Reviews with content warning for Racism - Superman Smashes the Klan

I went into this sceptically. I love a graphic novel but the superhero genre isn't really for me. So I expected to be interested in this, but not overly gripped.

Well, I was wrong.

Clan of the Fiery Cross was a Superman radio series broadcast in the '40s, that seems to genuinely have contributed to dismantling the KKK in America at the time. This comic adaptation was created from that series and is really powerful. The racism is incredibly uncomfortable to read, but it's an accurate portrayal of the treatment Chinese Americans were so often subjected to. And of course, Superman triumphs over bigotry and helps to change a good few minds along the way.

What I wasn't expecting was for the story to resonate so much with Superman himself. He develops as a character so much because of hiding his full power in an effort to seem "normal" and anything but alien. Embracing his own identity is ultimately what saves the day, with a lot of help from wonderful characters like Lan-Shin Lee (who I adored all the more once she embraced her weirdness in turn).

This is such a complex issue that is still so relevant today, and is really sensitively handled in an engaging story.

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adventurous dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Me, the entire time I was reading this: Kal, you dumbass, why don’t you just fly?!

Me, reading Gene Luen Yang’s short afterward about Superman’s history: oh.

It makes me bananas that today’s right-wing comic readers are always whining about comics “going woke” when they feature queer or racially diverse characters, but Superman’s first two foes were literally bigots: first nazis, then the KKK. Superman has always BEEN woke, dummies.

Anyway, I thought this was a great book! I loved Roberta and her little jacket. I loved that she never stopped criticizing her brother for his overly tolerant jokes and quips. And I loved Kal and his cute little crush on Lois. 🥰🥰 What a cutie. OH! And the Flying Grayson’s cameo??? I died.

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