That’s a wrap! The first month of DCnU is now at a close, and it finishes with a solid but unspectacular week. While this is the first week of the four waves that had no books average 9 or higher in their reviews, it also was a fairly consistent week, tying the first wave of DCnU for second place with an average score of 6.9.
As per usual, the books will be organized from highest to lowest in terms of average grade (those coming from the average of online review grades), along with their Buy % (like Rotten Tomatoes, this is a meter tracking positive reviews divided by total reviews), some semblance of a critical consensus and, finally, all of the reviews we derived these number from.
Check them out after the jump, and look for a condensed look at all of the books from the whole month tomorrow morning.
1. I, Vampire #1
Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov
Illustrated by Andrea Sorrentino
Buy %: 100% – Buy
Average Grade: 8.9
Consensus: With a 100% Buy Rating and no ratings below a 7 out of 10, Josh Fialkov and Andrea Sorrentino’s I, Vampire is one of the most across-the-board positively reviewed books of the relaunch. Reviewers praised Fialkov’s excellent introduction to the two leads and superb balance of two time-displaced story threads, while being enamored with Sorrentino’s haunting Jae Lee-esque art. This book is pretty rock awesome.
Reviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Comic Book Resources, IGN, Comic Vine, ScienceFiction.com, Ain’t It Cool News, MTV Geek, Major Spoilers
2. Aquaman #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Illustrated by Ivan Reis
Buy %: 92% – Buy
Average Grade: – 8.5
Consensus: Besides one specific review (*ahem OURS ahem*), reviews for this book were very, very positive. In fact, the lowest review besides our review was an 8, with numerous 10 out of 10 reviews. Most praised the script that confronted naysayers points of view on the character straight off, along with a charming and warm nature that was different than usual for Johns. On the other hand, EVERYONE was all over Ivan Reis and his beautiful art.
Reviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Comic Book Resources, IGN, Newsarama, Comic Vine, Ain’t It Cool News, ScienceFiction.com, MTV Geek, Major Spoilers
3. All-Star Western #1
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Illustrated by Moritat
Buy %: 92% – Buy
Average Grade: 8.2
Consensus: There was exactly one negative review on this book and it delivered so much fury and vitriol it’s hard to take seriously (it liked to use the word “hate”).
Everyone else? Loved this book, as it took the things that Gray and Palmiotti did well on Jonah Hex (atmosphere, characterization, story, etc. etc.) and put it in a new direction that is easily relatable for Batman fans. Not only that, but artist Moritat was a bit of a revelation on this book for many. This is a well written and beautifully illustrated book, and it was one of the highlights of the final week.
Reviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Comic Book Resources, IGN, Comic Vine, ScienceFiction.com, MTV Geek, Crave Online, Major Spoilers
4. The Flash #1
Buy %: 91% – Buy
Average Grade: 8
Consensus: Has anyone ever mentioned that Francis Manapul is good at art? Oh wait. Every review this week did. While we already knew Manapul can bring it artistically on a Flash book (as he was pre-relaunch), the thing that people were really surprised by was the charming characterization and story that Manapul and his co-writer Brian Buccallato brought to the table. This book was really, really solid, and one of the best Barry Allen stories since his return.
Continued belowReviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Comic Book Resources, IGN, Comic Vine, ScienceFiction.com, MTV Geek, Crave Online
5. Justice League Dark #1
Buy %: 92% – Buy
Average Grade: 7.6
Consensus: We’ll start with Mikel Janin: I’d never heard of this guy before (who had?), but his art was definitely one of the best features of this book. It was gorgeous and did a fantastic job of bringing the magical and horror elements of this book to life. The script did a good job of introducing the cast and setting up an Avengers #1 like story to bring the team together, but it was a little all over the place and rough in parts. That said, this book was mostly supported and many enjoy the way it handles the magical aspect of the DCnU. Plus, Shade the Changing Man. ‘Nuff Said.
Reviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Comic Book Resources, IGN, Newsarama, Comic Vine, ScienceFiction.com, Ain’t It Cool News, MTV Geek, Crave Online
6. Blackhawks #1
Written by Mike Costa
Illustrated by Graham Nolan and Ken Lashley
Buy %: 70% – Buy
Average Grade: 6.6
Consensus: A latter day GI Joe DC book from the man known for making great GI Joe comics, this was a generally well liked book, especially for a tight script and engaging plot. Nolan and Lashley’s art fits well, but is mostly effective and not really great. The biggest problem with this book? An ongoing sense of “in what way does this matter?” How will this book fit in to the DCnU? How will it last? Skepticism to those questions left many reviewers feeling non-committal.
Reviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Read/Rant, IGN, ScienceFiction.com, MTV Geek, Crave Online
7. Green Lantern: The New Guardians #1
Written by Tony Bedard
Illustrated by Tyler Kirkham
Buy %: 55% – Pass
Average Grade: 6.4
Consensus: This book had no such thing as a consensus. It was either loved (like it was my the GL shirt wearing reviewer from Major Spoilers and Comic Vine) or strongly disliked (by a range of others). Overall though, the grade seems to fit the book. It was a book with a fair share of problems (rather impenetrable for new readers, all kinds of monkey wrenches in terms of long-term fan continuity, just being too thin overall), but it did have good characterization and a solid story from Bedard and strong art from Kirkham (if you’re into his style that is). Kind of a weird first issue, but one that arguably does what it set out to do.
Reviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Comic Book Resources, IGN, Comic Vine, ScienceFiction.com, MTV Geek, Major Spoilers
8. Teen Titans #1
Written by Scott Lobdell
Illustrated by Brett Booth
Buy %: 62% – Buy
Average Grade: 6.3
Consensus: For the most part, this book got very middling reviews with one glowing review from the positive review factory that is the USA Today. Lobdell was praised for bringing the team together and laying out an attractive premise (teen heroes are being hunted!) and Booth earned fans for his highly kinetic art sequences. In terms of actual execution by Lobdell from a dialogue standpoint though, things were a bit more dicey, and Booth struggled with characterization and overall figure work. Basically, this book did a good job of setting things up but in terms of telling a really interesting story? Not so much.
Continued belowReviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Comic Book Resources, IGN, Newsarama, Comic Vine, ScienceFiction.com, MTV Geek, Crave Online, Major Spoilers
9. Superman #1
Written by George Perez
Illustrated by Jesus Merino
Buy %: 69% – Buy
Average Grade: 6.2
Consensus: From Crave Online’s review:
“It’s still enjoyable to see Perez and Merino depict Superman in action and I’d read this book again just for the art. But this “modernized” take on Superman has left me pretty cold.”
That’s basically the consensus. While most enjoyed the art from Perez and Merino, the scripting was overdone and not engaging. To me, it felt like an overscripted pre-Byrne 80’s Superman comic. It didn’t have a hook and the personalities were not crafted well. Even with rather universally liked art, this book was all too easy to come away without wanting the second issue.
Reviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Comic Book Resources, IGN, Comic Vine, Ain’t It Cool News, ScienceFiction.com, MTV Geek, Crave Online, Major Spoilers
10. Voodoo #1
Written by Ron Marz
Illustrated by Sami Basri
Buy %: 50% – Pass
Average Grade: 6.1
Consensus: This book earned two very scathing reviews (a 1 out of 10 from CBR and a 2 out of 10 from MTV Geek), one middling review (a 5 of 10 from us) and the rest were really solid. The negative reviews said the characterization was stiff and the art was stiffer, but overall, Sami Basri’s art was well liked and Marz was given credit where credit was due for rolling out a book featuring T&A that was about a lot more than that. This book is the definitive 50/50 shot of the week, and odds are you’d either hate it or love it.
Reviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Comic Book Resources, IGN, Newsarama, Comic Vine, ScienceFiction.com, MTV Geek, Major Spoilers
11. The Savage Hawkman #1
Written by Tony S. Daniel
Illustrated by Philip Tan
Buy %: 64% – Buy
Average Grade: 5.9
Consensus: While it earned enough to be a Buy rating overall, it also earned a sub 6 average grade. So this book teetered on the borders of Buy or Not Buy. Most readers really enjoyed the art from Philip Tan and colorist Sunny Gho, creating a rich, painterly look in parts (that look is so hot right now, Hansel) that added a ton to the book. Most readers also were a bit dicey on the script which was long on promise but a little short on execution. Nothing really sinks and hooks into the reader. That’s the core problem with this book.
Reviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Comic Book Resources, IGN, Comic Vine, ScienceFiction.com, MTV Geek, Major Spoilers
12. The Fury of Firestorm #1
Written by Gail Simone and Ethan Van Sciver
Illustrated by Yildiray Cinar
Buy %: 58% – Pass
Average Grade: 5.7
Consensus: Let’s quote the closest grade to the average to start, as taken from IGN’s review:
“The Fury of Firestorm could prove to be an interesting series down the line, but I’m just not seeing the draw yet. There’s just too much forced teen angst in this first issue to really enjoy the experience.”
Amen brother. This book earned one HUGELY negative review (0.2 out of 10 from MTV Geek) and one A grade from the charitable Mr. Truitt over at USA Today, but for the most part, this book’s reviews fell somewhere in-between 4 and 6 out of 10. The reasons why are simple: clunky script, horribly awkward and forced animosity between the two leads, comical closing and iffy art. Whether you were a Firestorm fan to begin with or not, it seemed that there were a lot of reasons to not like this book.
Continued belowReviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, Comic Book Resources, IGN, Newsarama, Comic Vine, ScienceFiction.com, MTV Geek, Major Spoilers
13. Batman: The Dark Knight #1
Written by Paul Jenkins and David Finch
Illustrated by David Finch
Buy %: 20% – Pass
Average Grade: 5
Consensus: I can tell you what people really didn’t love about this book – the usage of the term Batty Boy. Or really words in general. While most enjoyed David Finch’s extremely David Finch like art (does anyone do rippling muscles and intensity like he does these days?), some scoffed at the same features especially considering the toned down nature of the art choices his contemporaries Tony Daniel and Greg Capullo made on their Bat books. That said, the biggest beef anyone had was the clunky and occasionally unintentionally hilarious script. It wins the month award for lowest Buy %, earning only two positive reviews out of 10.
Reviews from: Multiversity Comics, Bleeding Cool, iFanboy, Robot 6, USA Today, IGN, Comic Book Resources, ScienceFiction.com, MTV Geek, Crave Online
