Outside, the world has ended. Inside, it’s breakfast time. Outside, the world begins again. Inside, the children paint pictures on the walls. What would you do if everything around you was destroyed, but you were able just to continue on with business as usual?

That’s the premise of The Forever Home. When humankind brings about its own annihilation and the Earth becomes uninhabitable, a brilliant scientist builds a house that will protect him and his family from the planet’s harsh conditions: the Forever Home. The house is called that because, in addition to shielding them from the horrors without, it also protects them from time itself. For every year that passes on the outside, in the house only 20 minutes tick by.

So, what happens as entire years pass on the inside? After a brief introduction to our characters and their situation, the action jumps forward to six years later. I did the math, and that would be over 157,000 years in real time. Which means that the family—father, mother, daughter, son, a dog, and some robots—have seen over 150 centuries pass outside their window—when they keep the curtains open, that is. By the time we join them again, the barren, desolate wasteland has become teeming with life again. But what kind of life is it? What happens when that life becomes intelligent?

This first issue is pretty short, so I don’t want to say too much about what happens. I’m loving it so far, though. The concept is unique and engaging, and I’m excited to see what comes next. I feel like there’s also a bit of backstory not yet revealed, as well. This first issue switches between past, present, and future in the narrative, so I’m looking forward to seeing more of all three.

If you’re into post-apocalyptic sci-fi with compelling characters, a mind-bending story, and just a touch of existential dread, then you’ll want to check out The Forever Home.

Creative Team: Christian Ward and Sami Kivelä (co-creators)
Publisher: Oni Press
Click here to purchase.