It feels very dark now.
It looks like you’re watching it everywhere on the news, but something terrible is happening. That our institutions, like governments and business organizations, are opposed to us. More stricter laws are being passed than ever before to suppress, dehumanize and criminalize minorities. That xenophobia is entrenched everywhere. The masked thugs are carrying out suspicious goals on behalf of the government, invading communities and destroying those deemed “illegal.” Already wealthy people seem to be enriching every day as they use sociopolitical disparities as a cover for wholesale capitalist reapers.
I sometimes feel very dark these days. Even hopeless. I feel like I’m daunted by the various points of history that I thought had passed a long time ago. That we were here before, and that the current World Government may be using history as their regressive playbook.
“If you learn enough secrets about the place, it will be home.”
Superman destroys the Klan by Jean Luen Yang, Grihill and Janice Chiang. It features stories of Chinese immigrant families moving to new neighbours in big cities, adaptation to their neighbours, issues of racism and acceptance, and harassment by the fiery Clan of the Cross. Superman worked to help and agree with his own legacy. It was inspired by the adventures of the Superman radio serial, “The Clan of the Fiery Cross,” which aired in 1946.
The story here is set in 1946, and isn’t too long since World War II. One of the remains of Nazi Germany is facing Superman and kicks off. Remind us of the ideas of genocide and oppression that were so familiar to us back then. It is spoken mostly in the perspective of Lang Singh Lee, a young girl whose family is moving from Chinatown to a new mixed region of Metropolis after her father gets a new job. There are some highly layered and complex ideas of integration, immigration, and identity that Jean Lun Yang navigates her story. That theme also unfolds in Superman’s own self-discovery (again, there is a wonderful, deep cut to Clark’s own childhood issues). And it gives us many different faces for those who manipulate their hatred for their reward, whether it be their racism and hatred, institutional and radical individuals, about the feelings of res and hatred that came from the white nationalists of the Klan.
Grihill is an incredible art team. Bright, beautiful, open cartoon-inspired art is perfect for this type of work for all ages. Chifuyu Sasaki’s linework is clean and expressive. She perfectly captures the larger than life side of Superman, and initially designs quite cleverly for his alien legacy. I think the simplicity of the artwork maintains a heavy subject at an acceptable level. Similarly, Kawanogawa’s colors are a palette of colors made primarily with the main colors of Superman’s costumes, but sometimes they have a calm quality. It almost reflects the idea that there are things that don’t shine properly in this world.
Janice Chiang’s letters close the creative well, kicking off with a balloon of unique words for the Nazi villain, continuing their own expressive power through the changing emotions of dialogue.
“Of course, he’s handing over himself as a Boy Scout for now, but what if one day he would trade the cape for a crown?”
You may feel a stupid reading manga right now. In other words, while writing this, I wondered over and over again. I erased it a few times and rewritten it. I have basically come to the conclusion that not only does entertainment need to keep us sane, but it can not only be a beacon for hope, but it can also give us insight into how we can address current issues. If our government uses the past as our current guidebook, we can use it to find ways to resist.
It’s the very world where Superman was able to see him smashing the clans of Yang, Grihill and Chian, as a chronicle of how things were going. of the devastation of our past. But it was sadly not more relevant. It reminds us that we still have to be vigilant so that the basic ideas of fear and elimination do not take hold. It teaches us to be kind and acceptance of each other, regardless of our background, and not to succumb to the hatred and fearful people who try to divide us for profit.
We don’t have a Superman who will dive down and save us from illness. No one is going to magically make it better. But we have each other. There is a voice and an act. And we can stand strong together and help each other against the darkness.
Classic Comics Big Summary: Superman Destroys Clans
Superman breaks clans
Author: Jean Lung Yang
Artist: Grihill
Letter: Janice Chian
Publisher: DC Comics
Release date: October 16, 2019 – February 2020 (original issue)
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