The Man of Steel has some of the most iconic villains in comic book history. Lex Luthor. Brainiac. Darkseid. Doomsday. Bizarro. Yet all of them pale in comparison to his true worst enemy: the Klu Klux Klan.
See, back in the 1950s, when radio was the top of the entertainment industry, Superman was adapted from comic book to audio drama in ‘The Adventures of Superman.’ With the second World War having ended a few years prior, the series’ writers had lost their easiest target for antagonists: the Nazis. So they had to go looking for a suitable replacement.
Thus, Superman would go on to face the KKK. Though not the actual KKK; at the time, they were a legitimate business organization (and a popular one, horrifying as that is to say), so they could sue if they found out. Instead, writers used an easy KKK stand-in that was identical to the actual Klan in just about every way except the name.
The serial was a smash hit. So much so that public opinion of the Klan plummeted dramatically. That’s right, a Superman radio drama was enough to drive back the scourge of the KKK!
Alas, it was not a permanent solution. Racism and America go together like flies on shit, no matter what the era. The Klan didn’t die, they simply went underground.
Luckily for us, Superman is still around too. In late 2019, writer Gene Luen Yang and artist Gurihiru would team up to bring that classic radio drama to the page. The result: ‘Superman Smashes the Klan.’
In Superman articles past, I’ve written many a joke about this particular story. I hope it’s clear those gags came from a place of love, not mockery. Because when it comes to Superman comics, I genuinely consider this comic to be one of the best in the character’s history!
Our story begins with your standard Superman fare. The Atom Man, a Nazi in power armor, is attacking Metropolis Dam for… reasons. Lois and Jimmy briefly interview him, then Superman knocks the racist dickhead down a few pegs. Tearing his armor apart reveals a strange green rock that brings the Man of Steel to his knees. Looking down, he finds his hand changed, scaly and green and distinctly alien. When the illusion fades, he puts on a brave face for his friends, but leaves feeling sick and disturbed.
This is a perfect introduction for our main trio. Superman is as pure as fresh snow and effortlessly charming. Lois is witty, utterly unshakable, and endlessly optimistic. Jimmy is basically a trusty golden retriever and I love him with all my heart. We also get to meet Inspector Henderson, a detective with a razor sharp mind and a golden heart. The cast is rock solid all around.
Although we still haven’t met all of them. On this same day, teenage girl Lan-Shin Lee and her family are moving to Metropolis. Though she goes by Roberta, and her brother by Tommy. They’re Chinese-Americans, and as such, they feel they have to use English names in order to fit in better.
It does them little good. Though Roberta and Tommy soon make friends with Jimmy, as well as several kids from the Unity House, they also draw the eyes of some less than welcoming neighbors. The Order of the Fiery Cross has been gathering in the shadows of Metropolis, and their hateful eyes shortly fall upon the Lees.
The Lee family are fantastic characters. Lan-Shin is perfect as our secondary protagonist; seeing her grow from a nervous newcomer in a strange land to a confident and sassy badass is awesome, and every scene she shares with Superman is a delight. Her relationship with Tommy feels so sweet and genuine; it’s a very down-to-earth sibling bond, something you don’t often see in comic books.
Now seems a good time to address the primary conflict of this comic: the racism. See, ‘Superman Smashes the Klan’ doesn’t shy away from how messed up dealing with bigotry and stereotypes can be. Friendly as the kids of the Unity House are, they still make unintentionally racist remarks to the Lees because they don’t know any better. It also doesn’t shy away from using racial slurs. They never drop a hard N-bomb, sure, but they get about as blatant and offensive as you can get in a family friendly comic book.
It doesn’t overly simplify the issue, either. This comic addresses the many shades of racism, as well as how it’s passed down from parent to child. The primary example of this is the character Chuck Riggs, your standard Arian white boy and nephew to the story’s primary antagonist. Throughout the comic, Chuck struggles between accepting his uncle’s lessons, nearly becoming a member of the Order, and doing the right thing and standing against him. Chuck’s redemption arc is one of the best storylines in the comic; it’s the perfect display of how complex this issue is, while also showing that even someone raised in a pro-racist household can choose to be better.
Speaking of character arcs: let’s talk about Clark Kent.
Superman faces similar troubles to the Lees. Remember: he’s an immigrant too. Throughout the comic, we see him grappling with his Kryptonian heritage, rejecting it out of fear and a desire to fit in. Lan-Shin and Clark both essentially share the same character arc: to overcome their fear of being who they are.
This is reflected through Superman’s most iconic power: flight. See, when the original radio drama aired, flying hadn’t yet been added to his set of powers. Gene Luen Yang took that bit of trivia and made it a key factor to Clark’s character arc. When he finally does take flight, it’s a genuinely triumphant moment! If you’re one of those people that think Superman is lame because he’s unrelatable, then you really ought to read this book.
Side note: I adore this version of Clark Kent. He’s a bumbling fool with terrible luck, most of all when it comes to Lois. We even get a few flashbacks to show his friendship with Lana Lang, which is also super fun! It’s cute, I love him!
Also, if you read this comic (as you should), be sure to read the excerpts at the end, ‘Superman and Me,’ by Gene Luen Yang. These detail the real-world histories of America, the Ku Klux Klan, Superman, and how the three came together in the original radio drama. Not only that, it gives a personal insight into Yang’s own experience dealing with racism growing up a Chinese-American, and why he connects so strongly to the Superman character.
Finally, to wrap up, let’s talk about the art. Because god damn, this comic looks good! Every single panel is a treat on the eyes! The character designs are absolutely perfect; I especially love this design for Superman. Gurihiru’s artwork is so bright and colorful and charming, it fits this character and the world like a glove!
The panel work is absolutely masterful. Each drawing naturally guides your eyes across the page as smoothly as silk. Not only is it gorgeous, it also reads perfectly!
Honestly, I don’t have any complaints about this book. ‘Superman Smashes the Klan’ is a true masterpiece through and through. It manages to tackle some incredibly deep and heavy themes while still maintaining the joy and optimism at the heart of the Superman mythos. Most importantly of all: it’s just so much damn fun to read!
I could go on gushing about it, but then I’d go and spoil the entire comic for you. Seriously, just go read it! There’s only three issues! Pick them up at your local bookstore, sit back, and enjoy! Trust me, you’ll have a great time!
Why do I even need to pitch this? Superman punches racists! What more could you want?!
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