It's that time again -- solicitation. Where we showcase some covers and tease-worthy text about product coming your way. Today we've got a slice of the solicitations for April in-store. Specifically, all things BRIGHTEST DAY.

So, click below for the full rundown of covers and text.

BRIGHTEST DAY #0

On sale APRIL 14 • 56 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi • Art by Fernando Pasarin

Cover by David Finch

1:50 Variant cover by Ivan Reis

The biggest event in comics continues as BRIGHTEST DAY burns back the BLACKEST NIGHT from the writing team behind GREEN LANTERN and GREEN LANTERN CORPS – Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi! And don’t miss the exciting DC Comics debut of red hot cover artist David Finch (New Avengers, Ultimatum)! The effects that the already classic BLACKEST NIGHT will have on the DC Universe will be felt for years to come and this issue not only sets the stage for the new ongoing biweekly DC Universe book BRIGHTEST DAY, but also the next exciting era of the DC Universe!Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. This issue features a special ordering incentive. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

GREEN LANTERN #53

On sale APRIL 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

Written by GEOFF JOHNS • Art and cover by DOUG MAHNKE & CHRISTIAN ALAMY

1:25 Variant cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI

A BRIGHTEST DAY tie-in! Exploding out of BLACKEST NIGHT comes the next exciting chapter in the Green Lantern mythos: “New Guardians”! Forced together during the rise of the Black Lanterns, Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Carol Ferris, Saint Walker, Atrocitus, Indigo-1 and Larfleeze must agree to disagree if their next mission is to succeed. But when one of the strangest beings from Green Lantern’s past returns, the future of the Lanterns and the universe at large once again falls into question.

Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. This issue features a special ordering incentive. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #47

On sale APRIL 28 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Written by Peter J. Tomasi • Art and cover by Patrick Gleason & Rebecca Buchman

1:25 Variant cover by Rodolfo Migliari

A BRIGHTEST DAY tie-in! As BRIGHTEST DAY begins, Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner, along with the rest of the Green Lantern Corps, attempt to pick up the pieces from the horrific events of BLACKEST NIGHT and take a long hard look at how the Corps is run now that major revelations have come to light. Who survived (and what the Alpha Lanterns have in store for them) is only one of the many new questions that the Green Lanterns will have to answer on the difficult and dangerous road ahead.

Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. This issue features a special ordering incentive. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

THE FLASH #1

On sale APRIL 14 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Written by GEOFF JOHNS • Art, cover and 1:100 variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL

1:25 Variant cover by Tony Harris

A BRIGHTEST DAY tie-in! Get in on the ground floor of DC’s next epic in the making! The Flash races out of BLACKEST NIGHT and into his own monthly title as the all-new adventures of The Fastest Man Alive start with “Case One: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues!” Barry Allen runs back to his life in Central City, but when one of the Rogues turns up murdered under mysterious circumstances, it’s up to The Flash to not only solve this bizarre crime, but protect those that are still targeted by the elusive killer. Plus, don’t miss a peek into the future of the Flash universe in this special, extra-sized starting point issue!

Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #44

On sale APRIL 21 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US

Written by JAMES ROBINSON • Art and cover by MARK BAGLEY & ROB HUNTER

1:25 Variant cover by David Mack

A BRIGHTEST DAY tie-in! Following the events of BLACKEST NIGHT, the brand new Justice League of America enters into BRIGHTEST DAY with an arc featuring the Justice Society of America. The epic team-up begins with a character from the end of BLACKEST NIGHT joining the JLA. But when the storyline’s over, what mysterious villain will be revealed – and which hero will switch teams?

Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

BLACKEST NIGHT DIRECTORS CUT

On sale APRIL 7 • 80 pg, FC, $5.99 US

Featuring contributions from GEOFF JOHNS, IVAN REIS, DOUG MAHNKE, JOE PRADO, PETER J. TOMASI, PATRICK GLEASON & others

Cover by IVAN REIS

Prepare for the ultimate behind-the-scenes experience from the event of the century! With the creative minds behind BLACKEST NIGHT as your tour guides, you’ll marvel at hidden Easter eggs and meanings throughout the series in our director’s commentary section. Discover shocking scenes that were left on the cutting room floor including actual script pages that were never drawn. Be astonished at incredible never-before-seen designs from the best-selling event! Plus, many more exclusives that you’ll witness within this mammoth special including an early look into BRIGHTEST DAY!

BLACKEST NIGHT and GREEN LANTERN writer extraordinaire Geoff Johns kicked off 2010 in a nice way, with THE NEW YORK TIMES naming him to their "Nifty 50," a list that spotlights America's up-and-coming people, who are -- according to the TIMES -- the perfect people to invite to a cocktail party.

It's easy to say that 2009 and 2010 have been and will be banner years for Geoff, but it's also easy to overlook the fact that these achievements have come as a byproduct of years of hard work and creative energy.

I have a vivid memory of walking into my Miami comic shop in 2000 to pick up the latest issue of FLASH -- one of my must-buys as a reader -- only to discover there was a new writer on the series. Believe it or not, there was a time when "Geoff Johns" was an unknown commodity in comics. Weird, right? I picked up the issue, and to this day, I'm glad I did.

Even then, you could see the elements that would help revitalize the Flash and Hal Jordan and catapult Geoff from relatively unknown newbie to the bestselling author he is today: the deft characterization, the ability to skillfully weave continuity to serve the greater story without being constricted by it and -- some would argue, most importantly -- the care and resonance given to these characters that have become a part of our daily pop culture mythology.

When you read a Geoff Johns comic, you're not just getting a fun yarn to chew on for 20 minutes -- you're getting something that's written with care and by someone who's just as much of a fan as you are. Someone who knows how invested you, as a reader, are in these colorful heroes and the world they reside in. That's a very special bond that's not only hard to put into words, but to replicate. And it's part of what makes reading a Geoff Johns comic unique.

This is only the beginning. If the above GREEN LANTERN #50 variant by Jim Lee doesn't get you jazzed, I'm not sure what will. But let it serve as a signal that there is much more Geoff Johns goodness coming your way in the DCU, and we're all the better for it.

So, congrats, Geoff. Here's to more years of amazing stories.

If you’re a regular Source reader, you know that while we love talking the talk, we know when to step back and let a piece of art speak for itself. This is one of those instances.

Not too long ago, we announced that Geoff Johns and artist Francis Manapul were taking the reins of the new FLASH ongoing series next year. We also showed a few in-progress pieces of the character, too. But we haven’t shown any final, colored, 100-percent Barry Allen Flash images. Until now, that is.

Behold, the cover to FLASH: SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS, hitting in March 2010, a nice little appetizer before the epic meal that will be the FLASH ongoing. We’ll have more details on the issue in due time, but let’s focus on what you see above – this wonderful cover. We roped in Manapul to give us his two cents on the piece, and working on the Scarlet Speedster. Take it away, Francis:

“I'm excited to be starting the book. The entire creative team is looking forward to introducing new ways of portraying speed. It's also cool that we'll be introducing a new generation to Barry Allen as well as myself so I'll be right in they're shoes of getting to know this guy. It should be an exciting ride!”

Francis was also kind enough to give us a look into his process. Check out these two in-progress images.

For more on the upcoming FLASH series from writer Geoff Johns, click over to THE LA TIMES HERO COMPLEX blog, where Geoff Boucher sits down with a fellow Geoff to talk about the book.

J. Michael Straczynski wrote to remind me that this December is the 65th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. (I say “remind me” as if I’d been in it!) He’s not bringing it up so I can futz with its Wikipedia entry. It’s because with the current issue of THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD, he sends the Flash into the thick of it…to meet the Blackhawks, no less. We’ve done a few Flash stories but you’ve never read one like this! Barry Allen battles on the side of the Allied forces in World War II, in an adventure in which every incident is as unexpected as the premise!

Talking of “allied forces,” that sure describes BRAVE & BOLD. In the book’s grand tradition, JMS is lining up some inventive and even offbeat alliances to feature every issue. Seen the Batman/Dial H for Hero adventure? Everybody’s still buzzing about that one! Snag one if your local store has any left!

In the offing is a Batman/Brother Power the Geek team-up (Brother! Power! The! Geek!). Then, Doctor Fate and Green Lantern see whether or not magic can trump willpower. Jesus Saiz is drawing that one now even as I write this, and he’s having a blast doing it! He really knocked it out of the park on that “Dial H” issue, and he gets better every month!

If you love these Silver Age characters, JMS will remind you why you do! If you never did, or you’ve never heard of them, these new stories will show you why people still talk about them…and why they endure!

(Dude, the Geek abides!)

Your pal,

--Joey