(Image source from: Comics icon Archie shot dead in concluding series})

Comic-book icon Archie Andrews will be shot dead while trying to save his gay best friend. The concluding series will see the famous freckle-faced comic hero taking a bullet, while trying to save his friend Kevin Keller.

The concluding series from Archie Comics titled "Life with Archie" will be released on Wednesday. The series will see Archie intervening an assassination attempt on Kevin Keller, first open gay character in Archie Comics.

The concluding series featuring Archie Andrews' death was first announced in April. It focuses on grown up characters of Archie and his famous gang of friends in Riverdale.

Archie Comics publisher and co-CEO Jon Goldwater says that the events leading to Archie's demise is exactly what is expected of the famous freckle-faced character. It's a heroic death, where he dies selflessly. Andrew's death signifies the best of Riverdale as well as the best of all of us. The famous comic-book character has represented the best of humanity in the last 75 years, said Goldwater.

The character of Kevin Keller was first added to Archie comics in 2010. He joined Andrew's Riverdale pals Veronica Lodge, Betty Cooper, Jughead Jones and Reggie Mantle in Archie Comics spin-off "Veronica".

In the latest series "Life with Archie," Keller is shown as a married military veteran and the newly elected senator of Riverdale. He pushes for more gun control in Riverdale following an incident of shooting where his partner was involved.

Goldwater stated that the publishing house wanted something impactful that would make waves in the world and make us realise the importance of Archie. The storyline could have been about saving Betty or Veronica. But by saving Kevin it gives a message to the world, and metaphorically it's about the birth of a new Riverdale.

But who shot Archie? Goldwater will not reveal. It's only a teaser. So for now just know that it's a stalker who wanted to assasinate Keller.

The final moments of Archie Andrews will be given in detail in "Life with Archie" Number 36. The next issue Number 37 will take a time leap of one year and show his Riverdale pals honouring Archie.

Archie Andrew, the red-headed boy, first appeared in comics in 1941. He went on to become one of the most popular comic icons with his colorful character and wholesomeness. Though Archie Andrews dies, but other incarnations of the freckle-faced character will continue in Archie Comics series.

(AW: Pratima Tigga)