Back in October, Diamond announced that 2012’s Free Comic Book Day t-shirt would feature a custom design by legendary artist Jim Lee. Recognizing that FCBD was – at the time – still a full seven months off, it was a tantalizing tease for those of us anxiously awaiting a glimpse at Lee’s design.

But while we still have to wait until May to pick up our shirts (and our free comic books!), we've got a special holiday surprise today: a first look at Jim's art. It’s an homage to a classic piece by José Luis García-López, re-imagined with Jim’s redesign of the JUSTICE LEAGUE for DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.

The shirt will be solicited in January 2012's Diamond PREVIEWS catalog, with proceeds going to support FCBD marketing and promotional efforts.

Every year the comic book industry celebrates Free Comic Book Day on the first Saturday of May. It’s a fantastic day for professionals, creators, retailers and fans to come together to celebrate our passion and enthusiasm for comic books out into the world at large.

In 2011, DC COMICS—THE NEW 52 took the industry by storm! Now get an exclusive look at what’s happening in 2012.

Written and illustrated by the today’s top creators, DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 FCBD EDITION will give you a first look at the hottest new comics of 2012.

And just to whet your appetite, check out Jim Lee, Adam Hughes and Andy Kubert’s official cover for DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 FCBD EDITION.

If you’re celebrating Free Comic Book Day today, you probably picked up a copy of the GREEN LANTERN Special Edition.

As you know, the Green Lantern mythology is built on a vast and fascinating cast of characters, concepts, and alien worlds. And whether you’re a longtime fan of the characters, are relatively new to them, or are just excited to see the movie, there are lots of exciting details to be familiar with.

So, the Special Edition origin story is a great place to start, but in addition, every Monday-Thursday, as we count down the days until the movie arrives in theaters June 17th, The Source will be revealing images, bios and fun facts from the comic books that every Green Lantern fan is gonna want to know.

Let’s begin with the Green Lantern essentials, shall we?

Know the Oath:

In Brightest Day,

In Blackest Night,

No Evil Shall Escape My Sight--

Let Those Who Worship Evil's Might,

Beware My Power--

Green Lantern's Light!

GREEN LANTERN CENTRAL POWER BATTERY

REAL NAME: Green Lantern Central Power Battery

OCCUPATION: Empower Green Lantern Corps

BASE OF OPERATIONS: Sector 0

HOMEWORLD: Oa

HEIGHT: 300'

WEIGHT: N/A

EYES: N/A

HAIR: N/A

FIRST APPEARANCE: Green Lantern vol. 2 #9 (November/December, 1961)

AKA: N/A

Art by Patrick Gleason

BACKGROUND:

Built millennia ago on the planet Oa by the Guardians of the Universe, the Central Power Battery is charged by the combined willpower of every sentient being in the galaxy. This massive structure is the reservoir of energy for the Green Lantern Corps. The force is tapped into through a Lantern's personal power battery and wielded by their power ring.

On the rare occasion the entire Corps is summoned for an imperative mission, the debriefing will occur in front of the Central Power Battery. Oa is illuminated by this vital energy source, which will burn brightly as long as sentient life exists.

ATTRIBUTES:

• Stores the emotional spectrum energy of willpower.

GREEN LANTERN PERSONAL POWER BATTERY

REAL NAME: Green Lantern Personal Power Battery

OCCUPATION: Provide charge for a Green Lantern Power Ring

BASE OF OPERATIONS: N/A

HOMEWORLD: N/A

HEIGHT: 1' 2"

WEIGHT: 1 lb 4 oz

EYES: N/A

HAIR: N/A

FIRST APPEARANCE: Showcase vol. 1 #22 (September/October, 1959)

AKA: N/A

Art by Carlos Pacheco

BACKGROUND:

A Green Lantern's Power Battery taps into the energy of the Central Power Battery on Oa and acts as a remote charging station for a Corpsman's Power Ring. Lanterns can summon their battery to them at will and must recite the sacred oath to recharge their ring.

Power Batteries are created in the foundry on Oa and distributed by the tentacle clad Lantern, Shorm. A GL receives their Power Battery upon induction into the Corps.

ATTRIBUTES:

• Channels willpower directly from the Central Power Battery.
• Can be summoned instantaneously.

GREEN LANTERN POWER RING

REAL NAME: Green Lantern Power Ring

OCCUPATION: Empower a Green Lantern

BASE OF OPERATIONS: N/A

HOMEWORLD: Foundry on Oa

HEIGHT: 1.2" average

WEIGHT: 5 oz

EYES: N/A

HAIR: N/A

FIRST APPEARANCE (Oan Power Ring): Showcase vol. 1 #22 (September/October, 1959)

AKA: Green Lantern Ring / Power Ring

Art by Ethan Van Sciver

BACKGROUND:

Forged within the foundry on Oa b by the Guardians of the Universe, Power Rings provide Lantern's their abilities. However, not anyone can wield a green ring. Corpsmen are specifically selected based on their strength of willpower. The stronger the will, the more effective the ring becomes.

A Power Ring is considered by many to be the most powerful weapon in the universe because of the hard energy projections they can create. These constructs can become any given shape and are only limited by the ingenuity of the user. Each design is unique to the personality of its creator and may be as simple as an energy trap to apprehend a perpetrator or complex as a massive ship used to evacuate a city.

Designed to assist and protect the Corps in policing the universe, these rings generate the standard-issue Green Lantern uniform and provide a force field for the wearer. They also impart the powers of flight, space travel, a universal translator for all alien languages and possess knowledge from the Book of Oa that may aid a Lantern on their mission. These rings of will also act as emergency homing beacons and allow communication between all other Corps members.

A Power Ring's energy is limited and depletes upon each usage requiring periodic recharging from a Lantern's personal power battery. A ring's energy lasts approximately twenty-four Earth hours.

ATTRIBUTES:

• Can store an average of twenty-four Earth hours of willpower energy.
• Allows a Lantern to fly, create a protective shield, energy constructs and a Green Lantern uniform.
• Can be willed to appear invisible.

When you rush to Free Comic Book Day, you’ll be picking up a copy of the second chapter in Geoff Johns’ GREEN LANTERN: SECRET ORIGIN. You’ll be super excited to see an exclusive first preview of FLASHPOINT #1. But what will your kids be reading?

In addition to the GREEN LANTERN title, we’ll also be releasing a super sampler featuring two all-new, exclusive YOUNG JUSTICE and BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD stories by the regular creators of the monthly series. In YOUNG JUSTICE, Psycho-Pirate will figure out a way to weaken the team by manipulating their emotions and causing them all to doubt their abilities. And since much of FLASHPOINT centers around the world of forensics detective Barry Allen, it is only fitting that BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD zooms in on the friendship he has with Batman, the world’s greatest detective.

Don’t forget to pick up copies of these two titles for yourself and your family on Free Comic Book Day this May 7th.