The Nice House by the Sea #5 – James Tynion IV, Writer; Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Artist; Jordie Bellaire, Colorist
Ray – 10/10
Ray: So far, these series have primarily focused on the characters on the fringes of Walter’s plan, the citizens who came in and out of his life and were gifted with immortality at the end of the world. But at the core of it are three people who know far more than them. Walter, his fellow alien Max – and Norah, the one human who has been in on the plan since the beginning to some degree. Well, maybe not exactly – because she’s known for years, but Walter and Max have casually wiped her mind multiple times. With Max getting closer and closer and their little corner of heaven starting to unravel, Norah starts to realize just how much she’s been lied to, and unleashes on an absent Walter in a dramatic scene that’s just her on a mountaintop. It’s an amazing example of just how much you can do with so little – but that doesn’t describe the rest of this issue at all.
Things are not going well at the other house, with Oliver having been exposed for having dealings with the main house – and his housemates are torturing him for information, taking full advantage of his immortality and their ability to shift the body. This is one of the most disturbing depictions we’ve seen so far of how the magic of these houses can be turned in a horrifyingly wrong direction. The first issue quickly gave away that these “alpha humans” chosen by Max were a suspicious and dangerous group, and we’re seeing their sociopathy come more and more into focus with each passing issue. And then, of course, there’s Max. This mysterious mastermind continues to lurk in the background, but is getting closer and closer with each passing issue. This series as a whole is a master class in tension, and a worthy successor to one of the most unsettling books DC has ever put out.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
