Limited Collectors’ Edition #C-47
Published and © by DC, August-September 1976
Title: “The Spirit of 1776!”
Synopsis: Superman uses a time projector to look back on an early encounter between Tom “Tomahawk” Hawk and George Washington.
Writer: Uncredited
Artists: Fred Ray and Curt Swan
Review: A classic bait-and-switch package – but that might be fitting for a special celebrating the brith of a nation that has often struggled to live up to its advertised ideals. Other than a Superman framing sequence, readers are treated to Tomahawk reprints (this one from 1947’s Star Spangled Comics #73).
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Title: “Adventure in New York!”
Synopsis: Tomahawk and young ally Dan Hunter go undercover to steal ammunition for George Washington’s troops.
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: Fred Ray
Review: While a bit dated, Fred Ray’s art is top shelf. (This story is from 1951’s Star Spangled Comics #121.)
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Title: “The Magic Tomahawk!”
Synopsis: Tom Hawk receives a Paul-Revere-crafted silver tomahawk from George Washington that soon proves lucky in a treacherous situation.
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: Fred Ray
Review: The stereotypes in these stories aren’t as bad as many from the era. (From 1952’s Star Spangled Comics #126.)
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Title: Untitled
Synopsis: George Washington and the Continental Army get bogged down at Valley Forge during a crucial winter of the Revolutionary War.
Writer: Fred Ray
Artist: Ray
Review: Fred Ray serves up this nonfiction recounting in full-page splashes, from 1951’s self-published Valley Forge one-shot.
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Title: “The First Sub”
Synopsis: Tomahawk and Dan Hunter rescue a native ally using the real-world “Turtle” – the first military submarine.
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: Fred Ray
Review: This mix of fiction and real-world history make for an interesting story (from 1957’s Tomahawk #45).
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Title: “Frontier Theater!”
Synopsis: Tomahawk uses a theatrical production as a cover for an operation to retake a bridge from the British.
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: Fred Ray
Review: This reprint from 1952’s Star Spangled Comics #127 makes the least story sense, but Fred Ray’s art is excellent.
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Title: “The Battle of the Master Woodsmen”
Synopsis: Tomahawk and mentor Thacker Young discover they’re on opposite sides of the war, leading to a battle of frontiersman tricks.
Writer: Uncredited
Artist: Fred Ray
Review: This tale of conflicted loyalties and new-world sensibilities carries emotional weight. (From 1957’s Tomahawk #45.)
Grade (for the entire issue): B-
Second opinion: “One of the worst examples of deceptive marketing in recent memory. An attractive package, good art and good writing – and still it stinks on ice for ethical reasons.” – Gary De Jong, It’s a Fanzine #36, November 1986 … “(A) bizarre choice of material in the 1976 treasury titled Superman Salutes the Bicentennial.” – The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003
Cool factor: A fun collection of historical tales from the underrated Fred Ray. All told, an enjoyable package …
Not-so-cool factor: … that shouldn’t have been titled “Superman Salutes the Bicentennial.”
Notable: The cover is from 1942’s Superman #14. … The Valley Forge story is © 1951 Fred Ray. … This issue also includes “Don’t Fire Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes!,” “The Battle That Was Misnamed!” and “Who Were the Hessians?” filler features, as well as a two-page “The Bicentennial Planet” text feature and a back-cover pinup featuring “The Presidents of the United States.”
Character quotable: “I want you to see that being a Superman isn’t necessary to change the world.” – Superman, American immigrant
A word from the president: “In a scant 38 years, Superman has become a part of the American mythology, And now, in the national celebration of the Bicentennial, we want to pay tribute to the founding fathers using the Superman myth.” – Sol Harrison, from the introduction to this issue
Editor’s note: This review was written June 30, 2026.
