Action Comics #463
Published and © by DC, September 1976
Title: “Die Now, Live Later!”
Synopsis: Karb-Brak, an alien allergic to superpowers, banishes Superman to 1776 – where the Man of Tomorrow saves the Declaration of Independence!
Writer: Cary Bates
Penciler: Curt Swan
Inker: Tex Blaisdell
Review: This Bicentennial Superman tale is a mess. There is little in the way of story logic here beyond someone at DC deciding, “Gee, wouldn’t it be cool to have Clark Kent as a reporter covering the signing of the Declaration of Independence?” Hmm? No. Not really. It doesn’t help that readers are plunged into this multipart story in medias res, or that this issue’s flashback fails to explain why the antagonist – a redheaded alien sporting cheek muttonchops – decided to banish Superman to 1776 Philadelphia. But, to be fair, it’s better than Superman’s plan, which involved killing Karb-Brak! A stinker.
Grade: D+
Cool factor: Karb-Brak’s wild facial hair almost could be cool. Emphasis on almost.
Not-so-cool factor: Curt Swan’s journeyman art is always serviceable but rarely would be mistaken for cool.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Witchcraft, that’s what it is!” – A Colonial bystander (apparently, Superman isn’t a bird or a plane circa 1776!)
Editor’s note: This review was written May 19, 2026.
