I enjoyed this comic. It was so creative. I loved the symbols for the different careers of the people invited to the house. The house was amazing. I wish i could visit on vacation only that is. I found it fun that the writer included the back stories. I loved the variety of different friends and their histories. The story sucked me in made me want to know what is going to happen now. After seeing some of the great art in the comic I felt the front cover could have had a better one but I still liked it. This had many diverse avenues to get into. I stayed interested with all the different communication methods used in the story as well. Great first volume.

Thank you NetGalley and DC Comics for this eArc!
Regarding comics and graphic novels, the art is very important to me as I feel that it determines how the story is conveyed. The Nice House on the Lake definitely had a unique art style. and even if I wasn’t the biggest fan(wasn’t as detailed as I would have liked), I felt like it was suited to the vibe of the story. Plot wise, the drastic shifts from normalcy to chaos caught me off guard, and I liked that about it. It was also nice to have characters where I felt that I was actually getting a sense of the relationships they had with each other. It was a bit slow progressing at first, but it defnitiely sped up later on. Some of the dialogue seemed a bit clustered in some areas, but overall I thought this was an enjoyable read.

The Nice House on the Lake is another triumph for the Author of Something is Killing the Children.

This graphic novel had a compelling story that I devoured in one sitting. There are 6 volumes included in this book, which is great because I don’t think I could have waited to see what happened next.

After the worse year of their lives, a group of people from various walks of life is brought together by the one thing they all do have in common; Walter.

He invites the friends he has made during his life that he is particularly close to. Some he knew since childhood, some high school, a few he just met weeks ago, but he feels for them all. He loves them all and wants to take care of them.

Most that were invited come, the house on the lake is more like a multi-billionaire’s getaway than a vacation house. There is no desire that can not be fulfilled, they only have to ask.

They all trust Walter, even if he is a little strange. They are all used to his odd behavior or questions. While there, they learn via the internet that the world has come to an end. Horrible videos are watched of people melting in the streets, buildings, and entire cities burning to the ground. When they decide they have to go home, to try to save those they love, that is when they find out exactly what Walter wants, and what he is.

Great, great story. All graphic novels should have this deep plot, this well-created world, and characters. You can feel their fear, their horror. You instantly put yourself in their place. What would you do if the world was ending, everyone you knew was dying and you were locked in a luxury house with no means of leaving?

Like Tynion’s other novels, I cannot wait for the next one. Whatever story he decides to tell, whatever fun-house ride he wants me to get on, I want to be first in line!

Highly recommended.

Thanks to @netgalley DC Entertainment, DC Comic, and James Tynion IV for this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

The Nice House on the Lake is absolutely one of the best graphic novels of the year. A perfect tale for our current world climate, this story creates an apocalypse that feels almost familiar.

So I love horror graphic novels, but this one was weird. I feel there’s so much not explained. The artwork was just ok. I would not purchase this for myself.

**thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc I received**

Nice House on the Lake is an absolutely astounding piece of fiction. If you’re a fan of thrillers, horror, mystery, or even a bit of 80’s pastiche, Nice House on the Lake has it all. While there are many similar works you could compare this series to, this story raises the stakes and puts all the others to shame.

Honestly, often when I read comics I usually end up feeling bad for the artists because so much of the time the story/writing really wasn’t worth all the trouble. That’s not the case here. The art and writing in Nice House on the Lake go hand-in-hand. They work masterfully together; to the point where I feel that I have very little to criticize it on. At first, I had trouble figuring out all the characters because there is a somewhat large cast. However, you quickly get used to each of the character’s different voices and you can figure out who is talking solely by the text. I’m impressed that the writer was able to create so many distinct voices; that’s not an easy thing to do.

Overall, I loved this story. I’m immediately buying any new issues as they release.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher DC Entertainment for an advanced copy of this horror/ current events graphic novel.

Everybody has that friend that makes you feel that you are important, that the two of you are the only people in the world, even when that person is with other people they call friends. A friend that you can jokingly plan on how to kill everyone in the whole wide world. A friend who invites you and those other people, those friends to a secluded mansion on in the woods, where as the world burns and dies, you continue to live in comfort and style, knowing your best friend is looking out for you, while looking at you too.

In The Nice House on the Lake Volume 1, writer James Tynion IV, with artist Álvaro Martinez Bueno and colorist Jordie Bellaire turn an idyllic getaway into a last humans, possibly, on Earth story. A group of people friends of a man named Walter find themselves, trapped in a magical house that never lacks food, movies, books, amenities and even has overnight deliveries, while the world burns on Twitter, outside of the force field that contains them. Mysteries abound, symbols take on meanings, and Walter turns out to be more than human. From here it gets weirder.

The story is very good. Spooky, and with a strong COVID influence, and characters that stay with the reader. Mr. Tynion is a very good writer and is able to convey quite alot in just simple dialogue, much better than most comic writers. The story, no matter how strange just seems to work, due to the strong cast, the writing and the art that can go from normal, to crazy and back again, without being distracting or losing the reader. The characters seem to actually have relationships with each other, and the art conveys that well. Another art team I think would have been a detriment to the story. Having a cover from artist Bill Sienkiewicz, who is obvious influence is just more icing for this cake.

A very good story that I hope continues to stay strong. The plot is interesting, there is a sense that the story could go anywhere, and at this point I am not sure where it is going. The characters are all interesting and clear individuals, and the art is really gorgeous and scary all on the same page. Fans of Mr. Tynion will enjoy this, as will fans of spooky stories and great comic art.

3.5 stars

(This is a review for vol 1, which collects issues 1-6)

A pretty exciting & mysterious story which I won’t try to describe because I don’t want to spoil anything! Good art & dialogue.

[What I liked:]

•The story is pretty creative & unfolds in an exciting way. How the cast of MC’s is introduced is a nice hook. Seeing how the different characters react in the intense situation that unfolds lends a good narrative framework.

•The art is detailed, expressive, & sophisticated. I especially like the backgrounds. There are great details that lend a lot to the characterization, for example, the way Walter’s glasses lenses are rendered give this air of mystery to him since we can never see his eyes.

•Well, apparently there are more issues to come & I look forward to seeing how the story develops. There is definitely a lot more to be explored, both in terms of character development & plot.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•The character development isn’t very even. That said, there are 10 guests at the house + Walter, & we’re only 6 issues in, so likely this will get evened out more. But Ryan, the artist, is the focus of the story at the beginning, & then she barely gets any screen time for the rest of the story. Hopefully it comes back to her in future issues.

•I’m being vague here in order not to spoil, but the “choices” don’t make much sense. Why have both an artist & a painter? Why have a consultant or accountant at all, since surely other professions would be more relevant? Why choose all young people at the beginning of their careers, since wouldn’t it be better to choose world class experts who might be famous, from other countries, or over 40? (Like perhaps professors that Walter had met?) It’s implied that Walter fudged his criteria, though, so this might get explained better later on.

CW: substance abuse, suicide, physical violence, murder

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

Unlike Something is Killing the Children, this horror series starts off on a slow note. Although the basic storyline is revealed almost immediately, it takes a while before the reader starts to care about what going on. Fortunately, by the time the last issue in this collection ends, you should be very interested indeed.

I can't really say too much without giving away spoilers. But what would you think if an old friend asked you to take a week's vacation in a beautiful house? Sign me up, right? Your initial instinct may be what keeps you alive, but it may also be what kills your soul.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.