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The Nice House on the Lake and The Nice House by the Sea are two post-apocalyptic horror comic book limited series created by James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno, and published by DC Comics through their Black Label imprint. The Nice House on the Lake debuted on June 1, 2021, and concluded on December 27, 2022. This first series focuses on the mysterious Walter, who invites ten[a] of his friends to an idyllic house in the countryside, only for them to witness the end of the world and be told they are not allowed to leave. The series received critical acclaim, winning four Eisner Awards including the 2022 award for Best New Series.
| The Nice House... | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Cover of the deluxe edition of The Nice House on the Lake, art by Álvaro Martínez Bueno. | |||
| Publication information | |||
| Publisher | DC Black Label | ||
| Schedule | Monthly | ||
| |||
| Formats | Original material for the series has been published as a set of limited series. | ||
| Genre | |||
| Publication date | 2021 – present | ||
| Number of issues | 14 | ||
| Creative team | |||
| Writer(s) | James Tynion IV | ||
| Artist(s) | Álvaro Martínez Bueno | ||
| Letterer(s) | Andworld Design | ||
| Colorist(s) | Jordie Bellaire | ||
A new "cycle" in the same setting, The Nice House by the Sea, began on July 24, 2024.[1] This series follows a different household consisting of exemplary humans selected by Max, another member of Walter's species.[2]
Synopsis
The Nice House on the Lake
The enigmatic Walter invites ten[a] of his close friends and acquaintances to spend a week at an opulent lake house, initially believed to be in Wisconsin. However, on the group's first night at the house, they discover to their horror that the outside world is ending.
Walter reveals that he is part of an alien species who intend to destroy the Earth and study the ten humans inside the house. He explains to the terrified group that they can live without want in this house forever, but they can never leave. As time passes, the group discovers that not only will anything they request be delivered to them, but they can no longer die or even be injured. However, the group starts to see their idyllic existence as a gilded cage, and resolve to uncover the truth about Walter and the house – and maybe even save what's left of the world.
The Nice House by the Sea
The second "cycle" follows Max, another enigmatic figure who has handpicked a group to live in a beautiful house in a Mediterranean setting after the end of the world. In contrast to Walter's group of friends (accomplished professionals in their own right, but chosen by Walter out of personal affection), the members of Max's group have attained some of the highest positions and awards in their respective fields, but were not personally connected before arriving at the house.
Characters
In issue 10 of The Nice House on the Lake, Walter reveals that he (and by implication, Max and others of their species) were tasked with identifying and preserving "Ten exceptional human beings, embodying different core aspects of humanity."[3] Where the in-text description of a character varies from the "core aspects", it is given in parentheses.
| Aspect | The Nice House on the Lake | The Nice House by the Sea |
|---|---|---|
| (the alien) | Walter | Max |
| The Artist | Ryan Cane (The Artist), the youngest and newest selection, with the fewest connections to other members of the group Reginald Madison (The Painter), high-school friend of Walter[b] |
Soko Tanaka, MacArthur Fellow |
| The Writer | Norah Jakobs,[c] high-school friend of Walter | Victor Pace, Hugo and Nebula Award winner |
| The Actor | David Daye (The Comedian), college friend of Walter | Oliver Landon Clay, Tony Award winner, high-school friend of Walter |
| The Mathematician | Molly Reynolds (The Accountant), high-school friend of Veronica | Bob Washington, award-winning mathematics teacher |
| The Scientist | Veronica Wright, former high-school girlfriend of Norah, NASA astronomer | Quinn Thomas, Nobel Prize–winning geneticist |
| The Historian | Sam Nguyen (The Reporter), high-school friend of Walter, partner of Arturo | Henry Allan, Pulitzer Prize winner |
| The Person of Faith | Arturo Perez (The Acupuncturist), partner of Sam | Freddie Beaumont (The Priest), Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus |
| The Politician | Sarah Radnitz (The Consultant), college friend of Walter, member of the Democratic National Committee | Margaret Collins (The Senator), United States Senator |
| The Doctor | Naya Rada, wife of Rick[d] | Hector Aguilar, Nobel Prize winner |
| The Musician | Rick MacEwan (The Pianist), college friend of Walter, husband of Naya | Cherri Campbell (The Singer), Grammy and Emmy Award winner |
Reception
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Harvey Awards | Book of the Year | Nominated | [4] |
| Eisner Awards | Best New Series | Won | [5] | |
| Best Writer | Won | |||
| 2023 | Won | [6] | ||
| Best Continuing Series | Nominated | |||
| Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team | Nominated | |||
| Best Coloring | Won | |||
| GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Comic Book | Nominated | [7] | |
| 2024 | Angoulême International Comics Festival | Prize for a Series | Won | [8] |
Collected editions
| Title | Material collected | Format | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Nice House on the Lake: Volume 1 | The Nice House on the Lake #1–6 | Trade paperback | March 1, 2022 | ISBN 978-1779514349 |
| The Nice House on the Lake: Volume 2 | The Nice House on the Lake #7-12 | March 7, 2023 | ISBN 978-1779517401 | |
| The Nice House on the Lake: Deluxe Edition | The Nice House on the Lake #1–12 | Hardcover | October 24, 2023 | ISBN 978-1779521576 |
Notes
- ^ a b Later revealed to be eleven.
- ^ It is revealed in issue 10 that Walter had initially invited Reg as the Artist of the group and even involved him in designing the house and its surroundings. When Reg learned of Walter's plans and resisted, Walter replaced him with Ryan in the house but kept Reg isolated elsewhere on the premises.
- ^ A trans woman, referred to as "Norm" in high school flashback scenes.
- ^ Naya dies in issue 10, leaving the house with the "correct" number of occupants, but with two Artists and no Doctor.
References
- ^ Tynion, James IV (w), Martínez Bueno, Álvaro (a), Bellaire, Jordie (col), Andworld Design (let). The Nice House by the Sea, no. 1 (September 2024). DC Black Label.
- ^ Zalben, Alex (April 16, 2024). "DC Announces The Nice House By The Sea From Tynion, Bueno". Comic Book Club. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
- ^ Tynion, James IV (w), Martínez Bueno, Álvaro (a), Bellaire, Jordie (col), Andworld Design (let). The Nice House on the Lake, no. 10 (November 2022). DC Black Label.
- ^ "And the winners for the 2022 Harvey Awards are..." Popverse. August 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Eisner Award Winners Include Multiple Wins for James Tynion IV, Barry Windsor-Smith". ComicBook.com. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ "And the winners of the 2023 Eisner Awards are..." Popverse. April 24, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (January 18, 2023). "GLAAD Announces Nominees For The 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ "Palmarès 2024 - Festival de la Bande Dessinée d'Angoulême". Angoulême International Comics Festival (in French).