Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan

Gr 5 Up—This engrossing book chronicles the creation of Superman comics and its surprising effectiveness in combating prejudice. Bowers weaves this story with many strands, including a look at Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster as highly relatable, 1930s high school nerds. The story of Stetson Kennedy, a Southern writer who agitated against the KKK and harnessed Superman's power, is equally well drawn. Bowers delineates the social conscience of Superman from its inception, helping readers appreciate how comics—indeed, all art—can change the world. Gracefully written, this book is an inspiring testament to the power of the human spirit to fight evil. It is a well-researched, compulsively readable history that will appeal to a broad audience, including reluctant readers. Throughout, readers will be wondering how, exactly, Superman fought the KKK. The author builds up to this conclusion gradually, keeping his audience in suspense until the very end. The rich visual panels of comics in the middle of the volume beautifully illustrate how Superman communicated social messages through his stories. Readers may find the earlier chapters that focus on the visual side of the Superman empire more accessible than the later ones, a less-familiar medium. Teachers can easily remedy this by playing old shows, available online. This is an ideal text for classes exploring media studies, graphic novels, and civil rights. Librarians must buy this brilliant book-faster than a speeding bullet.—Jess deCourcy Hinds, Bard H.S. Early College, Queens, NY