Chris Batista's art creates a decent sense of consistency with the main Flash series. One thing that becomes immediately apparent is that Batista can draw a mean gorilla. He captures all the rage and power of Grodd's return, as well as the ferocity as Grodd battles both man and ape in his takeover of the city. The human characters sometimes suffer from inconsistent emotional range, but the gorillas look fantastic. Read Full Review

Chris Batista's pencils are nicely done. Like Ethan Van Sciver or Doug Mahnke, Batista has an easy professionalism to his work. These are the kinds of pencils you go to when you're looking for a big comic book feel. Solid line work, great action, multiple splash pages " Batista is tremendous with shock and awe. Gorilla Grodd looks terrifying here, and that's not easy to do with an angry gorilla. Read Full Review

Flash 23.1: Grodd is a great read for anyone who wants to learn more about one of The Flashs biggest rogues or how Central City copes with disastrous events. With solid dialogue and an especially strong inner monologue to keep the reader fascinated even if nothing really surprising or significant occurs. The artwork may not be up to par with Manapuls, but its not different enough to put off readers of The Flashs new 52 title. The issue should appeal to long time Gorilla Grodd fans or anybody who wants to become familiar with the foe. Read Full Review

Gorilla Grodd takes the spotlight in Week One of Villains Month. The creative team of Buccellato and Batista deliver an engaging story that has both solid action and strong character development. I look forward to how Buccellato handles the villain going forward, especially as this leads into Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion. Be sure to check this issue out! Read Full Review

I'm not a fan of gimmicks for gimmicks sake, which is what Villains Month feels like to me, but there are characters and creators that have a chance to revel readers this month. Grodd, being a gorilla, had an advantage coming in. Buccellato and Batista seize that advantage nicely; leaving me still hopeful that someday DC will wise up enough to grace comic book history with a Gorilla City series, mini or otherwise. While I'm not keen on not having a complete story in this issue, there is enough here to make the issue worth a read. Grodd's adventures continue elsewhere. I just hope the next chapter in his escapades is as well executed as this one. Read Full Review

The Flash #23.1 is a daring story with the bleak position it leaves Keystone and Central City, but a lot of what happens could be inferred from the events of Forever Evil #1. Save for the final page, the events of the comic carry as you'd expect, and don't have enough of a resistance against Grodd's rule. Read Full Review

The Flash 23.1 is an decent issue that seems like a detour to another title, not a great issue itself.  Grod is a great villain, but the issue doesn't add anything new to the mythos.  Grod fans should enjoy this issue, but others can pass without missing anything essential. Read Full Review

Overall, it's not worth the extra dollar for the fancy cover, but a decent enough issue. Get the regular cover if you're a Flash fan, if you like giant talking Gorillas (who now have tapped into the Speed Force and have some fancy new powers), or you're at all curious about the upcoming Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion miniseries, which looks like it will be quite a fun read. I'm excited for the other Flash tie-ins, especially that miniseries, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I really didn't hate this one. Read Full Review

It's not a bad issue and its competently told, but without the Flash, regular co-writer and artist Francis Manapaul, or a willingness to embrace the absurdity of the hero's Rogues it does feel a bit flat. Hit-and-Miss. Read Full Review