ST ALBANS comic shop Chaos City will be holding a special midnight opening to celebrate the launch of the new DC Universe.

The DC Universe - home to superheroes including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern - is being relaunched with 52 new number one issues, including such titles as Action Comics and Detective Comics.

To mark this auspicious occasion, Chaos City in Heritage Close will be holding a special midnight launch event tonight, offering fans the first chance to get their hands on the initial wave of new titles.

Comics legend Dave Gibbons, the artist behind such acclaimed series as Watchmen, Rogue Trooper and Martha Washington, will also be on hand to sign books and chat about DC’s new direction.

There will be drinks and snacks available until 1.30am, and a special prize will be awarded to the person wearing the best DC-themed fancy dress costume.

DC Comics took the bold decision to relaunch their entire range of books in order to make them more representative of modern society, and lure in readers who might have been put off by decades of established continuity.

A new-look Justice League was published last week to herald the relaunch, but the following four weeks will see a further 51 number ones published.

For further details on the opening, call Chaos City on 01727 838719