DC Comics is going back to the starting point in September, renumbering its entire lineup of DC Universe titles with No. 1 and retooling nearly all of its major characters, including Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman.

At the same time, the company, which has been publishing comics for 76 years, said it would start selling digital copies of its printed ongoing superhero titles through apps and a website the same day they're released in comic shops, a move dubbed by the industry as day-and-date sales.

That means DC is joining a movement already embraced by Archie Comics, which began same-day digital and print sales in April, along with other smaller publishers.

DC's rival, Marvel Comics, has not yet implemented such a move but has routinely held more market share every year since 2002, based on sales statistics from Diamond Comic Distributors.\

Move begins with Justice League

DC's move will start with the first issue of Justice League on Aug. 31, which will reunite the classic lineup of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Green Lantern.

Two comic books are to be issued Aug. 31st — the final issue of this summer’s comic book mini-series Flashpoint and the first issue of Justice League, which will work together to "offer a contemporary take on the origin of the comic book industry’s premier superhero team," DC said in a statement.

Justice League will be written by DC's chief creative officer Geoff Johns and illustrated by co-publisher Jim Lee, the first time the pair have collaborated together, the company said.

Lee has also redesigned the costumes of more than 50 characters.

Aug. 31 also marks the beginning of a plan to issue digital editions the same day as paper editions for DC's line of comics.

Experience characters in new light

In a note to direct-market retailers, Bob Wayne, senior vice president for sales, said by rebooting the superhero titles and moving to day-and-date digital sales, DC was positioning itself to let readers experience characters in a new light.

"We have taken great care in maintaining continuity where most important, but fans will see a new approach to our storytelling," he said in the letter. "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."

The renumbering will restart the clock on 52 DC Comics titles.

Some of DC's titles are already available digitally through apps and in March it joined Comixology's Digital Storefront Affiliate program, which lets shops sell digital comics along with printed copies.