On Tuesday, we made the announcement in USA Today that DC was undertaking a historic renumbering of 52 superhero titles across the line, starting with JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 by our superstar creators Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. The cover to issue #1 is by Jim Lee and Scott Williams.

We’re announcing today that several of DC’s most iconic heroes will receive historic new first issues spinning out of the pages of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee’s JUSTICE LEAGUE:

New York Times bestselling writer Brian Azzarello, author of The Joker and 100 Bullets, teams up with the immensely talented artist Cliff Chiang (Neil Young’s Greendale) for WONDER WOMAN #1, an exciting new series starring the DC Universe’s greatest superheroine. The cover to issue #1 is by Cliff Chiang.

Geoff Johns, one of comics’ greatest storytellers, reunites with GREEN LANTERN and BRIGHTEST DAY collaborator Ivan Reis to bring you a thrilling new take on the fan-favorite hero of the sea in AQUAMAN #1. The cover to issue #1 is by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado.

Rising superstar Francis Manapul, fresh off his acclaimed run on THE FLASH with Geoff Johns, makes his comics writing debut in THE FLASH #1, sharing both scripting and art duties with Brian Buccellato. The Flash knows he can’t be everywhere at once, but what happens when he faces an all-new villain who can? The cover to issue #1 is by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato.

BRIGHTER DAYS

Welcome to a major new vision of the Nuclear Man as writers Ethan Van Sciver and Gail Simone team up with artist Yildiray Cinar to deliver THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #1. Jason Rusch and Ronnie Raymond are two high school students, worlds apart – and now they’re drawn into a conspiracy of super science that bonds them forever in a way they can’t explain or control. The cover to issue #1 is by Ethan Van Sciver.

Batman writer Tony Daniel will team up with artist Philip Tan (GREEN LANTERN: AGENT ORANGE, THE OUTSIDERS) for THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1. Carter Hall’s skill at deciphering lost languages has led him to a job with an archeologist who specializes in alien ruins – but will the doctor’s latest discovery spread an alien plague through New York City? No matter the personal cost, Carter Hall must don his cowl and wings and become the new, savage Hawkman to survive. The cover to issue #1 is by Philip Tan.

Oliver Queen is an orphan who grew up to fight crime as the Green Arrow, a billionaire playboy who uses his fortune to become a superhero – able to fight the most powerful super-villains in the universe with nothing but a bow and arrow. JT Krul will write GREEN ARROW #1 with art by superstar artist Dan Jurgens. The cover to issue #1 is by Brett Booth.

GLOBAL JUSTICE

A team of internationally-drafted superheroes fight each other and their bureaucratic supervisors as much as they do global crime in JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1 from writer Dan Jurgens and artist Aaron Lopresti. The cover to issue #1 is by Aaron Lopresti.

The world’s third-smartest man – and one of its most eligible bachelors – uses his brains and fists against science gone mad in MISTER TERRIFIC #1, the new series from writer Eric Wallace and artist Roger Robinson. The cover to issue #1 is by J.G. Jones.

Captain Atom has all the power in the world, but no hope of saving himself. Charged by nuclear energy, possessing vast molecular powers, he has the potential to be a god among men – a hero without limits. But the question is this: Will he lose himself in the process? JT Krul and artist Freddie Williams II take the character in a bold new direction in CAPTAIN ATOM #1. The cover to issue #1 is by Stanley "Artgem" Lau.

BRAVER AND BOLDER

The anthology series gets a new look in DC Universe Presents, a new series that will focus on multi-issue story arcs each featuring a different superhero from the DC Universe’s rich cast of characters, told by some of comics’ most exciting writers and artitsts. DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1 kicks off the first arc of the series: a Deadman story by Paul Jenkins and Bernard Chang. The cover to issue #1 is by Ryan Sook.

DC Comics

Crime never sleeps in Gotham City. Here's an early look at June's BATMAN solicits.

BATMAN INCORPORATED #8

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Art by SCOTT CLARK

Cover by CHRIS BURNHAM

1:25 Variant cover by SCOTT CLARK

When Waynetech’s launch of Interworld is plagued by a series of “virtual murders,” Batman teams up with Oracle to hunt down the culprit in a simulated environment that’s slowly collapsing into post-apocalyptic zombie-haunted chaos. A computer-generated Batman adventure that brings Dark Knight justice to a wild new frontier, to face a new and virulent menace. In a world of numbers, does everything have a price?

On sale JUNE 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

DETECTIVE COMICS #878

Written by SCOTT SNYDER

Art JOCK and FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA

Cover by JOCK

Off the coast of Gotham City, with no help for miles, the vicious smuggler and pirate Tiger Shark holds Batman captive on his ship. Can Batman escape in time, or will he become food for Tiger Shark’s deadly pets? Plus: The saga of James Jr. continues. Is he a victim of circumstance or vicious killer? You decide. Don’t miss the shocking conclusion to “Hungry City.”

On sale JUNE 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

BATMAN #711

Written by TONY DANIEL

Art by STEVE SCOTT and RYAN WINN

Cover by TONY DANIEL

Batman acts on his suspicions of a newly elected political figure in Gotham City and finds himself in deep water. With piranhas. Meanwhile, Two-Face fights his way back from the brink of death to find an unlikely ally who will show him that there are two sides to every story.

On sale JUNE 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #5

Written by DAVID FINCH

Art by DAVID FINCH and SCOTT WILLIAMS

Cover by DAVID FINCH

1:25 Variant cover by ANDY CLARKE

David Finch’s brilliant take on Batman continues to explore the darker corners of Gotham City in the penultimate chapter of “Golden Dawn.” As The Dark Knight suffers one of his worst defeats, Jason Blood makes an unexpected move. With a surprise funeral and guest appearances by Etrigan, the Demon and Ragman, this series continues to heat up!

RESOLICIT • On sale JUNE 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM #2

Written by SCOTT SNYDER and KYLE HIGGINS

Art and cover by TREVOR MCCARTHY

1:25 Variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN

Murder, mayhem and the building of an empire! Issue #2 throttles up the action as Batman tries to find the source of the attacks before the killer can strike again. But with the reveal of the fourth family of Gotham City and an old case from the early days of the city, is Batman playing right into the villain’s hands?

On sale JUNE 22 • 2 of 6, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

BATMAN AND ROBIN #24

Written by JUDD WINICK

Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH

The Red Hood is out! But the bigger mystery is who broke him out of prison – and why? His liberators seem to have plans for him. Plans that Jason wants no part of. It’s a street brawl, and unlikely allies come together! Batman, Robin and The Red Hood must fight alongside one another in a knockdown, drag-out battle, taking on the people who sprung Jason Todd.

On sale JUNE 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

BATMAN BEYOND #6

Written by ADAM BEECHEN

Art by RYAN BENJAMIN and JOHN STANISCI

Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN

“Industrial Revolution” continues as the crisis at Wayne-Powers escalates to frightening – and potentially deadly – proportions! And when the villain decides to reveal himself, the lives of everyone in Gotham City – hangs in the balance! Yes, that includes Batman himself!

On sale JUNE 1 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

BIRDS OF PREY #13

Written by GAIL SIMONE

Art and cover by JESUS SAIZ

Things get ugly as The Birds of Prey are trapped in a cunning puzzle box of a skyscraper, pursued by a nightmarish killer who holds all the cards, leaving only the Huntress, the reluctant aide of Renee Montoya, and The Question to free them! And what effect does the death of Oracle have on the team as they race to escape from hell?

On sale JUNE 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

BATGIRL #22

Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER

Art by PERE PEREZ

Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN

When Stephanie Brown arrives in London for a top-secret Batman Incorporated assignment, jet lag, lost luggage and those terribly difficult accents are the least of Batgirl’s problems – the actual Greenwich Mean has been stolen, and as all of London literally grinds to a halt, it’s up to Batgirl and Squire to save the United Kingdom! Tally-ho!

On sale JUNE 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

RED ROBIN #24

Written by FABIAN NICIEZA

Art and cover by MARCUS TO and RAY MCCARTHY

To survive the Assassination Tournament, Red Robin must survive an attack from Scarab’s Covenant of Ka, make it to Russia in time to rescue a critically injured oligarch, track the mercenary Promise and come to an unexpected confrontation with the mysterious sister of

Ra’s al Ghul!

On sale JUNE 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #24

Written by PETER CALLOWAY

Art by ANDRES GUINALDO and LORENZO RUGGIERO

Cover by GUILLEM MARCH

The breakout at Arkham continues here! When Batman shows up to stop the escaping villains, battle lines will be drawn. Will Selina stick by The Sirens? Or will she take on Harley and Ivy? The ending will shock you! Guest starring Batman, The Joker and Clayface.

On sale JUNE 29 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Bruce Wayne's been building his global empire of Batman, Incorporated. But now and again, he still needs to reach out to an old friend for a helping hand.

In writer/artist David Finch's Batman: The Dark Knight series, that old friend is old indeed: Etrigan the Demon has been around for a looooong time. And judging by Finch's amazing pencils, well, I'm not sure just how much of a help Etrigan is going to be for Bruce.

Finch was nice enough to provide a little insight into the magic that awaits:

"Batman is a global brand, with corporate funding and vigilante operations worldwide, but Bruce has been fighting for Gotham City his whole adult life. And he can't walk away that easily. Gotham's villians band together to remind him who his real enemy is, and his friends need  him more than ever. Batman is building an empire, but its foundation is showing deep cracks.

"And there's a wildcard. Arcane forces have been unleashed in  Gotham, and they very quickly threaten to turn Gotham City into hell on earth. Batman enlists the help of Etrigan the Demon, who has intimate knowledge of the threat he faces, but Etrigan has loyalties of his own, and helping Batman puts him at odds with his masters. He's been demoted in the hierarchy of hell, but when he's offered the honor of being a rhymer once again if he betrays Batman, he has a terrible decision to make. Meanwhile Batman's attention is almost completely consumed by the beautiful  Dawn Golden, who he's been trying to rescue from capture. He becomes so obsessed with finding and saving her, that he goes to places within himself that he has always held in check. And he doesn't see the forces that are aligning themselves against him. There would be no hope if it weren't for an unlikely new friend who is there to help when he needs it the most. But helping Batman comes at a high price."

I've said it before and will say it again, Finch is one of the most talented and nicest people in the comic book industry. But what's it like to actually work with him as his editor? Maybe we should ask Mike Marts.

"There are many great things about working with David Finch, but one of the main points that sticks out is his willingness to be a part of the Batman creative team. When David first signed on board to write and pencil a Batman book for us, one of the first things he asked for was to be brought up to speed on current continuity and what the other Bat-titles were up to. Other creators in his position might have wanted to do “their own thing” or enact their own “take” on the character. But not David—he wanted to dive headfirst into the continuity pool and expressed a strong desire to interact with Scott Snyder, Grant Morrison, Tony Daniel and the other Bat-writers. That says a lot to me about a creator. I know we’re going to get nothing but amazing stories from David for a long time to come."

I may or may not have seen the following notes on Eddie Berganza's desk.

Story elements for BRIGHTEST DAY 16:

1 Part, Underwater adventure and intrigue;

1 Part, Science Fiction epic;

2 Parts, Family Tragedy;

4 Jaw dropping splash pages;

1 Young hero, claiming his birthright;

1 Dark twist;

1 Universe coming apart;

1 Morbid tease for next issue.

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