This graphic novel really has it all. History, action, and the icon that is Superman. The story starts when the Lee family moves out of Metropolis’s Chinatown and into a ‘regular’ neighborhood. Unfortunately, this catches the eye of the bigots in the Ku Klux Klan. While the father, Dr. Lee, adjusts to his new position in the city’s health department, his children Roberta and Tommy find themselves at the front lines of racism in post-WW2 Metropolis.

Superman opens up the great novel with punching out a villain of his own: a leftover super Nazi named Mr. Atom. Yet, in this action he finds is found one of Superman’s rare weaknesses, a metal that takes away his strength. This leads him to more discoveries about his backstory because in this book he isn’t aware of much of his mythos. There is an internal conflict between the life the Kent’s have set forth for him and the aliens who start to appear to Superman during the course of the book. He’s scared and unsure of their purpose.

Yes, the artwork is fulfilling. Yes, the pacing is perfect. Yes, the juxtaposition between Superman’s alienness and the Lees as “other” provides a depth that just sucks you in. But the part that did it for me was Yang’s essay at the end of the book about his connection to Superman. It tells the story of the original legacy of his fight against bigotry and how Yang chose to update the story while still holding true to the roots of history, style, and diction.

Superman Smashes the Klan is broken up into three part and at just under 250 pages, this is a book where you can truly follow complete arcs of many of the characters. I’d love for this book to be in my school’s library and I will be recommending to my students as well as my history teacher friends. I see a huge audience for this wonderful graphic novel.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, DC Comics, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

An excellent adaptation of the Superman radio serial that cuts to the core of Superman's roots juxtaposed with a Chinese family settling into life in Metropolis. The only detractor (even though it helps deepen supporting characters) is the smattering of racist comments from white characters.

This graphic novel was fantastic, from the writing to the eye catching colorful art style. It is a retelling of a 1940's Superman radio play where he defeats the Klan who are attacking a Chinese American family. I feel like this story is still resonate and powerful, especially today. I loved how Roberta and Superman's stories mirrored each other and really showed what it's like to be an outsider and how to feel like you belong. I usually don't like Superman stories, but Yang's writing was spectacular. All of the characters were very well developed and I found myself rooting for them. I have loved all of Yang's other works, and this is no exception. I also especially liked the end notes and historical context at the end. I think this is a very powerful story that got a masterful retelling.

I received an advanced copy of Superman Smashes the Klan from Netgalley, so I could share my review with you!

The Lee family has just moved to Metropolis from Chinatown, but not everyone is ready to welcome them to the neighborhood. Immediately upon their arrival, they become targets of the notorious Klan, who want to prevent non-white people from living and working in the same neighborhoods as them. Roberta Lee struggles to adjust to her new life in Metropolis, but her brother seems to easily fit in with the new crowd. As the Klan threat becomes more serious, Roberta worries about her families safety, wondering if they will ever feel welcome in Metropolis. The Lees aren’t alone in their fight, however, and one Super ally might be enough to turn the tide!

You can get your copy of Superman Smashes the Klan on May 12th from DC Comics!

Many people choose to forget Superman’s position as an outsider: quite literally an alien, created by two Jewish boys just before the start of WWII. Superman Smashes the Klan goes back to the symbolic roots of Superman, creating a firm statement on what his purpose what, both historically and today. Based on a radio broadcast of a similar story, this graphic novel brings Superman’s fight against xenophobia into vibrant color! I loved the way the story, written by Gene Luen Yang, blended Superman’s personal struggles with the similar struggles being faced by the Lee family. This story hit right into the heart of what Superman is supposed to stand for: Hope.

My Recommendation-
If you wish that your superhero comics had a stance on issues that are relevant to today, I strongly recommend reading Superman Smashes the Klan! This book weaves together classic superhero narratives with hard hitting topics, making it one of the most impactful comics I have read in a long time!

Another smash hit for Yang. He brings his emotionally charged perspective on history to a historical battle with Superman and the clan. Without calling out the parallels between then and now, he shows the perspective of what it feels like when you don’t fit in in the only world you e ever called home, and his bringing Superman’s power evolution into line with him accepting his heritage, was a master stroke by a master storyteller. And all of that weight and brilliance packed into a fun punch that will sweep middle grade readers along.

Set in 1946, the Lee family moves into a nice neighborhood of Metropolis from the city’s Chinatown. The son, Tommy, quickly joins the neighborhood baseball team. The presence of the Lees and Tommy's baseball spot sparks involvement from a local chapter of the Klan of the Fiery Cross. The Klan first demonstrates on the lawn of their home, then proceeds to target the Lee children, Tommy and Roberta (their Americanized names). Superman ends up saving the the children several times over. Roberta first notices that Superman may be holding back, and has other powers he's not using. Superman has to come to terms with himself as an immigrant and embrace some of the abilities he has suppressed his whole life in fear of social ostracization.

This story is based on a radio program from the 1940s where the Superman brand was used to fight a fledging Ku Klux Klan. The story was well-executed, especially the way Superman's journey mirrors that of the Lees. This title deals with racism in a faithful way that still is appropriate for younger kids. The art is simple and clean, and very reminiscent of 90s DC cartoon shows. There is also a three-pronged afterward: Gene provides a background on the Yang family, including the different experience he and his father had with racism growing up; there is a narrative about the radio program as it was originally conceived; and, there is a detailed historical perspective on how Chinese immigrants have been treated in American since the 1800s up until their involvement in World War II. This afterward provides some needed context for a story that may draw some criticism for the topic of this Superman adventure. This is a great stand alone, but younger readers might need a reminder of how early in Superman's timeline this story takes place.

Sara's Rating: 10/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-10

​This review was made possible with an advanced reader copy from the publisher through Net Galley. This graphic novel will be on sale May 12, 2020.

I'm so grateful for the chance I had to read and review this wonderful graphic novel! I was up half the night reading it—I couldn't get enough!

Quick Thoughts
-The art is so fun! The bright colors and emotion-filled characters was so eye-catching and fun to read. It felt like classic Superman art that will appeal to present-day kids.
-Roberta's relationship with her brother and parents felt really realistic to me—sometimes there are communication issues, sometimes they don't all have the same pov—but the love shown for each family member was warm and beautiful.
-The addition of a secondary character whose uncle is head of the Klan was interesting, and I loved how his character arc developed alongside Roberta and Tommy.

Lasting Impressions

I loved that this book includes recognizable characters such as Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and others, as well as includes new characters such as Roberta and Tommy Lee. I became immediately attached to Roberta and her journey as she learned to stand up for herself and do what's right even if it's hard. I loved how the author portrayed her anxiety. I believe a lot of kids will relate to her. The depictions of familiar characters are pretty classic, such as Lois Lane's wit and in-your-business attitude—it made me love her even more.

The depiction of Superman in this story is poignant, in that it treats Superman as an immigrant from his home planet to Earth. I've never thought about this connection before. He struggles to come to terms that he isn't just MORE than human, but that he isn't human at all. Seeing Roberta help him accept himself was so sweet—I loved their friendship.

There are some scary depictions of things that the Klan of the Fiery Kross does, but I don't think it would be too much for kids. In fact, I think it will bring about healthy discussions about racism in families that are understandable for kids.

This story is based on a radio serial from the 1940s, which I didn't know until after I'd read the book. The back of the book includes an author's note with history about Superman, history about racism in the USA before and after the 1940s, and some snippets of his own childhood when he dealt with racism. It was insightful and a welcome addition to the graphic novel.

Overall Feelings

I loved this book. A lot. Even after this review, I can't quite put into words how much I enjoyed this book. It's message is powerful and beautiful. I'll definitely be purchasing this book and recommending it to anyone and everyone.

When I was young, I idolized Superman. As I grew older, I felt that his stories lacked the depth and adventure of other heroes. He was so powerful, who could really beat him? The one part of Superman that always interested me, however, was his identity. How did a man from another planet handle living as one of us? How did he see himself?
Superman Smashes the Klan is a superbly written one-off, taking place in the late 1940’s. Capturing many of the legitimate racial issues of the day, this graphic novel is inspired by the real life radio show for Superman. The same as those old serial scripts, SStK follows Superman as he leaps to the defense of the Chinese-immigrant family, the Lees, hounded by the Klan of the Fiery Cross. The original story was credited with the public downfall of the image of the Ku Klux Klan.

This rendition fleshes out the story even further, adding more personality to every single character. What is even more meaningful to me is Superman’s personal subplot. When we first see him, he behaves just like the original comics portrayed him. Not able to fly or shoot heat vision. Just very strong and near invulnerable. After an encounter with kryptonite, however, he begins hallucinating. A pair of green-skinned aliens calling him out for only being half of his true self. He spends a large part of the book coming to accept himself for who and what we all know him to be. What shocked me, though, is a shift in one little boy’s opinion of Supes. The whole book, he’s obsessed with Superman, theorizing he smells of cotton candy. When Clark arrives on the scene in the climax, brandishing his full power, the boy comments. “Oh, he smells like ash”. He looks so dejected. I can’t help but think the writers are trying to go somewhere with that.

If you’re a Superman fan, you’ll love all the references to the 1940’s comics. I knew from the moment I saw the front cover, I was in for a treat. The art style is a fusion of 1940’s cartoons and modern manga manwha. It’s clean and classy, without sacrificing the dramatic angles and poses of modern comics. If you aren’t a Superman fan, give this book a read anyways. It looks at the most interesting aspects of the Man of Steel, and keeps it relatable.

Unfortunately, I couldn't access this book to read it, due to technological difficulties and not having access to my office computer b/c of the COVID19 shutdown. The cover looks amazing and I love Gene Luen Yang's work so I'm sure it's going to be great. Can't wait to get it for my library!

The Hero We Need

** Trigger warning for racist violence. **

The year is 1946, and the Lee family – mom, dad, Roberta, and Tommy – has just moved from Chinatown to Metropolis, so that Mr. Lee can begin a new job as Chief Bacteriologist of the Health Department. Gregarious and handsome, Tommy fits right in, easily slipping into the spot of star pitcher at the Unity House. An aspiring journalist with a stomach made of jelly,* Roberta – birth name Lan-Shin – is immediately homesick for Chinatown, where she didn’t feel like such a “weirdo”.

And then her family is targeted by the local chapter of the Clan of the Fiery Red Cross, which lights a cross on the Lee’s front lawn and attempts to fire bomb their house. The Allies may have won World War II, and Superman literally just crushed the Nazi supersoldier Atom Man, but racism is still alive and thriving – and firmly entrenched in Metropolis’s social institutions.

Luckily, the Lees live right across the street from cub reporter Jimmy Olsen (who is obviously and adorably smitten with Roberta), and Superman and Lois Lane are pursuing the case, each in their own ways.

I’ve really been enjoying DC’s YA imprint, but Superman Smashes The Klan takes things to the next level. Based on a sixteen-part radio show that aired in 1946 called “The Clan of the Fiery Cross”**, the story expertly dovetails Roberta’s journey with that of her idol, Superman. At this point in his story, Clark Kent is thirty-something and has only been superheroing for ten years. As a kid growing up in Smallville, his differences were a source of shame: they marked him as different, a freak, nonhuman. Demonic, even. And so he learned to suppress and ignore his powers. It wasn’t until a circus tent that he, the Kents, and Lana Lang were sitting under caught fire that Clark used his super strength for good. After that, Mrs. Kent sewed Clark his iconic red cape and Superman was born.

Yet, even as Superman, Clark hides pieces of himself: he has super strength and super speed, yes, but he runs along phone lines rather than flying, because defying gravity would give him away as not entirely of this world. And his ruse works, a little too well: the story’s big bad, a grand Scorpion of the Klan, proudly claims Superman as the best of what the white race has to offer; irrefutable evidence of white superiority.

An honest-to-goodness alien from another world, created by two first-generation Jewish immigrants, Superman has always functioned as a stand-in for marginalized groups: refugees and immigrants of various races, religions, and ethnicities (depending on which group is currently being scapegoated). Superman is as American as apple pie and AK-47s, and he’s a legit alien. Yang masterfully underscores this aspect of Superman’s identity by enmeshing his story with Roberta’s. Both of these “weirdos” learn to embrace their differences, because it’s what makes them – and, indeed, the world – so darn special.

Yang’s story is also deeply steeped in history, in ways I wouldn’t have fully appreciated without reading his essay “Superman and Me” (it appears in pieces in the single issues, and as a whole in the TP). I especially loved the showdown between the scorpion and grand wizard, as the two clashed over the Clan’s true purpose. This piece, in particular, seems especially relevant today.

* Roberta’s “gurgly stomach” is a mood.

** “To avoid getting sued by an organization that was legally recognized in several states, the show’s writers created a stand-in organization called The Clan of the Fiery Cross,” Yang explains in “Superman and Me.”

Superman takes on Kryptonite, racism, and the Klan in the new graphic novel Superman Smashes the Klan. The Lee family have just made the move from Chinatown to the inner circle of Metropolis. Almost immediately, Tommy and Roberta encounter the local kids and racism as they are Chinese Americans. One of the boys in the group lashes out at Tommy with some pretty nasty comments after its proven Tommy is a better baseball pitcher. Roberta tries to stand up for her brother, but ends up on the bad side of his anger. She desperately wants to go back to Chinatown. Her father works on a secret project at the local hospital, and after Superman has a run in with a German covered in Kryptonite, it becomes clear the two may be connected. Lois Lane wants to get to the bottom of Superman's behavior and what secret the local hospital is covering up.  While Roberta does her best to get comfortable, the boy her brother had a run in with tells his uncle. Unfortunately, his uncle is the Scorpion of the local Klan of the Fiery Cross.  Superman and Roberta must team up to save Tommy, who is most definitely in danger.

Superman Smashes the Klan is written by Gene Luen Yang, and comes out just in time for Asian Pacific American Heritage month.  With an actual family history of dealing with the struggle or American racism, the book feels therapeutic. The illustrations by Gurihiru has a charming 1950's feel, while still striking home important and terrifying images.  The Klan of the Fiery Cross is very clearly the Ku Klux Klan, and honestly I wish we had a Superman to deal with the recent highlighted racist nonsense the United States is going through.

I love just about anything Gene Luen Yang puts out. He has a good sense of humor, and a good sense of the outrageous, and is so good about pointing out both subtle and overt racism.

In this telling of Superman, based on a radio serial of Superman fighting the klan, Gene shows how life was in 1946 America, when minorities, in this case Chinese-Americans, chose to live somewhere other than Chinatown.

There is also a sub story, of Superman learning his true origin, thrown in for good measure.

Truly will go down as one of the best Superman stories ever.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

I've heard/read/seen a lot about how the KKK affected African Americans, but not how they affected Asian-Americans. It makes sense since bigots don't discriminate in their hatred. I liked how it subtly addresses race relations between Asian- and African-Americans. I wish it had been explored more, but that's an entirely different story made for an entirely different (graphic) novel. I also liked how the author and illustrator pointed out how racist movies portrayed Asian characters. Again, another story, another book.

Given the subject matter, "Superman Smashes the Klan" felt "light" and not as dark and heavy as it could have been. The artwork and the hope and goodness Superman symbolizes helped. What the Lees went through is downright scary and appalling, but you feel relieved that someone like Superman can swoop in to help. But Superman's help isn't the only help the Lees receive: They get help from neighbors and friends, even strangers. A whole community comes together to stand against hatred. That's what we need to fight bigotry, then and now.

Lastly, the parallel message of not holding yourself back to appease others really resonated with me, and it will definitely resonate with young readers.

ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review

I was so pumped for this book as soon as I saw that Gene Luen Yang was writing it. This is such an awesome middle grade version of Superman that tackles some tough topics. The artwork is amazing and the characters and story are so fantastic.

This graphic novel is a retelling of an episode of The Adventures of Superman from 1946. This version is slightly updated for a new generation and highly timely during this time where we are seeing a rise in hate crimes against Chinese and Asian people during the Coovid-19 pandemic. What I found most compelling about this book wasn't necessarily the Superman storyline, although that was so much fun, but the authors explanation in the back of the origins of this story and it's setting in popular culture at the time and now. He also included personal anecdotes from his life about the racism he's faced which is totally different from the obvious racisim found in the novel.
The Lees move to Metropolis, and immediately face enemies in the form of the Klan and people biased against Asian Americans. This is juxtaposed nicely with Superman realizing he has been holding back a huge part of himself cause he also doesn't want to be judged and seen as "other". Yang did an amazing job of making Roberta the coolest girl in Metropolis as she helps Superman, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen take down the Klan of the Fiery Cross.

Superman Smashes the Klan is another fine example of graphic novel composing by Gene Luen Yang. Yang was the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature a few years back, and his expertise as a visual storyteller is always wonderful.

In this book, Yang takes an idea that was explored decades ago, combines this inspiration with a fresh vision of a popular character, and shares a story that is timely and would make an ideal addition to classroom shelves, school libraries, and personal collections for younger and older readers.

The art is stylish and captures the reader's eye, almost in an animated flourish. This glossy surface goes a long way in delivering a story that inspires thought and, hopefully, action for the better. Highly recommended.

While this comic portrays a historical account of the hatred and activities of the Klan in the mid-1940s, alot of the racist elements are so relevant to today’s events. Due to the current popularity of graphic novel amongst kids, this will be a comic that they will enjoy reading and also be exposed to some historical fiction as well. The drawings are more current day, almost like anime, but still have that classic comic presentation to it. It was really interesting to find out that this comic was based upon an actual radio broadcast of the show Superman. I especially appreciated the historical account and personalization of the story written by Gene Luen Yang at the end of the book. I learned interesting facts about the Chinese American Immigrants in the U.S. and also about the Ku Klux Klan. This book is definitely a way for kids to be exposed about the history of racism in this country through a graphic comic.

This is easily one of the most powerful Superman stories that will ever be told. Gene Luen Yang took everything from his earlier work into this masterpiece. We have a Golden Age Superman struggling with his first shake into realization that he's an alien. That terrifies him because of a messy childhood. So he decides to hide his power for a while, but unlike Zack Snyder's Man of Steel he doesn't shy away from just wanting to help people and his parents accept that about him.

But it's the Lee family who come to Metropolis and their attempts to fit in that cause the story to push forward. From trying to speak only English, the son going along with jokes that are a little hurtful, and the daughter awkwardly trying to find familiarity only to find that those even that was never as good as she remembered.

The KKK pastiche isn't even a group of Straw Racists that are nothing but a joke or punching bags. They feel like actual people including how racism actually works. They don't think they're racists but they live in delusions of grandeur complete with how cheap their equipment is.

Moral of the story: quit living in your delusions just for the sake of fitting in or your sense of self worth! Everyone is bound by a future that can be shared. Exemplified by an alien man who shows that the best of humanity isn't exclusive to it. Or that the worst of humanity doesn't speak for it as a whole.

I thought I'd read this for some light reading on a Sunday and it's probably my COVID-19 shelter-in-place brain talking, but I ended up tearing up. In a good way! Still, that was not the reaction I thought I'd have. So many things are horrible right now but this was just a glorious ray of hope in a book. Yang also adds historical context regarding Superman (not-spoiler: there was never a time when Superman wasn't political), the Klan, and the oppression of regards Asian-Americans, African-Americans, and other groups not considered "pure" by cowards in bedsheets. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, including some fascinating pages marked "not final art" and I cannot wait for the finished version.

An inspirational icon teaching an inspirational lesson, this rendition of Superman teaches and inspires all readers of all ages. Superman is admired wherever he goes and people tend to forget that he is an immigrant. If that doesn't change how people look at him, then why should that be the case for other immigrants who add to the diverse personality of the country. When the views of immigration and race are trying to be twisted and distorted, this is a story that was definitely needed and necessary.