The Nice House by the Sea #7 – James Tynion IV, Writer; Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Artist; Jordie Bellaire, Colorist
Ray – 10/10
Ray: James Tynion IV decamped for indie comics long ago, but he occasionally returns to DC for specialty projects – and they don’t get more special than what’s often called his magnum opus. A post-apocalyptic thriller based around the inherent horror of immortality, it’s finally back for the second arc of its sequel series – as it’s shown that even with only a few people left on Earth, we’re far from safe from each other. Walter’s house of old friends has been largely coexisting without him, although they’re starting to go stir crazy. The friendly dog padding around, who no one knows is actually the man himself, is keeping everyone company. But much of this issue focuses on Reg, one of Walter’s oldest friends and one of the only ones who knew this was coming. The architect helped to build it from the ground up – while barely escaping being overwhelmed by the cosmic horror he was being asked to contemplate.
But Walter and his “Family” aren’t the threat anymore. That comes from the rival house, the one introduced in this miniseries. They were chosen for their elite status, and are far more involved and aware of the transhumanist nature of the house. And as they’ve become aware of the Lake House, they’ve come to view it as a threat – one they can eliminate to ensure they win this strange alien “competition”. The infiltration of the Lake House is a masterclass in dramatic tension, with scenes of brutality punctuating the ennui of life in immortality. And amid that, we get our first glimpse of our new main villain, and what his plans are for everyone here. Alvaro Martinez Bueno pulls off some of his best artwork in this issue, particularly towards the end with an incredibly disturbing two-page spread. It’s been a long time coming, but there’s a legit case that this is one of the best books on the stands.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
