A few things about this issue: Readers will meet the greatest threat to face the Flash family in decades. A new hero will step into an old speedster’s boots. Barry Allen makes the ultimate sacrifice. Yep. You read that correctly. Courtesy of superstar writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver. You’ve heard it said before, but this issue doesn’t dance around it — nothing will be the same.

FLASH: REBIRTH #5 hits 11/18.

Writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver continue to race toward the gripping conclusion of FLASH: REBIRTH with the fourth installment in the mini-series that returned Barry Allen to the DCU. Allen left a legacy that thrived after his death. Now his return threatens it all. What secrets does Barry hold inside him about the fate of the Flash Family? What destiny awaits Wally and his twins? What murderous force targets Bart Allen? And what does it truly mean to be a speedster? You won’t find all the answers here, but we’ve got a few.

FLASH: REBIRTH #4 hits 8/26.

It’s finally here.

The players are in place. The dead are rising.

You’ve seen the previews and read the issues leading up to BLACKEST NIGHT #1,which hit comic shops today.

But there’s more. Included in the extra material on the GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT DC Universe animated original movie — on sale 7/28 on Blu-ray and DVD — is a feature spotlighting this summer’s biggest event, including interviews with Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi and Dan DiDio. And we’ve got two clips from the segment right here.

So, if you haven’t made it out to the store yet or if you’re settling in to read the issue, check out the video. Think of it as a movie trailer for the blockbuster film you’ve been dying to see all summer. Pun intended.

And because we’re generous, here’s another look at the first three pages from the first issue, plus the covers. Enjoy.

You’ve heard the question, but have you gotten the answer? Who’s faster, Superman or the Flash? Place your bets, because the third issue of FLASH: REBIRTH brings in the verdict — in a way you’d never predict. Check out a few pages from writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver’s speedster opus, which hits 6/10.

What’s better than five issues of FLASH: REBIRTH? How about six?

So, yes, to spell it out, FLASH: REBIRTH, the hugely popular  mini-series from writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver has been extended from five to six issues.

In issue #5, which will be solicited  in the June Previews, the greatest threat to face the Flash Family in decades  stands revealed. Plus, a new hero will take on an older speedster’s role. And  Barry Allen faces having to once again sacrifice his life to save all that he  holds dear.

Watch for the solicitation of THE FLASH: REBIRTH #5 in the  June Previews. This issue is scheduled to arrive in stores on August 26.

Nice, huh?

Not only do you get the definitive “Who is faster?” answer when it comes to Superman and Flash, but you get Johns and Van Sciver continuing to explain just how Barry Allen returned. What more could you want?

FLASH: REBIRTH #3 hits on 6/10.

A speedster is dead. Barry Allen, the newly returned Flash, must find out who — or what — is responsible. But Barry has his own secrets haunting him, and if he’s not careful those secrets could very well send him hurtling back into oblivion. Click on the pages below to experience part of the second issue of writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver’s reinvention of the Scarlet Speedster.

FLASH: REBIRTH #2 goes on sale 5/6.

Yes, it’s only Tuesday. But look at it this way — that means a few more days of cool debuts here at The Source. Surely that’s motivation enough?

• In case you missed it, the team at MYSPACE COMIC BOOKS previewed SUPERMAN #687 and SUPERMAN/BATMAN #59.

• Over at Comic Book Resources’ Robot 6 blog, Tim O’Shea talks to R.E.B.E.L.S writer Tony Bedard about the series, and artist Claude St. Aubin’s upcoming stint as artist.

• In Batman news, Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert’s conclusion to “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” got positive review attention from Comic Book Resources, Newsarama’s “Best Shots” team and IGN. IGN also previewed the first issue of BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL — THE UNDERGROUND.

• Newsarama shows off some shiny TRINITY pages and Robot 6’s Tom Bondurant continues to annotate every issue. Impressive, eh?

• The build up to BLACKEST NIGHT continues, with IGN previewing GREEN LANTERN #40, and reminded people about that page Eddie Berganza posted last week. Newsarama’s Vaneta Rogers spoke to artist Ethan Van Sciver at length about the looks for the different Lantern Corps and their symbols.

• And in case you were still hungry for Red Circle info after our debuts last week, superstar artist J.G. Jones spoke to Newsarama’s Matt Brady about his role in redesigning the characters for the DCU.

You’ve seen the preview, read the interviews and bought the first issue — but I doubt you’ve had your fill of FLASH: REBIRTH. It’s Barry Allen, back from the dead. But why? We’re obviously not going to spoil that here, but we will give you new, pretty art to look at. Here’s the cover to FLASH: REBIRTH #4, by Van Sciver plus an interior page from FLASH: REBIRTH #2.

In an effort to prevent you from spiraling into any kind of Monday morning sadness, here’s a quick roundup of notable news that hit over the weekend:

• Geoff Johns continued to talk up FLASH: REBIRTH, this time with io9’s Graeme McMillan:

Why bring back Barry Allen?

Because the world needs heroes.

Bringing back Barry Allen, that was something that grew out of everything we were doing with Final Crisis with Grant [Morrison] and everything. You know, Grant and I had talked a lot about this, too, when we were working together on DC Universe Zero way back when, about what was going on with the Flash Universe, and more specifically the DC Universe.

With Final Crisis, it was a full circle from Crisis on Infinite Earths, and with Darkseid representing the ultimate evil, and Grant really playing the theme that Darkseid really is evil incarnate without room for any grays, Barry Allen was by all accounts considered the greatest force for good in the DC Universe, and so he was brought back to combat that as a signal of ushering in the new age of heroes back in the day with Showcase #4. Barry represents that.

• FLASH: REBIRTH artist Ethan Van Sciver stopped by BLOG@NEWSARAMA as well, talking to Russ Burlingame about the mini-series.

• IGN also spoke to GREEN LANTERN and BLACKEST NIGHT editor Eddie Berganza about the upcoming mega-event:

IGN Comics: Obviously you have an interesting situation with Blackest Night running alongside Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps – can you give us an idea of the focus of each title? Will they weave together or are their stories pretty distinct? Is Blackest Night a “big DCU picture” idea with GL and GLC focusing strictly on Hal Jordan and his friends?

Berganza: Ideally, we’re giving you complete stories in each title, but if you read them as a whole you are getting a larger view of this threat that is spreading death throughout the universe.

Both GL and GLC will be looking at it from the perspective of the Green Lanterns and the Guardians, and how all the new Corps are affected by it. BN itself will be about how the Black Lanterns are terrorizing the rest of the heroes of the DCU, and you see Hal interacting with them.