After the dark, divisive days of the past seven years in such storylines as Civil War; Dark Reign and the death of Captain America, Marvel has announced the May launch of what they’re calling The Heroic Age which will thrust its superheroes into a new era of heroism with an upbeat tone.

Comics released under the The Heroic Age banner, will begin with the release of a new Avengers #1, and represent a bold new era for the world’s greatest superheroes as they emerge from darkness with a renewed sense of hope and optimism, Marvel said in a press release.

Our heroes have experienced some of their greatest trials and tribulations recently, but now there’s going to be a renewed hope among their ranks, said Joe Quesada, chief creative officer and editor-in-chief of Marvel Entertainment. As our heroes emerge from the darkness, the Marvel Universe is going to be a more optimistic place than we’ve seen in a quite awhile.

Marvel promises that the Heroic Age issues, served up by comics heavyweights like Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman and John Romita Jr., will serve as a perfect jumping-in point for comics readers old and new.

And, is it just a coincidence that this newfound optimism comes so soon after Disney bought the comics powerhouse? Marvel says the plan has been in the works since well before the $4 billion sale was announced last August.

We’ve been working out the details of The Heroic Age for about a year now, said David Gabriel, senior vice president of sales and circulation for Marvel Entertainment. The plan is to give old and new fans alike the perfect place to jump into the Marvel Universe without feeling like they’ve missed out on anything that’s come before.

Click here to read more about this announcement on the Comic Book Resources website