Lighthouse #4 Shining the Light on The Nice House by the Sea

Lighthouse #4

Shining the Light on The Nice House by the Sea

The real horror – reality TV.

Hey everyone! I’ve got a really cool new #1 to highlight this week from DC’s Black Label andwriter James Tynion IV: The Nice House by the Sea.

This series serves as both a sequel to the amazing “The Nice House by the Lake” from a few years ago (which, if you haven’t read yet, run – don’t walk – here to grab a copy now. I guarantee you will not regret it) while it also works as an introduction, almost stand alone, story. This series is poised to follow a new group of individuals selected to survive the apocalypse, but this group consists of the rich and powerful instead of a group of friends!

The previous volume focused more on the everyday person where this one is on the rich, powerful, and status-driven individuals. Where the last series’ focus was on the anxiety-inducing feeling of being trapped in an idyllic house, this one shows the real modern horror – what the rich and powerful would do if they were given a chance to have whatever their heart desired. I won’t give too much more away from this series because, like all of Tynion’s work, they are best when they are experienced on an individual level. Scott summed up this series in a really great way (and I’m sorry for not giving a direct quote here, Scott, don’t fire me) like this: this book feels more like a reality TV show from the last series. This issue is still horrific, but in a totally different way from the previous one and I cannot wait to read chapter two.

Tynion’s (“Something is Killing the Children”, “Blue Book”, “Batman”) characters are where this issue shines. He has the ability to give each of these new characters a distinctive voice and personality in just a few panels where it felt like I already knew everything I needed to know about them for the story. Artist Alvaro Martinez Bueno and colorist Jordie Bellaire change the style of the Midwest to that of… well, by the sea. The characters are amplified from this art team’s brilliant designs and expressions that complement Tynion’s words. There is just a tinge of the horrific on display here and I have a feeling that the horror will come creeping out from the sea sooner rather than later with this series.

If you didn’t read the last volume, this first issue is self-contained enough that you can pick it up to see if this story is your cup of tea. If you have read “The Nice House by the Lake” I feel like I shouldn’t have to say much other than this issue is more of what you enjoyed. This is a brilliant first issue that the whole creative team delivered, an astounding issue one that leaves me desperately wanting to read the rest of it now.

Come in this week and take a little vacation by the sea, I hear that is popular this time of the year.

Save the world, read comics.

Tripper