The Nice House by the Sea #3 is written by James Tynion IV and published by DC. The artwork and cover are by Alvaro Martinez Bueno, and the colours are by Jordie Bellaire.
The Nice House by the Sea #3 is available now in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. You can grab your digital copy from Comixology UK here.
Synopsis
Max expects just one thing from the exceptional people she gathered in the House by the Sea: that they follow the rules. There aren’t many. They’re very reasonable. This should not be a challenge. But Oliver didn’t follow the rules. And now Max knows…
Review
One word to describe The Nice House by the Sea? Atmospheric. While the third issue is possibly my least favourite so far, it’s still a solid entry with tonnes of developments and atmosphere that you could cut with a knife. It does a great job of continuing to build on the intense, eerie, and complex story, showcasing how this peculiar group of characters are slowly starting to unhinge and how the cracks in their reality are starting to deepen.
The first two issues of The Nice House by the Sea did a great job of establishing the world, the characters, and the mystery, so as we entered the third issue, I was expecting a bit more in terms of plot. We have spent the past two issues bouncing around various characters and establishing key plot points, so I was expecting more movement in the story department. Another issue I encountered was the amount of characters at play. We bounce around from A to B to C, establishing various dynamics, relationships, and past interactions, and it can be challenging to keep up.
While the slow-burn plot didn’t progress as much as I would have liked, I absolutely loved how this issue punched up the post-apocalyptic vibes. The combination of what happens story-wise and the art style made this issue feel extra unnerving. Speaking of the art, the style is unique and lends itself well to the horror genre, creating eerie scenes with exciting shadows, but what I loved the most is how the story switches from portrait to landscape when we go back in time – it’s an odd, but fascinating choice that adds to the flare.
Overall, the third issue of The Nice House by the Sea doesn’t soar but hovers. The first two issues of this comic were great explorations of a series of characters in an oddly unique circumstance, and while this was charming at first, the third issue seems to be more of the same. At this point in the story, I feel like we’ve established the rules of the playground, and I’m eagerly waiting for the fun to begin, but it’s still lingering in this cryptic and complex dynamic. The promise of this series still feels extensive and exciting, so let’s hope it kicks into a faster gear in the coming issues.
Verdict
The third issue of The Nice House by the Sea maintains its atmospheric charm but leaves readers craving more plot progression. It hovers with potential, eagerly awaiting to dive deeper into its eerie and complex narrative.
⭐⭐⭐
