Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!
 

Happy Superman Day! On April 18,1938, the Man of Steel made his official debut in Action Comics #1. And you have to admit, he looks pretty good for eighty-seven. He was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and to this day continues to inspire and instill hope in the hearts of people globally. And, coincidentally, Superman Day is my birthday, so this is a really special article for me.

Want to get me a gift? How about celebrating the occasion by picking up my favorite Superman comic: Superman Smashes the Klan. This Young Adult adventure is based off of the storyline “The Klan of the Fiery Cross” from the 1940s radio show The Adventures of Superman. Consider it an adaptation of the radio serial for a modern audience. It will pull on your heartstrings.
 

The Premise:

The year is 1946 (about a year after World War II). Teenagers Roberta and Tommy Lee move with their parents from Chinatown to the suburbs of downtown Metropolis. Tommy has no problem fitting in, but unfortunately, Roberta can’t say the same. One dreadful night they awaken to strange men in white robes burning a giant cross in their yard. The Lees have become the target of the Klan of the Fiery Cross. A string of terrorist attacks ensues including the kidnapping of Tommy and an attack on the Daily Planet. Fortunately, Superman has their backs, but he can’t do it alone! New on the scene and still discovering the limits of his abilities, the Man of Steel will need help from people like Roberta and Tommy Lee, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane and Detective Henderson to help fight the Klan. This coming-of-age story is told from both Superman and Roberta’s perspectives!
 

Let’s Talk Talent: 

Dual-threat cartoonist and author Gene Luen Yang is known for comics such as the Eisner Award-winning graphic novel American Born Chinese, New Super-Man and his nonfiction award-winning graphic novel Dragon Hoops. As writer, he does a fantastic job here of setting up this Superman story in a very accessible way for new comic book fans. Yang explores Superman’s origin story without making it the main focus of the comic, focusing instead on presenting real-life history and important lessons in this still fairly lighthearted YA story. His characters are incredibly relatable and have the ability to speak to multiple generations.

Gurihiru is a Japanese illustration duo that visually bring this story to life in such a fun way. (Their art style is one of the factors that drew me to this comic in the first place.) Retro-futuristic elements couple with their modern manga-esque style wonderfully—I love Roberta’s handmade jacket and Clark’s Kryptonian parents’ costume designs! Gurihiru also worked on titles like The Unbelievable Gwenpool, Power Pack and Fantastic Four, and previously collaborated with Yang on the Avatar: The Last Airbender comic book series. Talk about a dream team.
 

A Few Reasons to Read:

• A two-for-one coming of age story. This story follows both Superman and Roberta as they come into themselves and learn to embrace who they are. Roberta is struggling with fitting in as she moves to a new neighborhood while dealing with racism against her and her family. Her story is an important one that so many people can relate to in different ways. All the while, Superman is struggling with his identity as a Kryptonian. He doesn’t know where he came from or what he’s capable of. He’s scared to fully embrace his powers due to fear of being demonized because of his alien origins. Roberta and Clark’s stories have many parallels and it’s beautiful to watch them embrace who they are!
   
• This story dismantles bigotry and racism. As we follow the Lee family’s struggles, we see them deal with blatant and subtle racism—all harmful and rooted in hatred. One of the perpetrators of the racism against the Lees is the young nephew of the leader of the Klan of the Fiery Kross, Chuck Riggs. As we explore his story, we see that he has learned to be hateful from his mother and uncle, revealing that hatred is something you are taught, not something you are born with. In the end, it's up to Chuck to unlearn his racist ways. This shows the importance of dismantling bigotry and racism by promoting empathy and understanding, especially at a young age. As you read the story, you live in Roberta’s shoes and feel for her and her family, while learning about and recognizing different types of racism and how all of it is hurtful and can and should be unlearned.

• A good history lesson. Gene Luen Yang has a moving and educational essay called “Superman and Me” included in the back of the Superman Smashes the Klan graphic novel. In it, he talks about the history of racism in the country including the thirteenth amendment ending slavery in 1865, the Jim Crow Laws and segregation, the history of the Ku Klux Klan, the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and the impact of World War II on the country. He also includes Superman’s history and creation, and we learn about Yang’s own family history and experiences. I learned a lot reading this essay and it further contextualizes the history and importance of Superman Smashes the Klan.
   
• This can be your first Superman comic. Superman Smashes the Klan exists in its own continuity and includes multiple flashback scenes that show us Clark Kent’s origin story and how he came into the moniker of Superman. You don’t need any context to pick up this comic and it’s a great character study on who Superman is. That said, if you are a longtime Superman fan, you’ll likely enjoy seeing the hero in this historical context. This is Superman as Jerry Siegel might have written him!
   

Why It's Worth Your Time:

To me, Superman represents being good and having a pure heart. He represents being accepting and understanding. And he represents being an immigrant, which is the experience of so many Americans. He will always fight for the people—and fight against hatred. In this comic, when faced with the question of what unites the people of this country, Superman responds, “We are bound together by the future. We all share the same tomorrow.”

Superman is for the people. All of the people. He is the antithesis of bigotry. That is his history, present and future. The Man of Steel represents the best of humanity.

Superman Smashes the Klan is an important story that blends real life history with DC‘s history and offers a great representation of who Superman is and what he stands for. Just as important, it explores these relevant and serious themes in a very accessible way. So, for the anniversary of Superman’s debut appearance, I think you should check out this incredible Superman story. It may be my birthday, but this story’s a gift for all of us!
 

Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru is available as a softcover graphic novel in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Sami DeMonster writes about superheroes, horror and sci-fi for DC.com and reviews comics every week on social media. Follow her at @samidemonster on Instagram and Substack.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Sami DeMonster and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.