marvel Comics has revealed that a member of Fantastic Four is going to die in issue No. 587 next month.
The publishers will not say which one of Mr Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch or The Thing will bite the dust but they promise it will forever change the characters.
"I think we've given plenty of hints as to who may die - perhaps too many, in that every one of our lead characters is left in a dire, life-threatening situation the month before," says executive editor Tom Brevoort.
"So, hopefully, that will help to heighten the suspense, while preserving the surprise as to which member doesn't make it out alive."
But will the character really be dead? Fans may remember that, in a previous issue, Mr Fantastic was thought dead but was instead only temporarily snatched away to another dimension.
Brevoort promises that won't be the case this time around.
"It's a story that will have a transformative effect on these characters - virtually nothing will be the same after the events of this story. And that was the reason to go this route - to bring about these seismic changes to the characters and to the series."
The special issue will be wrapped in a black polybag designed to keep prying eyes from finding out and spoiling the surprise.