Best New Series - The Nice House on the Lake, by James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno (DC Black Label)

Best Writer- James Tynion IV, House of Slaughter, Something Is Killing the Children, Wynd (BOOM! Studios); The Nice House on the Lake, The Joker, Batman, DC Pride 2021 (DC); The Department of Truth (Image); Blue Book, Razorblades (Tiny Onion Studios)

I’m not much of a horror fan (that being said), I gobbled this trade up in one sitting. Tynion is hot off winning both the Eisner and Ringo awards for Best Writer in 2021 and the critics haven’t forgotten him in 2022. “The Nice House on the Lake” is nominated for Best New Series and Tynion is once again up for Best Writer. Regardless of the other reviews, this book is a fun marriage of both the best aspects of the 1963 classic “The Haunting” and the TV show “Lost” (if that description doesn’t interest you then you’re closed off to this theme and wasting your time). The art is very complimentary to the project and adds a complexity that is both smart and engrossing. I found the ensemble interesting and relatable. Even if the payoff fails to deliver (like “Lost”) the ride will have been well worth it.

I enjoyed reading this TPB and I can't wait to read the next one. The end of issue 6 had one of the many tropes involved here but I have to admit that many of the angles and ideas are new from James Tynion IV. Still tropes never looked this good with Alvaro Martinez Bueno on art duty. The guy is fantastic with his concepts, character design, angles, moods and inks. But just as important was Jordie Bellaire's colors. She killed it and I haven't seen coloring like this before. Some pages didn't work as well but man the majority were FANTASTIC!!
I suspect it reads better collected since I had trouble remembering characters' names a few issue in which was annoying. Why have people with names/attributes/jobs and keep switching back and forth? That bugged me but not enough to ruin the experience.