My Cultural Diet

It’s 1946 and the Lee family have just moved from Chinatown to the bustling city of Metropolis. Her dad’s excited about his new job and her charismatic brother is quickly making new friends, but young Roberta can’t stop feeling like an outcast — a feeling that only increases when the racist Klan of the Fiery Kross targets her family. Meanwhile, Metropolis’ defender Superman is experiencing bizarre visions after battling a Nazi super-soldier and learning things that call into question his very identity. Will he still be able to save the Lees, and all of Metropolis, from the Klan’s threat? Taking his inspiration from “Clan of the Fiery Cross,” a Superman radio drama from 1946 that actually helped curtail the Klan’s activity in America, Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese) spins a wonderful — though sadly all-too-relevant — Superman story that tackles bigotry and racism with wit, charm, and nuance while also serving as a great Superman origin story in its own right. Meanwhile, Gurihiru’s crisp, anime-inspired artwork keeps the story light and fun without ever trivializing the subject matter. Utterly delightful.

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