Some Brief Thoughts on "Superman Smashes the Klan” · 2:18pm Sep 8th, 2020
The year is 1946. Teenagers Roberta and Tommy Lee just moved with their parents from Chinatown to the center of Metropolis, home to the famous hero, Superman. Tommy makes friends quickly, while Roberta pines for home. Then one night, the family awakens to find their house surrounded by the Klan of the Fiery Kross! Superman leaps into action, but his exposure to a mysterious green rock has left him weak. Can Roberta and Tommy help him smash the Klan?
Wow. I think that best sums up my thoughts on this comic. Wow.
And I mean that in the best way possible. This comic is great. It takes an already awesome moment of Superman's history and makes it even better.
I liked the retro-1940's feel. Having Superman's costume resemble the one from the Max Fleischer cartoons was a great touch, especially as somebody who used to watch those all the time when I was a little kid. Each member of the Lee family is well developed and likable, with Roberta (or Ling-Shang, going by her birth-name) getting the lion's share of the focus despite being practically nonexistent in the original serial. Mr. Lee's character is expanded from the radio drama as well, having a few prejudices of his own that he needs to overcome–namely against Superman, as we eventually find out.
Speaking of which, I like that the comic gives Superman an arc in the comic, that being him coming to terms with his Kryptonian heritage. I'm kind of a proponent of the "Earth made me who I am" take on Superman, but I like how this comic shows him finding a balance between the home and people he knows and loves, and the culture that gave birth to him. I also liked how he gradually "unlocks" his more modern powers, like heat & x-ray vision and flight, the more he digs into and accepts his alien past.
All in all, I highly recommend this book. Even if you aren't into Superman, I heartily recommend it anyway.
I literally read it last night online at your behest. This comic is deep and insightful and I love the mature, three-dimensional feel it has. Not to mention, I love seeing comics where the good guy beats the crap out of the KKK. I saw it happen in Red Dead Redemption 2. Seeing them get gunned down brings a happy feeling to me.
I read volume one of this series and was very pleasantly surprised by just how charming and enjoyable it was as a story. Gene Yang has really gone a ways toward making up for his New 52 work with this version of Superman!