History YMMV / SupermanSmashesTheKlan

* CompleteMonster: [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain Matt Riggs]] is the Grand Scorpion of [[TheKlan the Klan of the Fiery Kross]], leading the Metropolis chapter the group, who wants to "purify" America of all nonwhite people. When his nephew Chuck gets into a fight with a Chinese-American boy named Tommy Lee during a baseball game, Matt decides to induct Chuck into the Klan. Matt and his Klan followers go to Tommy's house, burn a cross on their yard and attempt to firebomb the house. After that fails, [[WouldHurtAChild Matt Riggs kidnaps Tommy]] and plans to have him [[TarAndFeathers tarred and feathered]]. Later, Matt attempts to bomb the Unity House children's community center, feeling it is a threat to American purity, not caring how many people die in the process. After the Daily Planet offers a reward for the unmasking of any Klansmen, Matt and his followers attack the Daily Planet and kidnap Lois Lane, Perry White and Police Chief Henderson, with Matt Riggs planning to murder them all. After being captured by Superman, Matt Riggs escapes from prison, murders his boss, the Grand Mogul of the Klan, for not being a true believer in the cause, and steals his weapons to use against Superman. Matt attacks a baseball game to lure Superman out, and when Matt tries to murder Tommy Lee, Chuck attacks his uncle to stop him, leading Matt Riggs to try to kill Chuck as well. After Superman overloads his laser gun, Matt Riggs reveals he has a bomb under his cloak and [[SuicideAttack he plans to blow up himself]] and [[TakingYouWithMe take everyone in the baseball stadium with him]].

* {{Anvilicious}}: The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism message, with everything from the title to the art of Superman fighting Klan members reinforcing that truth, justice, and the American Way demand rejecting the KKK's ideology. One particular point of emphasis prior to the climax is how racists are nothing more than gullible marks for privileged, wealthy jerks or con artists who actively ''exploit'' their hatred to turn a profit, which calls to mind modern day grifters who are paid good money in order to tell racists what they want to hear. And that's [[TruthInTelevision absolutely true]]. In financial terms, the KKK was a pyramid scheme. [[SubvertedTrope However]], many comic fans, including all but the most ardent haters of the book will admit that [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped it's not only a]] ''[[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped good]]'' [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped message, but that the book absolutely needed to come out when it did]].

* {{Anvilicious}}: The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism message, with everything from the title to the art of Superman fighting Klan members reinforcing that truth, justice, and the American Way demand rejecting the KKK's ideology. One particular point of emphasis prior to the climax is how racists are nothing more than gullible marks for privileged, wealthy jerks or con artists who actively ''exploit'' their hatred to turn a profit, which calls to mind modern day grifters who are paid good money in order to tell racists what they want to hear. And that's [[TruthInTelevision absolutely true]]. In financial terms, the KKK was a pyramid scheme. [[SubvertedTrope However]], many comic fans, including all but the most ardent haters of the book will admit that [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped it's not only a]] ''[[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped good]]'' [SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped message, but that the book absolutely needed to come out when it did]].

* {{Anvilicious}}: The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism message, with everything from the title to the art of Superman fighting Klan members reinforcing that truth, justice, and the American Way demand rejecting the KKK's ideology. One particular point of emphasis prior to the climax is how racists are nothing more than gullible marks for privileged, wealthy jerks or con artists who actively ''exploit'' their hatred to turn a profit, which calls to mind modern day grifters who are paid good money in order to tell racists what they want to hear. And that's [[TruthInTelevision absolutely true]]. In financial terms, the KKK was a pyramid scheme. [[SubvertedTrope However]], many comic fans, including all but the most ardent haters of the book will admit that [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped it's not only a]] ''[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped good]]'' [SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped message, but that the book absolutely needed to come out when it did]].

* {{Anvilicious}}: The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism message, with everything from the title to the art of Superman fighting Klan members reinforcing that truth, justice, and the American Way demand rejecting the KKK's ideology. One particular point of emphasis prior to the climax is how racists are nothing more than gullible marks for privileged, wealthy jerks or con artists who actively ''exploit'' their hatred to turn a profit, which calls to mind modern day grifters who are paid good money in order to tell racists what they want to hear. And that's [[TruthInTelevision absolutely true]]. In financial terms, the KKK was a pyramid scheme.

* AcceptableTargets: TheKlan, obviously. On top of mocking white supremacists, the comic also takes a jab at antisemites.

* CrossesTheLineTwice: After one of the Klansman blows up the Unity Center, he initially thinks he died a martyr. Then the rabbi working at the building points out that the Klansman's foot is on fire, which is funny enough on its own. But then the Klansman ignores the rabbi and instead reacts in horror there being Jews in "Heaven".

** The panel of Matt insisting that the Klan doesn't stand for hate and that "there isn't an ounce of hate in our hearts" while wearing his full robes and hood and talking to his would-be victim is both audacious in its CognitiveDissonance and [[RealityIsUnrealistic surprisingly realistic depiction]] of how in denial many racists are of their own bigotry.

* CrossesTheLineTwice: After one of the Klansman blows up the Unity Center, he initially thinks he died a martyr. Then the rabbi working at the building points out that the Klansman's foot is on fire, which is funny enough on its own. But then the Klansman ignores the rabbi and instead reacts in horror there being Jews in "Heaven."

* {{Anvilicious}}: The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism message, with everything from the title to the art of Superman fighting Klan members reinforcing that truth, justice, and the American Way demand rejecting the KKK's ideology. One particular point of emphasis prior to the climax is how racists are nothing more than gullible marks for privileged, wealthy jerks or con artists who actively ''exploit'' their hatred to turn a profit, which calls to mind modern day grifters who are paid good money in order to tell racists what they want to hear. And that is [[TruthInTelevision absolutely true.]] In financial terms, the KKK was a pyramid scheme.

* NightmareFuel: Matt Riggs revealing the Klan meeting to Chuck. Chuck is terrified, but his obedient nature with his ParentalSubstitute, not to mention being afraid of him, keeps him from speaking up.

* {{Anvilicious}}: The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism message, with everything from the title to the art of Superman fighting Klan members reinforcing that truth, justice, and the American Way demand rejecting the KKK's ideology. One particular point of emphasis prior to the climax is how racists are nothing more than gullible marks for privileged, wealthy jerks or con artists who actively ''exploit'' their hatred to turn a profit, which calls to mind modern day grifters who are paid good money in order to tell racists what they want to hear.
** And that last is [[TruthInTelevision absolutely true.]] In financial terms, the KKK was a pyramid scheme.

* {{Anvilicious}}: The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism message, with everything from the title to the art of Superman fighting Klan members reinforcing that truth, justice, and the American Way demand rejecting the KKK's ideology.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped:
** The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism and anti-cultism message, but given that it's written at a time where racial tensions are spiking again, anything less than being in your face about it wouldn't have the same impact and wouldn't have made for as compelling a story.
** [[spoiler:Dr. Wilson]]'s MotiveRant (itself an AdaptationExpansion of a similar, if shorter moment from [[OlderThanTheyThink the serial the comic is adapting]]) is actually a blunt but accurate summation of an often overlooked and especially insidious aspect of systemic racism. [[spoiler:He freely admits that he's OnlyInItForTheMoney, doesn't buy into any of his own racist rhetoric, and that exploiting the racism of dumber, poorer recruits is how he and men like him maintain power and privilege, and is [[EqualOpportunityEvil happy to employ the service of "lesser" races]] as long as they further his agenda and position. In real life, rich politicians and businessmen frequently enact policies that harm both poorer whites and minorities alike (the latter disproportionately so) while blaming the latter for the consequences of their actions so the latter two groups are [[LetsYouAndHimFight too busy fighting each other]] to hold their own leadership to account.]]
--->'''[[spoiler: Dr. Wilson]]''': [[spoiler:[[DidYouActuallyBelieve You stupid fool!]] You think the world is divided by race, but really, it's divided by power! I have power and you do not! Our skin may be the same color, but you and I are nothing alike! You are an insect! [[AGodAmI I am a God!]]]]

** The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism and anti-cultism message, but given that it's written at a time where racial tensions are spiking again, it's certainly not unwarranted.

** The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism and anti-cultism message, but given that it's written at a time where racial tensions are spiking again, anything less than being in your face about it wouldn't have the same impact and wouldn't have made for as compelling a story.

** The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism and anti-cultism message, but given that it's written at a time where racial tensions are spiking again, it's certainly not unwarranted.

* TearJerker: Chuck tries to say Matt isn't so bad the idea that maybe it's not so bad to want to just live with one's own race, which infuriates Tommy since he almost died trying to escape Matt's attempt to [[TarAndFeathers tar and feather him]]. Chuck admits [[ThatCameOutWrong he didn't mean that]], and talking about how Matt took in him and his mother after his father died, Chuck doesn't want to believe that his family is evil. Even after he says that, Tommy still doesn't feel any better.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped:
** The story is heavy-handed with its anti-racism and anti-cultism message, but given that it's written at a time where racial tensions are spiking again, it's certainly not unwarranted.
** [[spoiler:Dr. Wilson]]'s MotiveRant (itself an AdaptationExpansion of a similar, if shorter moment from [[OlderThanTheyThink the serial the comic is adapting]]) is actually a blunt but accurate summation of an often overlooked and especially insidious aspect of systemic racism. [[spoiler:He freely admits that he's OnlyInItForTheMoney, doesn't buy into any of his own racist rhetoric, and that exploiting the racism of dumber, poorer recruits is how he and men like him maintain power and privilege, and is [[EqualOpportunityEvil happy to employ the service of "lesser" races]] as long as they further his agenda and position. In real life, rich politicians and businessmen frequently enact policies that harm both poorer whites and minorities alike (the latter disproportionately so) while blaming the latter for the consequences of their actions so the latter two groups are [[LetsYouAndHimFight too busy fighting each other]] to hold their own leadership to account.]]
--->'''[[spoiler: Dr. Wilson]]''': [[spoiler:[[DidYouActuallyBelieve You stupid fool!]] You think the world is divided by race, but really, it's divided by power! I have power and you do not! Our skin may be the same color, but you and I are nothing alike! You are an insect! [[AGodAmI I am a God!]]]]

* SacredCow: This is considered one of the best Superman comics in recent years, with it coming out in a time of rising racial tensions only making the issues it tackles even more relevant. Any attempts to criticize this comic will inevitably end up being met with scorn.

* CatharsisFactor: At the climax of the final issue, Chuck finally manages the courage to stand up to Matt's abuse and hits him with a baseball bat. This is followed by Roberta and Tommy hitting Matt as well, even though the latter's arm is broken.

* SacredCow: This is considered one of the best Superman comics in recent years, as well as coming out in a time of rising racial tensions. Any attempts to criticize this comic will inevitably end up being met with scorn.