Writer Jeph Lobe has been working through the stages of grief in the most recent issues of Marvel Comics. You see, Captain America has been gunned down. And his buddies -- Wolverine, the Avengers, Iron Man, and Spider-Man -- are battling with denial, anger, bargaining, and depression. The whole story will be revealed when the latest issue, Fallen Son, hits newsstands July 5th, the day after Independence Day.

Loeb, also an executive producer for NBC's Heroes, chose his storyline to represent current politics.

"Part of it grew out of the fact that we are a country that's at war, we are being perceived differently in the world," he says. "He wears the flag and he is assassinated -- it's impossible not to have it at least be a metaphor for the complications of present day."

Loeb's storyline also stems from something much more personal -- the death of his 17-year-old son from cancer.

"So many people have lost their sons and daughters over the years, for the greater good or to cancer or other horrible things," said Loeb. "I wanted this to be something people would identify with."

So what will come of Captain America's death? Will he come back from the dead? That's not important right now, says Loeb.

"The question is, how does the world continue without this hero?" he says. "If that story of his return gets told further down the line, great. But everyone's still been dealing with his loss."

At Captain America's funeral, a eulogy is delivered and superheros everywhere are asked to stand up and honor their hero. Loeb did something similar at his son's funeral.

"It was this moment where I realized that we were all different, but this boy, my son, made us all connected," he said. "It was powerful."