The Nice House on the Lake and The Nice House by the Sea are two post-apocalyptic horror comic book limited series created by writer James Tynion IV and artist Álvaro Martínez Bueno, and published by DC Comics through their Black Label imprint; and their Vertigo imprint since 2024.
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 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.
A second "cycle" in the same setting, The Nice House by the Sea, began on July 24, 2024. This series follows a different household consisting of exemplary humans selected by Max, another member of Walter's species. In October 2024, DC relaunched their Vertigo imprint and began publishing some Black Label titles, including The Nice House by the Sea, as Vertigo titles.
Synopsis The Nice House on the Lake The enigmatic Walter invites ten of his close friends and acquaintances to spend a week at an opulent lake house, initially believed to be in Wisconsin. 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. The group then starts to see their idyllic existence as a gilded cage and resolve to uncover the truth about Walter and the house – maybe even saving what is 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) was tasked with identifying and preserving ten exceptional human beings who embody different core aspects of humanity. Where the in-text description of a character varies from the "core aspects", it is given in parentheses.
+ Characters 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; she had been estranged from Walter for many years priorReginald Madison (The Painter), high-school friend of Walter Soko Tanaka, MacArthur Fellow The Writer Norah Jakobs, a Transgender woman and 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 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 +Award nominations for The Nice House on the Lake Year Organization Award Result Ref.2022Harvey AwardsBook of the YearEisner AwardsBest New SeriesBest Writer2023Best Continuing SeriesBest Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker TeamBest ColoringGLAAD Media AwardsOutstanding Comic Book2024Angoulême International Comics FestivalPrize for a Series
+Award nominations for The Nice House by the Sea Year Organization Award Result Ref.2025GLAAD Media AwardsOutstanding Comic Book
Collected editions +Collected editions of The Nice House... 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 The Nice House on the Lake: Volume 2 The Nice House on the Lake #7-12 March 7, 2023 The Nice House on the Lake: Deluxe Edition The Nice House on the Lake #1–12 Hardcover October 24, 2023 The Nice House by the Sea: Volume 1 The Nice House by the Sea #1–6 Trade paperback March 4, 2025
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