Captain America was apparently shot dead in 2007

Superhero alter-ego Steve Rogers - the original Captain America - is to come back from the dead in a new five-part Marvel Comic series.

The first part of Captain America Reborn will be out in the US on 1 July, but its makers will not say how Rogers will come back to life.

Rogers was apparently shot and killed in 2007 on the steps of a courthouse.

Since then, the 68-year-old series has continued with Rogers' sidekick Bucky Barnes taking on the superhero mantle.

The superhero was first thought up to help encourage patriotic feeling during World War II.

Executive editor Tom Brevoort said: "He hasn't just been lying in a cold grave for these many months."

He revealed that there are some fans who are not keen to see the return of Rogers.

"Right this second, it's kind of a split," he said.

"When Steve was first killed, there was great outcry. But then as Bucky has taken over as Cap - and has sort of struggled to fill those big shoes - a lot of our readers have really taken to him as a character."

The Captain America magazine is sold in 75 countries.