Set in 1946 Metropolis, this graphic novel follows the Lee family as they move from Chinatown to the center of the city. When the Knights of the White Kalan begin terrorizing the Lees by burning crosses and kidnapping children, siblings Roberta and Tommy team up with Superman to stop the hate group. Meanwhile, Superman struggles with a sense of isolation, realizing his heat vision and flight stem from his alien origins as Kal-El rather than a human biological anomaly. This adaptation of a classic radio serial connects the fight against organized bigotry with the protagonist’s acceptance of his heritage as a refugee from Krypton.
Readers interested in the historical intersection of mid-century American civil rights and superhero mythology will find a frank examination of xenophobia and systemic exclusion. The book serves those looking for a story about how belonging is earned through action rather than assimilation. Anyone finishing the volume understands how internalized shame impacts immigrant families and why transparency about one’s identity helps dismantle the influence of extremist organizations.
Clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2020
- Language
- EN
