Archie Andrews, the famous comic-book character, will be killed in the upcoming issue that will conclude the “Life With Archie” series, Archie Comics announced Tuesday.

The thirty-sixth issue of “Life With Archie,” the final one in the "flash-forward" series, hits stands on July 16 and will reveal how the comic-book hero, who has entertained readers around the world for more than 70 years, sacrifices his life to save his friend.

"We've been building up to this moment since we launched 'Life With Archie' five years ago, and knew that any book that was telling the story of Archie's life as an adult had to also show his final moment," Archie Comics Publisher and Co-CEO Jon Goldwater said, in a statement.

The story will undoubtedly trigger a range of reactions as the Archie series has been so close to all its readers, Goldwater said in the statement. He added that it may be a sad moment for fans of the character but hopefully they would understand the reason that this issue “will go down as one of the most important moments in Archie's entire history.”

Goldwater explained the idea behind the killing off of Archie in an interview with CNN: “I think it's the natural conclusion to the 'Life With Archie' series," adding that "he dies saving the life of a friend.”

"We want to not only show how Archie's life ends, but also what he means to the world around him. We want to celebrate his life. After the events of 'Life With Archie' #36, fans will leap forward a year to see the aftermath, and how his friends have moved on since his surprising death," Goldwater said, of what his team wanted to accomplish with the storyline.

The thirty-seventh issue in the series leaps a year forward and shows how the remaining members of the Riverdale gang -- including Jughead Jones, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge and Reggie Mantle -- honor the legacy of Archie.

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