Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang art by Gurihiru
"We are bound together by the future. We all share the same tomorrow"
| A comic book set in 1946 with 2020 sensibilities features the traditional super hero trope: Man of Steel versus archenemy. The cast includes The Daily Planet’s mild-mannered Clark Kent, investigative reporter Lois Lane, spirited photographer Jimmy Olsen and bombastic editor Perry White. Metropolis is plagued with a sinister influence. It’s up to the caped crusader with an assist from a couple of kids to defeat this evil and protect the city’s citizens. But it’s more. Inspired by the 1940s Superman radio series “Clan of the Fiery Cross,” Gene Luen Yang chronicles a lesser-known aspect of bigotry and racism in American history: Chinese Americans targeted by white supremacists. The narrative has two plot threads. Alternating stories chronicle a Chinese American family's move from Chinatown to a new neighborhood. This is juxtaposed with the tale of a superhero arriving to earth from another planet. Both threads explore the plight of individuals who are perceived as different. Both are stories of immigrants. Stories of aliens. |  |
| | Dr Lee, his children Tommy and Roberta, and mandarin-speaking wife move from Chinatown to a suburban Metropolis home. Tommy is excited. He is quickly invited to play with the local youth baseball team. Roberta is apprehensive. She wonders if she will fit it and make new friends. Sadly some people do not welcome the Lee family. They are subjected to subtle and overt racism. One night Tommy and Roberta watch in horror when hooded Klansmen chant “One Race! One Color! One Religion!" and burn a cross in their neighborhood. Baseball teammate Chuck takes part in this cross burning. His uncle is the Klan’s Grand Scorpion. Chuck is uneasy about the Klan’s activities, yet wants to please his uncle. |
Superman is having his own interior conflict. Readers follow a flashback when young Clark decides that his incredible powers are a stigma, making him different from others. He resolves to conceal his capabilities, hoping for acceptance among his peers. Years later Superman's parents from Krypton appear to their adult son and encourage him to accept and use all his remarkable strengths.
Things end well. After a frightening abduction, an injury, and a harrowing escape, the leaders of the Klan are exposed and their plans for destruction are foiled. Tommy invites Chuck to join in an upcoming ball game. Roberta will pitch!
The script is laced with clever dialog as well as tongue-in-cheek humor. While characters remain true-to-form, Yang fleshes out the Superman with a compelling backstory. Dialog includes subtle hints at the attraction between Lois and Clark. Lois Lane becomes Roberta’s mentor. Smooth segues between the two story lines create a seamless narrative.
Gurihiru's art has a distinctive 1940's vibe. Panel size and placement moves the story forward at a fast pace. Large two-page illustration spreads are background for panel inserts which advance the action. A dazzling two-page spread exposes the horror of cross burning. Color clearly differentiates between day and night scenes. Angled panels accentuate action sequences.
Readers will be pleased to know that there will be further adventures for Tommy, Roberta and Superman. Fans will relish the continuing saga of the hero who now proudly flies as he continues the fight for justice and a better future for all.
The author’s note, "Superman and Me" provides context to Superman Smashes the Klan. Gene Luen Yang interweaves the development of the Superman mythos, a brief history of targeting Chinese Americans and other marginalized people, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, and challenges faced by immigrants. The account is broad in its scope while also a deeply personal reflection on superheroes, bigotry, and the immigrant experience.
Copy purchased from an independent bookstore.
Pub date: May 12, 2020 Publisher: DC Comics ISBN: 978-1779504210
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