New York - Captain America has undertaken his last mission - at least for now.

The venerable superhero, whose comics have been sold in a total of 75 countries, is killed in the issue of his namesake comic that hit stands on Wednesday, the Daily News reported.

On the new edition's pages, a sniper shoots down the shield-wielding hero as he leaves a courthouse, according to the newspaper.

It ends a long run for the character, whose costume is a variation on the design of the US flag.

He was created in 1941 to incarnate patriotic feeling during World War II and, over the years, an estimated 210 million copies of Captain America comic books, published by New York-based Marvel Entertainment Inc, have been sold worldwide.

But resurrections are not unknown in the world of comics, and Marvel Entertainment editor in chief Joe Quesada said a Captain America comeback was not impossible.

Still, the character's death came as a blow to co-creator Joe Simon.

"We really need him now," said Simon, 93, who worked with artist Jack Kirby to devise Captain America as a foe for Adolf Hitler.

According to the comic, the superhero was spawned when a scrawny arts student named Steve Rogers, ineligible for the army because of his poor health but eager to serve his country, agreed to a "Super Soldier Serum" injection.

The substance made him a paragon of physical perfection, armed only with his shield, his strength, his smarts and a command of martial arts.

Even if Captain America turns out to have met his end in print, he may not disappear entirely: Marvel has said it is developing a Captain America movie.