Rebecca Black may have sung about Friday, but us comics know the real day to celebrate is Wednesday, as that’s when all the new comics hit the shelves or digital stores which we’ve come to know and love.

This week for Reading ALL The Comics I’ll be checking out some heroes in red, with new issues of The Flash and Daredevil, checking in with the latest adventures of the alternate Avengers in Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates, and finding out if less filling really does taste great with the first issue of AvX:Vs!

Strap in, it’s reviewing time!

AvX: Vs #1 Written by Jason Aaron & Kathryn Immonen, Art by Adam Kubert, Stuart Immonen, & Wade Von Grawbadger

Sort of “Avengers vs. X-Men” for dummies, AvX: Vs is a book which is literally just cover to cover fights. The book splits in two, giving us Magneto vs. Iron Man in the front half and Namor vs. the Thing on the back end.  This book is just wall to wall, silly stupid fun, giving longtime fans full on battles that truly answer what would happen if these heroes ever clashed.  Add top notch talent on both the writing and art sides (Aaron & Kubert on Magnus vs. Shellhead, Namor vs. Thing by the lovely Immonen couple) and goofy touches like “AvX Fun Facts” tossed throughout, and it’s the type of book that would be great to pick up at a 7-Eleven with a Slurpee. Both items are totally devoid of content, but damn if they don’t make you smile.  Alas, its modern day, and comics cost $4. Bummer. Still a fun time, though.

Daredevil #11 Written by Mark Waid, Art by Marco Checchetto

The third part of the storyline which started in Avenging Spider-Man and continued in the comic I don’t read (The Punisher) wraps up quite nicely here.  We get Spidey, Daredevil and Punisher fighting their way through every single one of Marvel’s armies of henchmen. AIM, Hydra, they’re all represented here, and we also get a peak into the thoughts of Rachel Cole-Alves, the woman being set up as somewhat of a Lady Punisher.  I enjoyed the 2 of the 3 parts I read of this “Omega Factor” storyline, but I’m going to look forward to Daredevil going back to being back in it’s own world.  Props on the cover (really, awesome work) and holy crap, was that Mike Allred in the letters section wanting to do a run on Daredevil? PLEASE MAKE IT SO MARVEL.

The Flash #8 Written by Brian Buccellato & Francis Manapul, Art by Francis Manapul

I’m not sure if one of the goals with the New 52 was to reboot The Flash into a heavy hitter for the DCU similar to the refocusing of Green Lantern a few years ago (I know, Johns run on the Flash back when got him on GL, but follow me here), but since the reboot, The Flash has been easily the most fascinating of the hero books coming from DC in my opinion.  This continues the trend seen last month, where the amazing art continues to get an amazing plot, adding a new baddie to the world of Barry Allen (the time displaced Turbine) and really opening the eyes of the reader to The Flash’s role in the Speed Force.  If the rest of Buccellato & Manapaul’s run is as good as these first eight issues has been, fans will be talking about it for years to come. My pick of the week.

Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates #9 Written by Jonathan Hickman, Art by Esad Ribic

Last month, the latest volume of the Ultimates tossed out a twist I didn’t expect - not only did they make the Ultimates fugitives of the United States, but the President authorized a nuclear strike on “The City”, the advanced compound created by Reed Richards. I wondered if Hickman was going to wuss out, especially with The Avengers movie in the wings.  Turns out, he wouldn’t, as things actually get worse and worse from here.  I know that when the Ultimate Comics line was created, the goal was to revamp, revolutionize and otherwise reposition the classic Marvel characters we loved, but for a new generation. I feel like this run here is the first time I’ve really felt like it didn’t read like a standard Marvel book at all. This current run is risk taking, dark and sometimes hard to believe it’s supposed to be an Avengers book, but by God, it has me in. Well done, guys.

What’s coming up next week? According to the vaguely reliable Diamond Comics shipping notifications, I’ll be reading and reviewing these books:

• Action Comics #9
• Animal Man #9
• Amazing Spider-Man #685
• Avengers vs. X-Men #3
• Daredevil #12
• Invincible Iron Man #516
• Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #10
• And what the hell, I might even read X-O Manowar #1!