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.
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.
Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru bring to life in comics form the radio play from 1946 where Superman takes on the Klu Klux Klan analog, the Klan of the Fiery Cross. A Chinese family moves from the Chinatown section of Metropolis to a more suburban area. Here they are confronted with themes all too familiar today, that they are trying to “replace” whites in myriad situations: getting a promotion at work, owning a home in the ‘burbs, becoming the lead pitcher on the baseball team.
