Superman Smashes the Klan #2 // Review
There is a vocal minority of comics “fans” who decry the presence of politics in their comics. It’s a laughable notion since superhero comics have been political since Superman first forced a governor to pardon a falsely accused woman on death row in Action Comics #1, the very first superhero story, but that doesn’t stop people from making the ill-informed complaint. It’s ironic, then, that the most unashamedly political superhero comic on the stands right now is one aimed at young readers, the gloriously wholesome Superman Smashes the Klan.
Issue #2 continues the tale of Roberta Lee and her brother Tommy. Superman saves Tommy from drowning in the river, with the help of Roberta and the conflicted Chuck, which leads to the police getting involved in their troubles with the racist Klan of the Fiery Kross. Soon, the Daily Planet has offered a reward for more information about the Klan, which leads to dangerous retaliation.
Writer Gene Luen Yang does tremendous work here, layering in the various themes of belonging and prejudice and exploring them through various different characters. This incarnation of Superman is still ignorant of his heritage, and Yang gives us a heartbreaking flashback to a reason behind Clark Kent’s rejection of his Kryptonian past. Chuck struggles with the conflict between protecting his friends and protecting his family. Roberta finds herself ostracised by some old acquaintances because of her own assimilation into everyday American life. It’s all vibrant thematic and character work, and it’s all beautifully told.
The art by Gurihiro is stunning. This is clearly a book for young readers, and their style--a cross between anime and the 1940s Fleischer cartoons--is clear and well-designed. Janice Chiang does great work on the lettering as well, using color cleverly to indicate when characters are speaking different languages.
Superman Smashes the Klan #2 is a beautifully rendered, complex comic that takes a simple idea--racism is bad--and explores it from many different angles, with care and nuance. The only people who will take issue with this book are people who don’t like being reminded that racism is terrible, and really--who cares what they think?
