The year is 1946, and the Lee family has moved from Metropolis' Chinatown to the center of the bustling city. While Dr. Lee is greeted warmly in his new position at the Metropolis Health Department, his two kids, Roberta and Tommy, are more excited about being closer to their famous hero, Superman!
While Tommy adjusts to the fast pace of the city, Roberta feels out of place, as she tries and fails to fit in with the neighborhood kids. As the Lees try to adjust to their new lives, an evil is stirring in Metropolis: the Ku Klux Klan. When the Lee family awakens one night to find a burning cross on their lawn, they consider leaving town. But the Daily Planet offers a reward for information on the KKK, and their top two reporters, Lois Lane and Clark Kent, dig into the story.
When Tommy is kidnapped by the KKK, Superman leaps into action-with help from Roberta! But Superman is still new to his powers-he hasn't even worked out how to fly yet, so he has to run across town. Will Superman and Roberta reach Tommy in time?
Inspired by the 1940s Superman radio serial "Clan of the Fiery Cross," Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese, Boxers and Saints, The Terrifics, New Super-Man) presents his personal retelling of the adventures of the Lee family as they team up with Superman to smash the Klan.
Many golden age stories didn't age very well. Readers' expectations have evolved and changed - we now expect more character development for our heroes, narrative complexity and deeper themes than just punching irreeemably bad guys to save the day. Superman Smashes the Klan proves a good story and political commentary are timeless, and is as relevant as when it was aired on the radio in the 40's. Especially now, in the age of rise of nationalism and xenophobia all around the world.
The story is pretty simple - a Chinese family moves to Metropolis, and faces racism from the local charter of KKK. What makes it all work so well, are character interactions, as well as presentation of different views on certain issues, most notably assimilation, xenophobia, and what it means to call a place your home. It's surprisingly deep, and I feel like Yang did fantastic job explaining them to us, readers. Or, should I say, giving us room to interpret the plot ourselves, without being preachy and plain annoying, like Mariko Tamaki, who can't handle a tough subject even if her life depended on it, as shown in Supergirl: Being Super, and Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass.
It's a great, character driven, fun comic I could recommend to anybody - kid, adult, doesn't matter. The main characters are instantly likeable and believable, while villains aren't just one dimensional bad guys - they have their twisted views and to a degree you can understand what they think, while of cours not agreeing with their racist nonsense.
The art is great - it's colorful, expressive, and, just to put it simple, pretty. I dig it.
Overall an outstanding comic anyone can enjoy. I love it, and can't wait for #2.
© 2025
i just wanted to comment to say your review ends on "most notably ass" before you click to see the rest and thats pretty hilarious
Well, that's unintentionally awkwardly hilarious. Guess it's too late to fix it :P
Good story, art was horrible. I can't stand that style of drawing.