Another Wednesday has passed, and as any nerd worth his weight in gold knows, Wednesday means NEW COMIC DAY! So, it’s another week of Reading ALL The Comics!

This week, we get Spider-Man team ups, more Flash action and the kick off for the big Marvel event of 2012. Crack open your books, pull up Comixology, it’s reviewin' time!

Avengers Vs. X-Men #0 Written by Brian Michael Bendis & Jason Aaron, Art by Frank Cho

Marvel’s super huge mega event for the Spring/Summer pits all your favorites against each other in Avengers vs. X-Men.  It’s interesting then, that it starts not so much with a bang, but with a pensive consideration. (Although, since this is the zero issue, I suppose it’s not really the “start” then…) This issue is all about the Scarlet Witch and Hope Summers, both incredibly powerful and incredibly misunderstood females for each side of the sure to ensue conflict. Scarlet Witch is seen as a pariah due to her…lets simplify it to “Screwing with the Avengers” and Hope Summers is considered bother a savior to mutants and the biggest threat to mankind (and she might just be the new Phoenix).  This book gives us a unique look into both ladies, whom I assume the AvX conflict will revolve around, and quietly sets the stage for what is to come.  Cho’s the perfect artist for a female centric book, but I suppose I found the issue a little too pensive for me.  But perhaps it is the quiet thunder bringing forth a giant storm. We’ll see.

Avenging Spider-Man #5 Written by Zeb Wells, Art by Leinil Yu

I can’t lie, Avenging Spider-Man makes me happy. I can’t say it’s the best book on the market, the most action packed, or the funniest, but it’s the comic that reminds me why I love comics in the first place.  You have wise-crackin' Spidey mixed up with unique characters from around the Marvel U in fun, not necessarily high-stakes, team-ups, and the comic just leaves a grin on my face.  This week’s issue is no different. We have Spidey on an adventure with the Avengers, leaving him to be teamed up with the legendary Captain America. But what makes this team up so unique is what they talk about.  See, Spidey found out that before he was a hero, meek Steve Rogers was a comic artist.  So he spends the whole issue trying to get Cap to talk about his inner geek. It sounds a bit more cloying than it is. It’s a fun, funny, heartwarming issue that’s really worth your time. Might be my favorite comic of the week.

Daredevil #10 Written by Mark Waid, Art by Paolo Rivera The relaunched Daredevil has been a very enjoyable read since its launch last year, giving Matt Murdock a fun, almost 60s vibe, met with a solid poppy art-style in artist Paolo Rivera.  What has really made the book worth seeking out is how Mark Waid mixes and matches plots, and issue #10 is a great example, giving us closure on the Mole Man arc (had he and Daredevil fought in the past?) and adding more intrigue to his new romance with the Black Cat, a pairing I really like, given DD’s own darker tendencies. One of the things I enjoy the most about the modern state of comics is that while each comic definitely fits into a greater universe (there have been many references to the Shadowland arc of 2 summers back), there seems to be a push upon making each series work within its own bubble.  I think this is what finally made Daredevil so accessible to me, and same with many of the titles in the New 52.  If you’ve ever felt like Daredevil was a bit much to chew into, give Waid’s run a try - it’s really great.  Can any DD purists sound off on what they think?

The Flash #7 Written by Brian Buccellato & Francis Manapul, Art by Francis Manapul

It looks like the pretty pictures which have defined the New 52 era version of The Flash are starting to be met by an equally as interesting plot.  Buccellato and Manapaul clearly have had a vision for how to take the new Flash comic from issue one, and although it wasn’t as apparent from the beginning, the whole series is coming together now. We get reveals of the darker side of the Speed Force, some great depth added to classic Flash baddy Captain Cold, and as usual, thanks to Manapaul’s pencils, each panel is gorgeous.  I have to say, I also really enjoy how Barry Allen and The Flash, while the same guy, seem to travel in different circles, each not entirely aware of the other.  It’s a throw back to when a secret identity truly was “secret” and is a very nice touch.

Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates #8 Written by Jonathan Hickman, Art by Esad Ribic

The Ultimates remains a book which needs to be read more as a trade (as I had to go back and re read earlier issues to remember where we were in the space of things), but let it be known that Hickman isn’t afraid to shake things up.  After issue #7’s big reveal of who the villain behind futuristic development “The City” is, we get a big return from Hulk (who wrecks things, appropriately) and a truly game changing decree from the US government.  There’s a VERY big move on the last page of the book, and I hope that like with the entire series so far, Hickman and Ribic aren’t afraid to shake things up with how they resolve it.  This has been one of the more unique reads coming out of the big 2, with the Ultimates regularly looking like anything but successful in the superhero game, and if they follow through where they ended here, it could be a masterstroke.  That said, considering there are OTHER Ultimate Universe books going on that aren’t being impacted, it should tie up in a neat bow, but I think Hickman will find a way to give the end of this tale some edge.

The Walking Dead #95 Written by Robert Kirkman, Art by Charlie Adlard

I love The Walking Dead. I really do. But I’m starting to feel like there’s a trend building. Take Rick & the gang, put them in a new settlement. Have things go wrong. Kill off a character or two. Then the move. Repeat. And sadly, the “A Larger World” arc seems to be the same, as Rick decides to explore the offer from the traveller named Jesus (yes really) to see a new, neighboring compound.  And of course. Things go wrong.  I suppose 95 issues in, there would be a level of recurring themes and events, but I dunno, I feel like we just saw this happen, although the fall apart was MUCH faster than last time.  Here’s hoping the push to issue 100 makes it even more dramatic, as Kirkman sure does love his big numbered issues.

Welp, that’s this weeks reads for me - what did you guys dig this week?

Next week, if Diamond’s list is true, I’ll be covering…

• Action Comics #8
• Animal Man #8
• Sweet Tooth #32
• Danger Club #1
• Invincible #90
• Skullkickers #13
• Amazing Spider-Man #683
• Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #9
• Wolverine & The X-Men #8
• And the big one...Avengers vs. X-Men #1