DC; $7.99

Originating as a story from the 1940s radio program, Superman Smashes the Klan follows Superman as he encounters a new threat to Metropolis – the Klan of the Fiery Kross. The Lee family has moved into the city for new jobs and new opportunities, but the bigoted leaders of the Klan are having none of it, and choose to burn a cross on their front yard, nearly setting their new home aflame in the process. When Tommy Lee goes missing on his way home, Roberta knows something is wrong, and gets the attention of one of Metropolis’ best reporters, Clark Kent, in her quest to find him. When Superman arrives, the hero, feeling a certain kinship with his new immigrant neighbors, takes off to hopefully save the day.

The original story from the radio show was said to have set the Klan on which the comic version is based on back decades, and this marks the first time that the story has been adapted for comic books. While I find it somewhat unfortunate that a story about fighting white supremacy would still feel so topical in 2019 as it was in 1946, the way that the subject matter is being handled is excellent. While some readers might want to wait until all three parts are collected, the work here is so good that I wouldn’t at all recommend waiting to pick it up.

-Carrie Wood