All of The New 52 comics from DC Comics released each week competed in a Bracket Challenge (think March Madness) where I determined which was the best comic. These competitions took place each throughout September, and each week I chose a comic that was my favorite of the bunch. Only the first issues of The New 52 were included in this competition and the weekly results were posted on Sunday for each of the past four weeks.

To read about how these comics got to be the weekly winners you can read:

Week 1 http://blogcast.debatableopinions.com/2011/09/11/the-new-52-bracket-challenge--week-1.aspx

Week 2 http://blogcast.debatableopinions.com/2011/09/18/the-new-52-bracket-challenge--week-2.aspx

Week 3 http://blogcast.debatableopinions.com/2011/09/25/the-new-52-bracket-challenge--week-3.aspx

Week 4 http://blogcast.debatableopinions.com/2011/10/02/the-new-52-bracket-challenge-week-4.aspx

On October 2, I pitted the winners from consecutive weeks against each other, read them all again, and determined the top first-issue comic of The New 52.

Semi-Final Round

Swamp Thing #1, the winner from week 1, went up against Batman and Robin #1, the winner from week 2. Though I am a fan of the Batman character, I am truly enjoying Scott Snyder’s writing style, so Swamp Thing #1 moves on.

Batman #1, the winner from week 3, faces the winner from week 4, All Star Western #1. Though the story of Jonah Hex and Dr. Arkham was enticing, as I said above, Scott Snyder’s writing pushed Batman #1 forward to a win.

Final Round

If you read closely above, you’ve probably guessed the Top Comic. Both Batman #1 and Swamp Thing #1 are written by Scott Snyder, so that benefit cancels each other out. Both of these books were on my watch list before I purchased a single issue, so those advantages are a wash. Both books have a strong artistic style and have the potential for strong future storylines. Ultimately, Batman is my favorite character in the DC Universe, so it would be incongruent with my opinions to choose Swamp Thing over Batman. In the end, the Top Comic winner came down to a popularity contest because so many of the other merits of the books were equal.

The New 52 Bracket Challenge Top Comic – Batman #1