series, these guests are more aware of what is happening. It appears the alien gave them a little more credit to the situation, which changes their overall vibe. Instead of thinking this is a vacation spot, they’re all happy and aware of what happened. They’re making the best of this fantasy world where they can choose the weather or get whatever they want.
A new wrinkle in this issue is how the guests can augment their looks. The guests in The Nice House on the Lake figured out they couldn’t die and had fun with it, but right off the bat, we see some guests abusing the power to change their appearance. It’s an interesting element as it says something about their vanity and suggests characters could make themselves look like other guests. It’s a horrifying notion when you consider how dark Tynion and Bueno could take this series.
Tension rises when the weather is messed with, and the entire group doesn’t decide. This group or one big happy family isn’t on the same page. Given how the issue ends, one could see the slight tension turn into outright war.
Bueno’s artwork and Jordie Bellaire’s colors are as good as ever. As I said, the characters are fully realized and real, thanks to realistic artistry. The play of light is a big part of the story, such as when Oliver is on the water or when the alien uses his powers. The streaky use of color is gone, and there is a drabber, grayer feel here, possibly on purpose.
Somewhat surprisingly, this issue is not new reader-friendly. I assumed we’d get a fresh group and take, but there’s a lot you need to know to avoid feeling confused. As a superfan of the last series, I find it incredible, but I could see new readers feeling a bit lost. Do yourself a favor if you are a new reader and read The Nice House on the Lake!
The Nice House by the Sea reveals a group of characters who seem entitled and undeserving of the gifts they’re well aware of. It starkly contrasts the motley group of guests in the last series, creating an exciting new dynamic of characters worth investing in. The Nice House by the Sea uses its ensemble cast superbly to introduce a fluid and wonderfully relaxed set of new characters, only to pull the rug out and stamp on it with its sci-fi horror genius.
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