Brighter times are on the horizon as the DCU lightens up after Blackest Night. There is a whole “Brightest Day” initiative starting off this month that should lead to some fun comics. I don’t want to say the company is looking backwards, but if you were a fan of the DCU over the past years, I think you’ll want to check out what they’ve got going on. As always, full solicits are up at Newsarama.

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.

After years of depressing storylines, I’m thrilled to see things might be turning around in the DCU. Johns and Tomasi can write fun stuff as well as they do gore, so I think we’re in for a treat. I’ll also go out on a limb and predict that Martian Manhunter will show up in this series. Tomasi is a big fan and I think he’ll try to use J’onn if he can.

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.

Uch. The “New Guardians” are a ridiculous team, but I do trust that Johns will make it interesting. He’s turned Larfleeze into a quote-machine and the only time I’ve found Atrocitus compelling was when he interacted with Sain Walker. So there is potential here. This doesn’t look much like a GL book though.

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.

Brightest Day again! I’m disappointed to see the Wally West backup has been removed because I’m not a big fan of Barry Allen. Francis Manapul’s art is a tad too soft for me too. I’ll wait for reviews and pick up the trades if I hear good things.

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.

Hmm, which hero will switch teams? I’m thinking Hawkman might make a lot of sense, switching from the JSA to the JLA. I’m still bugged by the 3.99 price, but at least we’re getting extra pages. Hopefully James Robinson can lighten things up in this comic too, all his JLA work so far has been really dark and gory.

DOC SAVAGE #1
On sale APRIL 14 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by PAUL MALMONT • Co-feature written by JASON STARR • Art by HOWARD PORTER & Art Thibert • Co-feature art by SCOTT HAMPTON • Cover by J.G. JONES
1:10 variant cover by John Cassaday
The Man of Bronze in his own series at last! Doc Savage is the target of a brazen attack on New York City! Tragedy will strike one of Doc’s compatriots, and someone may not survive the opening pages of “The Lord of Lightning! ” Written by Paul Malmont, national best-selling author of The Chinatown Death-Cloud Peril, with art by Howard Porter (JLA)!
And don’t miss the hard-hitting JUSTICE, INC. co-feature, starring Richard Benson, the Avenger! When criminals abduct one of his own detectives, Benson’s icy heart sears with a rage hotter than any he’s ever known. “Worst Nightmare” begins here, written by crime novelist Jason Starr (THE CHILL) with art by Scott Hampton (LUCIFER)!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

I don’t know this creative team at all, which makes me wonder if I’ll dig the new series. I’ll pick up an issue to try it, but I’m not knocked over by what I’ve seen of Doc Savage so far.

THE SPIRIT #1
On sale APRIL 21 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by MARK SCHULTZ • Co-feature written by Dennis O’Neil • Art by MORITAT
Co-feature art by Bill Sienkiewicz • Cover by LADR÷NN • 1:10 variant cover by MARK SCHULTZ
The Spirit returns in an all-new ongoing series! Central City destroys everyone who lives within its borders…so it’s a good thing The Spirit already died once! International crime syndicate The Golden Tree wants to help Central City’s Octopus consolidate control over the underworld and the Spirit is the kind of mess the Golden Tree was created to clean up. They’ve offered the Octopus the services of one of their finest assassins to take his breath away for good – and the sight of this killer would get anyone’s heart pounding!
This issue also features the debut of the eight-page THE SPIRIT: BLACK & WHITE co-feature, showcasing the industry’s finest talent. And who better to kick things off than DENNIS O’NEIL and BILL SIENKIEWICZ?
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.

Now this new title, this looks fantastic. Mark Schultz writes excellent pulp, and Moritat’s European style will be a fascinating blend.I never really connected with the last volume of the Spirit, so I’m very excited to check this out.

BRAVE AND THE BOLD #33
On sale APRIL 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art by CLIFF CHIANG
Cover by JESUS SAIZ
Oh yes, it’s ladies’ night! Batgirl, Wonder Woman and Zatanna enjoy a nice, peaceful evening on the town that absolutely won’t be interrupted by any kind of superheroic hijinks whatsoever… and if you believe that, there’s a giant bronze globe in Metropolis we’d like to sell you!

I’m intrigued by the fun-looking team-up, but I’m sold with Cliff Chiang’s artwork. This should be gorgeous and well worth 2.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE RISE OF ARSENAL #2
On sale APRIL 28 • 2 of 4 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
Written by J.T. KRUL
Art by GERALDO BORGES & MARLO ALQUIZA
Cover by GREG HORN
Spinning out of CRY FOR JUSTICE, “The Rise and Fall” continues here as Roy Harper discovers that getting a prosthetic arm doesn’t make him whole again, he’s also forced to deal with Green Arrow’s shocking revelation from JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE RISE AND FALL SPECIAL #1. And sparks fly when Roy’s old flame Cheshire shows up…to kill him!

I’m shocked, shocked I tell you! I never expected Arsenal to get a new robotic arm, one that probably functions as a multi-purpose weapon, making the name “Arsena” more appropriate than ever! Roy Harper is still a terrible hero, I expect to see that point proven again and again in this series.

GREEN ARROW #32
On sale APRIL 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by J.T. KRUL
Art by DIOGENES NEVES
Cover by FEDERICO DALLOCCHIO
Spinning out of CRY FOR JUSTICE, “The Rise and Fall” continues in “The Fall of Green Arrow” continues with Oliver Queen as a fugitive from justice. But what happens when the Justice League of America learn of his crime? The Emerald Archer’s relationship with the World’s Greatest Heroes will never be the same.

What a bummer. I don’t like the idea of the JLA going after Green Arrow, and I’m even more worried since Black Canary’s name has been taken off the header. Green Arrow is one of those characters that is constantly getting dragged down (much like Daredevil) so I’m not sure what new ground this will be. It is interesting that J.T. Krul is the writer though, I like what I’ve seen from him so far.

MAGOG #8
On sale APRIL 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by KEITH GIFFEN • Art by TOM DERENICK & RODNEY RAMOS
Cover by HOWARD PORTER & JOHN DELL
The Shield intervenes in an effort to help Magog against an unearthly menace. But that only serves to amplify Magog’s growing personality crisis!

Ah, another military team-up. My interest in Magog was waned in direct proportion to how much I’ve read about him, so I think this team-up is too little too late for me. Surely this book won’t be around much longer.

R.E.B.E.L.S. #15
On sale APRIL 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
Written by TONY BEDARD • Art by CLAUDE ST. AUBIN
& SCOTT HANNA • Cover by KALMAN ANDRASOFSZKY
Straight from the pages of TITANS, Starfire joins our merry band just in time for super-genius Vril Dox to pick up the pieces from last issue’s climactic battle with Starro the Conqueror. First on his agenda: rebuild his interplanetary police squad, L.E.G.I.O.N.

I’m quite surprised that this title hasn’t been cancelled, but I won’t complain. Tony Bedard has been writing one of my favorite books for awhile now, so I’ll take what I can get. It really is unfar how stacked the lineup for this title has become. With Starfire joining this issue, we’ve got the core cast plus Adam Strange, Captain Comet, and Starfire. There is no way I’ll miss an issue with this line-up.

Recommended trades: Outsiders: The Hunt, Wonder Woman: War Killer, Justice Society of America: Bad Seed.

If you’d like to check out my reviews of comics I’ve actually read, head over to my blog!