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Previously in Superman Smashes the Klan, The Klan of the Fiery Cross had set the top of the Daily Planet building on fire and kidnapped Lois Lane, Perry White, and Inspector Henderson with the intent to kill them. Naturally, Superman saves the day, but it is the arc of his character in this book that allows him to be the hero he needs to win in the end.

Tim Seely’s run on the title has been fairly even. Dealing with two main protagonists can lead to balance problems in making sure each character is properly served. While the prior volume was more focused on Green Lantern Simon Baz, this volume puts Green Lantern Jessica Cruz front and center.

When last we left Superman and Roberta Lee, they were on their way to rescue her brother from certain doom at the hands of the Klan of the Fiery Cross. While that is the hook that starts this book off, the focus lands squarely on the issue of duality and what it means to be torn in different directions. We see Superman struggle with the very notion that he is an alien and, at this moment in his career, his unknown heritage. Roberta Lee is trying to fit in with other kids to make friends, at the cost of being her more authentic self.

If you are looking for something that you can easily pick up and enjoy without needing to know everything about a character, then this trade is for you. Personally, I don’t have a deep back knowledge of Clint Barton or Kate Bishop as Hawkeye. I was keeping up to date on these trades once upon a time and then fell behind. Coming into this volume, I essentially was coming in with a new reader’s eyes. While this story highlights Madame Masque as the antagonist, she really isn’t very present. This truly is a story about Bishop and unresolved issues with her father.