Superman Smashes The Klan is a long 3 issue series adapting an episode of the radio series The Adventures of Superman. Now I already have a review on another website, so I’m not gonna repeat the full review. Instead I’m going to show how this comic adaptation makes a monumental episode even better. Trigger warning, I will bring up a point that will be politically divisive.
The Clan of the Fiery Cross
In 1946 folklorist Stetson Kennedy give the radio series’ producers material for the show. The act was made out of concern that Ku Klux Klan links would catch on if these findings end up with the police. The producers looking for villains accept the proposal. Yet instead of Superman just punching out these clan “knights”, the serial goes out of its way to make the KKK look stupid.
In their heyday, the KKK were practically an urban legend. At the time of the episode the KKK are little more than a memory; almost like ghosts of the past. But like ghosts that haunt the corners of communities, followers of the Klan still exist. Kennedy along with the Anti-Defamation League infiltrate the Klan to observe their rituals. Providing authentic details and codewords, the episode demystifies the Klan by revealing their trivial nature. The biggest punch in the KKK’s face is how their leaders are driven more by profit than their ideologies. It was during the Great Depression.
Superman Smashes Klan Strawmen
Now while the Klan(s) pretty much still exists, Superman Smashes the Klan is less about demystification. Because while their rituals are trivial, racism and bigotry is anything but. Writer Gene Luen Yang displays how this ideology affects people. Superman in particular deals with this throughout his childhood as Clark Kent. The first use of his powers terrifies his friend away. It certainly doesn’t help that Clark’s parents speak about how his powers could badly affect him. The only time Clark feels comfortable with his powers is with the Superman costume. Because as the circus strongman he saves explains, it makes him feel powerful.
Yet not everyone can wear a costume to be themselves. The Lee family try their best to fit in to the point of the father insisting everyone go by new names. The mother is constantly reminded to speak English. The son Tommy tries is best by going along with jokes that might seem hurtful to his sister. Even the daughter Roberta (Lan Shin) finds she has trouble relating to her friends from Chinatown. This implies they see her father as a race traitor, characters like Wu En from Bruce Lee-starring Fist of Fury who revel in the power of sucking up. Labels like these are hurtful especially from places of comfort.
Trigger/Spoiler Warning
Despite the above, a crucial moment in Superman Smashes The Klan comes from somewhere odd. When the Lee children with Jimmy Olsen see a flick about a pulp space hero battling against a Fu Manchu-esque character Roberta has a reaction. Given Roberta’s disgust to the label of “wonton”, it’s odd she doesn’t react to a Yellow Peril personification that way. Maybe she’s too innocent to see the undertones, maybe she needs to see it again. Or she could very well see just a caricature that in no way resembles a real Chinese person. In any case, the act of the character levitating offers Roberta insight on Superman. Specifically his fear of being an outsider.
I might’ve asked people on Quora for Chinese people’s views on Fu Manchu but I have no context at this time. Yet you have to admit the fact a Chinese-American offers essentially a white person this insight says something. But if I just told you what it might be explanations wouldn’t be authentic.
Superman Smashes Klan Ideologies
In my time I have seen many people take to action on derailing ideologies; a good number are by Quentin Tarantino. Much like Django Unchained, Superman Smashes The Klan goes out of its way to demonstrate the flaws of KKK ideologies. When the Daily Planet staff are held hostage, Matt Riggs as the “Grand Scorpion” brandishes a sword meant to evoke a knightly honor. Only for Lois to point out the low price tag dangling off of it. For all of the Klan’s talk of upright citizenship with lineage, they’re little more than charlatans.
Riggs in particular finds this out the hard way when the Mogul reveals that he doesn’t really believe in their ideologies. For him bigotry is just a way to make money. Riggs doesn’t take it well and ends up stealing the Mogul’s robe with weapons that can affect Superman. This might look like Riggs gaining more power, but it’s more like he’s trying to convince himself that the Mogul lied. Racism is an ideology and it comes with commitments and for many it’s hard to let go of such attachments. Even in spite of the fact it takes more than it gives.
When Superman shows off his powers to the people for the first time they actually beg for Riggs’ help out of fear. Fortunately the fact Lois, Jimmy, the Lees, and even Rigg’s nephew Chuck stand by Superman shows that such racist ideologies don’t speak for everyone. Because, despite this initial setup, groups like the Klan can’t sustain themselves through fear. It wasn’t like that after WWI when the Klan’s numbers were in the millions only to drop significantly. When people realize the context, they stop relying on the Klan.
Everyone Can Be A Superman
What makes Superman such a powerful character isn’t his abilities, it’s his humanity. Growing up as Clark Kent lets him see the best and worst sides of people. Yet the Kents raise him not to give in to the harm and accept that he stands up for others. Even then he still lives like other people such as the Lee family. Trying to fit in is okay but giving into an idea that can hurt others and yourself is unhealthy. Delusions warp people beyond their best selves and it’s only by letting go do people become their best selves. Superman in turn serves as a beacon of everyone else for this act.
In making an iconic piece of history into a character arc and an authentic study on ideology, this series gets a 10/10. Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.