The majority of comic fans would probably agree that this has been a long time coming. Chief Creative Officer of DC comics Geoff Johns and DC's Co-Publisher Jim Lee will finally be teaming up for a relaunch of an all new Justice League of America book this September--the first of 50 new issues that will relaunch and re-number every title in the entire DC Universe.

Yes, you read that correctly; DC is revamping all of their characters--re-numbering all their titles and giving everyone a brand new costume. DC's very own co-publisher will not only be penciling the all new Justice League of America; but he will also be overseeing all of the costume re-designs at DC Comics. The hope is that the costumes will reflect new, modernized versions of these classic DC characters. It seems DC is not only looking to boot Marvel from the coveted #1 spot, but also to garner a wider, younger audience. According to DC's Co-Publisher Dan Didio, DC's characters will be changing with the times.

"We looked at what was going on in the marketplace and felt we really want to inject new life in our characters and line...This was a chance to start, not at the beginning, but at a point where our characters are younger and the stories are being told for today's audience."

The decision to change the appearance of all their major characters comes at a rather convenient time, too. Between the bad press Wonder Woman's costume received from her series reboot as well as her failed television pilot to the current law-suit threatening to split Superman in two. The image released by DC indicates some big changes to the costume designs of their most classic characters. Superman's chest insignia, for example has been re-vamped, and notice that in the image he isn't wearing the red briefs over his blue tights. Wonder Woman's costume also appears to be more streamlined, losing the jacket and gaining a smaller logo.

The big question on everyone's mind is, just how much will they change? The change will obviously be coming after Flashpoint, so what will it mean for the history of all these classic characters? Will we see new interpretations of all characters across the board? Will this bold move help DC increase their fanbase, or alienate comic readers? What do you think of the new costumes?
 

UPDATE

Here is the first image of Jim Lee and Geoff John's  all new Justice League.

Also, the latest rumor cites that post Flashpoint, things will change- which might include the relationship status of two of DC's most iconic characters. The latest post Flashpoint rumor cites Superman and Wonder Woman getting together- at least that's what they're claiming at Bleeding Cool. What would happen to Lois Lane? Do you think DC would pull a stunt like this? Is this something you would like to see written into continuity?

P.S.- We sort of called it on the reboot thing.
 

via USA Today

I am excited but only if they do this revamp correctly. I can't believe they are revamping all the characters even the newer chracters like Batgirl 

Batman reboot ;o

Wow you guys did call it. 

Wow, just think, Batman and Superman are in 700, they are going to have to restart to #1. Nice.

A DC reboot?  Color my surprised. 

Superman LOOKS F****** GREAT!

OH DEAR GOD YES. Love me some Jim Lee. 

Stoked for this!!! 
 
 DC has needed this for years, and a Johns/Lee Justice League team is a dream come true.

Still hate Wonder Woman's costume

Too early to say if this is a good thing or not.

For the love of God leave Grant Morrison's Batman and the Batbooks alone. I am not sure it is a new continuity I think DC will keep that.

What gets me angry is that we just reached Action Comics 900...and now they are renumbering it...

UPDATED: The following letter was sent to retailers by Bob Wayne, SVP of Sales for DC Entertainment. - Source CBR 

In the time I've worked at DC Comics, I've witnessed any number of industry defining moments. But today, I bring you what is perhaps the biggest news to date.

Many of you have heard rumors that DC Comics has been working on a big publishing initiative for later this year. This is indeed an historic time for us as, come this September, we are relaunching the entire DC Universe line of comic books with all new first issues. 52 of them to be exact.

In addition, the new #1s will introduce readers to a more modern, diverse DC Universe, with some character variations in appearance, origin and age. All stories will be grounded in each character's legend - but will relate to real world situations, interactions, tragedy and triumph.

This epic event will kick off on Wednesday, August 31st with the debut of a brand new JUSTICE LEAGUE #1, which pairs Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, together for the first time. (Yes, this is the same week as FLASHPOINT #5.)

We think our current fans will be excited by this evolution, and that it will make jumping into the story extremely accessible to first-time readers - giving them a chance to discover DC's characters and stories.

We are positioning ourselves to tell the most innovative stories with our characters to allow fans to see them from a new angle. We have taken great care in maintaining continuity where most important, but fans will see a new approach to our storytelling.

Some of the characters will have new origins, while others will undergo minor changes. Our characters are always being updated; however, this is the first time all of our characters will be presented in a new way all at once.

Dan DiDio, Bob Harras and Eddie Berganza have been working diligently to pull together some of the best creative teams in the industry. Over 50 new costumes will debut in September, many updated and designed by artist Jim Lee, ensuring that the updated images appeal to the current generation of readers.

The publication of JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 will also launch digital day-and-date for all ongoing superhero comic book titles - an industry first.

On Wednesday, June 1st, this initiative is expected to be announced in a nationwide feature article, and we're hopeful the news will be picked up by media outlets around the world. Throughout the month we'll reveal more details of our plans with articles in both the mainstream and comics press and on June 13th the Diamond catalog solicitations for all of the September titles will be released, followed by the June 29th street date of the print version of Previews.

DC Comics will support this initiative with an innovative mix of publicity, promotional efforts and retailer incentives designed to maximize your opportunity to increase your DC sales. We will discuss additional details of these incentives when we get closer to solicitation later in June.

We'll be updating you more through email as September nears. But today, I hope your share our enthusiasm for this historic news!

Sincerely,

Bob Wayne
SVP, Sales
DC Entertainment

I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with this... I like the way things are going, and it feels like a real kick in the crotch to people who have been reading stuff for a long time. It would kind of render the back catalogue useless, I think...

Hurray...!?

is this going to change their origins??? 

You guys totally called it lol

Kinda split on this news. 
 
Add straps to WW's top and I'll stop complaining.

From the DC Women Kicking Ass tumblr: 
 

Wonder Woman looses the straps. Again. Superman gets a new symbol. And the guys get collars. Oh, Jim Lee. Maybe they’ll all get belly windows?

And here’s some more details from Bob Wayne’s letter to the market with my initial thoughts.

What’s important:

1. Some continuity stays.

We have taken great care in maintaining continuity where most important, but fans will see a new approach to our storytelling.
Some of the characters will have new origins, while others will undergo minor changes.

What do I hope that means? I hope it means Batwoman doesn’t change.

2. It will be a more “diverse” universe.

In addition, the new #1s will introduce readers to a more modern, diverse DC Universe, with some character variations in appearance, origin and age.

What do I hope it means? I hope it means more real diversity. That JL looks pretty God damn white to me.

What do I hope it doesn’t mean? I’m going to cut to the chase - that Barbara Gordon is not Batgirl again.

3. We’ll know more on June 13th

Throughout the month we’ll reveal more details of our plans with articles in both the mainstream and comics press and on June 13th the Diamond catalog solicitations for all of the September titles will be released, followed by the June 29th street date of the print version of Previews.

And I’m still standing my guess about the status of the Kent/Lane marriage.

I can't say I'm not excited by the prospect of being able to pick up every DC book from a "beginning", but I also can't help but kinda hate this idea. 
 
I just have very mixed feelings about this whole thing...

I wonder how much history gets changed, whether it'll be minor tweeks like Zero Hour or Infinite Crisis or full scale like Crisis on Infinite Earths. 
 
I don't see them loosing too much, especially if the rumour of a multi-coloured corps book is true.

I'm not happy with a reboot, but the characters look great.

Jim Lee & Geoff Johns... Should be alright.

Not interested.

This is intriguing. I haven't been as much of a DC fan partially because of the confusing reboot/crisis problems and a serious lack of either jumping on points or at least issue recaps to help someone (like me) fill in the gaps. 
 
Is this going to be a true reboot? Or like the Ultimate universe?

Well, looks like G-man was right, an entire reboot of the DC universe will be very interesting, hopefully by that time I will be able to buy single issues again instead of waiting for trades to come out.

This is intriguing. I haven't been as much of a DC fan partially because of the confusing reboot/crisis problems and a serious lack of either jumping on points or at least issue recaps to help someone (like me) fill in the gaps.  Is this going to be a true reboot? Or like the Ultimate universe?

woah I didnt see that coming..

"Winder Woman"... Ha ha ha, xD. I still think Superman looks great & Jim Lee is an amazing artist, so I'm glad he was the artist chosen for the job.

Superman doesn't have the red panties no more!!!  O.M.G.!

  Oh-kay....... 
 
  

I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with this... I like the way things are going, and it feels like a real kick in the crotch to people who have been reading stuff for a long time. It would kind of render the back catalogue useless, I think...

They decided to do this right after Flashpoint? I don't know if I can agree with these changes. At first, I thought Flashpoint would be temporary though. Because Flash is dealing with an alternate timeline and there is a way to fix it.  Anyways, if its DC's decision to remake their characters then I'm fine with it. But I think it's unnecessary to reboot the whole thing. 

This is very uncomfortable for me due to the fact that the characters are to appeal to younger audiences. Not that I'm against that, but I think they should create a new comic series just for that.  
 And on a side note, the characters look like teenagers.

I'm half-heartedly excited I guess.
 
Two problems:
 
1) REBOOTS
As seen from my history of criticizing Crisis of Infinite Earths and even Brand New Day, because it basically just throws out all the years of stories ever told about that character as if it was nothing. We the fans spent years and years following these characters.  To just simply erased those stories out of thin air is not a nice feeling.  Reboots are simply the easy way out.   So what happens to everything we're reading now, and just finished reading last month!?
 
Guess it's really time for the: 
 
"Final Crisis of Infinite Flashpoint Earths - Birthright of Secret Origins 52"
 
http://www.comicvine.com/news/off-my-mind-will-the-dc-universe-be-rebooted-again-after-flashpoint/143107/

2) COLLARS 
Um... why does everyone practically have a collar?  No really?  Does Batman have a collar too?  Does Sinestro get one?  I would love to see Hawkman fit a collar in his outfit somewhere.

I can't say I'm not excited by the prospect of being able to pick up every DC book from a "beginning", but I also can't help but kinda hate this idea.  I just have very mixed feelings about this whole thing...

Didio is always pushing the giant number thing. Yes it's a little daunting, but it shows how successful a character is as well. Hopefully they'll eventually go back to the old numbers. Costumes look great, but leave Batman Inc. alone, it's just getting good.

I am actually really excited for this. And with Jim Lee art Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seems like they want to make main icons younger(shave ten years off) and I think most continuity will remain but less successful characters will get retooled. Most likely batman stuff will remain fairly much the same but maybe he will look younger O_O 
 
I don't know I'm not a fan of rebooting the whole thing continuity wise(just revamp less popular ones or dead ones), costume wise it doesn't bother me(just give Wonder Woman something to hold that top up) 
 
Well great more continuity we have in our heads that will no longer matter HOORAY!?!?!?! T_____T

YES!

I have an intense dislike for this, as I stated previously. Action Comics, Detective Comics, Batman, Superman, renumbered back to #1... This is a spit in the face of their 76 year history of comics. Bob Kane would hang his head in shame.

I'm not sure if the best way to get past the confusing reboots is for them to have another one.