Batman may be at the center of co-writers Scott Snyder, and James Tynion IV's "Dark Days," but Gotham City's protector will have some super-powered help when the DC Comics summer event arrives in July. In "Dark Days: The Casting" #1, the storyline kicks off with Duke, the Dark Knight's new ally-in-training, and Green Lantern attempting to put the late Hawkman's warning to good use, thus preventing the end of the DC Universe. Andy Kubert, Jim Lee and John Romita Jr. are among the artists enlisted to kick off the story in this prelude issue.

RELATED: New DC Universe Event Starts with Dark Days, From Snyder, Lee and More

“Art like this demands an epic story,” Snyder has said of the series, which has roots in his and Greg Capullo's acclaimed "Batman" run. “‘Dark Days’ posits a mystery that traces all the way back to when I started on ‘Batman.’ I’ve hinted at them over the years with Easter eggs and clues. This is a mystery that literally begins at the dawn of man and spans generations of heroes and villains and ultimately leads to huge revelations about the past, present and future of the cosmology of DC. I couldn’t be more excited for ‘Dark Days.’ It’s the prelude to the event we’ve been developing for years.”

And that's just the start of DC's big July, as the publisher is poised to continue to develop it's Rebirth mysteries, while looking ahead to the inevitable clash between the heroes of the DCU and the Watchmen who have been pulling their strings since the New 52 launched in 2011.

  • The relationship between Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth, the man Batman thought he could trust more than anyone, is in danger. The "American Vampire" team of Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque conclude their "All Star Batman" run with the revelation of a secret that may leave the classic relationship permanently altered.
  • Tom King and Mikel Janin's flashback storyline continues, as "Batman #26 and 27 see new chapters in "The War of Jokes and Riddles."
  • Throughout the month, DC is celebrating various ongoing series anniversaries with double-sized issues for every title hitting #25 for the month. "Justice League," "Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps," "Nightwing" and more will have 40-page issues to promote their twenty-fifth issues.
  • In "Deathstoke" #21, Christopher Priest and Digenes Neves have constant Teen Titans nemesis Slade Wilson recruit his own team of young heroes. Kid Flash, Power Girl, Rose, Jericho and Terra are all on Team deathstroke, believing the mercenary has turned a corner towards doing good.
  • "The Flash" #27 is billed as the issue the series "has been building to" for a full year. Josh Williamson and Howard Porter are promising readers "the ultimate showdown" between Barry Allen and his greatest nemesis, Reverse-Flash.
  • They've been teased for months, and in "Harley Quinn" #24, Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti and John Timms will finally introduce Harleen Quinzel's parents to the world.
    titans-header
  • Wally West believes he's destined to be with Linda Park, as do his fellow Titans teammates who have come to (more of less) remember their pre-Flashpoint lives. So it's no surprise that Arsenal doesn't take things well when he learns that Wally and Donna Troy have begun developing a romantic interest in each other.
  • Shea Fontana and Mirka Andolfo take over "Wonder Woman" from the current creative team, immediately sending Diana on a multi-issue story arc. "Heart of the Amazon" kicks off in "Wonder Woman" #26 and continues in #27, two weeks later.RELATED: Greg Rucka Leaving Wonder Woman With Issue #25
  • The past goes futuristic as the Adam West-era Batman meets the teens from the 30th century in "Batman '66/Legion of Super-Heroes." Lee and Mike Allred send Batman to the future, while a group of Legionnaires spend a little time with Robin in the '60s.
  • The massively muscled Scrappy-Doo finally catches up to Scooby and the gang in "Scooby Apocalypse" #15. The series' long-burning sub-plot comes to the foreground in Keith Giffen, J./M. DeMatteis and Dale Eaglesham's Issue #15.