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Superman Versus The Ku Klux Klan: The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate
by
Rick Bowers
This book tells a group of intertwining stories that culminate in the historic 1947 collision of the Superman Radio Show and the Ku Klux Klan. It is the story of the two Cleveland teenagers who invented Superman as a defender of the little guy and the New York wheeler-dealers who made him a major media force. It is the story Ku Klux Klan's development from a club to a huge...more
Hardcover, 160 pages
Published
January 10th 2012
by National Geographic Children's Books
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Community Reviews
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Apr 11, 2012
The Reading Countess
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
informational-text,
recommended-to-me
One of my students ordered this from Scholastic, devoured it, and begged me to read it. Bowers' book about prejudice in America is a highly engaging, quick read for any middle schooler-particularly the reluctant boy reader.
Highly enjoyed.
Highly enjoyed.
I was already aware of the basic story of the Superman radio show "infiltrating" the KKK and supposedly passing along secret code words and other aspects of the secretive organization as a way of mocking them and bringing to light their intolerance. (I believe I first read the story in Freakonomics, though you can also find it online in various places.) I picked up this book in hopes of getting more details out of this intriguing premise.
Sadly, I was disappointed. It spends 80% of the book cover...more
Sadly, I was disappointed. It spends 80% of the book cover...more
Did you know that the Man of Steel took on the men of hate? I didn't until I read all about it in Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan by Rick Bowers. In fact I learned a lot I didn't know about Superman and the history of the Klan, such as
Superman began with two Jewish teens drawing a new superhero in their attic. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sold the rights to DC Comics to earn a steady income, but they lost out on the millions in merchandising that Superman brought through the years.
Superman rece...more
Superman began with two Jewish teens drawing a new superhero in their attic. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sold the rights to DC Comics to earn a steady income, but they lost out on the millions in merchandising that Superman brought through the years.
Superman rece...more
A Dual Biography of Sorts
Published by National Geographic in 2012.
Note: This is a YA book aimed at 5th graders and above. This adult enjoyed the book also.
From time to time the dual biography comes back into vogue. Dual biographies are a great way to compare and contrast two people's lives and, in this case, this style is used to compare and contrast two different organizations: The Ku Klux Klan and Superman, Inc. and see how these two radically different groups interacted.
There is, of course, s...more
Published by National Geographic in 2012.
Note: This is a YA book aimed at 5th graders and above. This adult enjoyed the book also.
From time to time the dual biography comes back into vogue. Dual biographies are a great way to compare and contrast two people's lives and, in this case, this style is used to compare and contrast two different organizations: The Ku Klux Klan and Superman, Inc. and see how these two radically different groups interacted.
There is, of course, s...more
This short book tells the story of both Superman and the Ku Klux Klan in alternating chapter format, and how their paths merged briefly for a short time. The title was a bit misleading to me as I thought the entire book would focus on these two parties, but really only the last couple of chapters talk about the intersection. But, the author does this for a good reason as he gives the readers information on the history of Superman and the KKK to better understand why and how their paths crossed....more
This was a truly interesting book. It gives the history of both Superman and the Ku Klux Klan. The histories are told in alternating chapters. The collision between the Man of Steel and the Ku Klux Klan does not actually take place until fairly late in their history and the last quarter of the book, but the journey leading up to their collision is an interesting one. I thought Superman's history was especially fascinating. He has always been a champion for the people and his history shows that....more
I had no idea that Superman was so political! I delved into the research a bit...and I'm amazed that Superman has taken a stand on the side of what's right over the years. My middle school students have been intrigued by the title, and it has been devoured by a few of them. I really enjoyed the book, and also the information (and subsequent retraction) about Stetson Kennedy, who became known to me from the Billy Bragg and Wilco Mermaid Avenue recordings--which are Noralee Guthrie's efforts to br...more
Superman versus the Ku Klux Klan: the True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate is exactly what it says on the tin—well, for the last quarter of the book, anyway. It's rather short and the vast majority of the pages are taken up by mid-depth histories of Superman and the KKK. However, this may actually be one of its charms. A quick and easy read, the book feels like an extended article in a Reader's Digest. There are plenty of pictures, a good amount of time is spent describ...more
More reading for the college history class book talks - everything has to take place after Reconstruction. This short nonfiction novel on the creation of Superman and the racism and anti-semitism present in the country through the character's emergence through WWII is an informative piece that some high schoolers will enjoy. I had no background in how Superman was used during the war to support troops' efforts, promote conservation and sell war bonds. Nor did I know that the character was consci...more
I heard about this book a while ago, so I ordered it for our system. My first impression when I got it--UGLY. A hundred gazillion images of Superman, and this cover? Okay, that's shallow, but... really? Whatever. The book itself is really interesting. I enjoyed reading about the creators of Superman and how the character grew and changed over the years. I liked the build-up to the broadcast with alternating chapters about the Superman empire and the KKK empire. But, the actual material on the br...more
"In the early 1930s newspaper headlines told of the hardships of the Great Depression... In a tight-knit Jewish enclave in Cleveland, Ohio, a shy teenager was working on a solution. To his mind, the world needed a superhero."
So begins a book that traces he origin of the Man of Steel as well as the origin of the Men of Hate (the KKK) to their roots and then shows how they came together at one fateful moment in time. I found each part of the story to be fascinating. Sometimes I can find history d...more
So begins a book that traces he origin of the Man of Steel as well as the origin of the Men of Hate (the KKK) to their roots and then shows how they came together at one fateful moment in time. I found each part of the story to be fascinating. Sometimes I can find history d...more
I pride myself on knowing that Ohio is the greatest state in the Union (FACT) and that Cleveland is obviously one of the greatest cities in the world. Why am I mentioning this in a review about Superman. Because the creators of Superman are from Cleveland, which I hadn't known until I read this book.
The story is pretty amazing and the book reads like a magazine article. It's easy to polish off in a day but the story itself will stay with you. Rick Bowers alternates between the conception of Supe...more
The story is pretty amazing and the book reads like a magazine article. It's easy to polish off in a day but the story itself will stay with you. Rick Bowers alternates between the conception of Supe...more
I thoroughly enjoyed Superman versus the Ku Klux Klan. Bowers does an outstanding job with pacing and parallelism. His ability to draw together stories from locations around the world and varying in subject from comic books to Nazis, from advertisements for cereal to the secret language of the KKK, is astounding. A small book packed to overflowing with intrigue and plenty of reasons to be incensed, Superman versus the Ku Klux Klan exemplifies all that a compelling, high-level, yet accessible non...more
I was completely sucked in by Spies of Mississippi and was hoping for a similarly engaging nonfiction selection. While I did not find Superman Versus the Klu Klux Klan to be as engrossing, it was still very interesting.
The best part was actually the author's notes at the end - I felt like I finally found Bowers' engaging voice. It feels like the book was watered down a bit to make it more accessible to an even younger audience.
Recommended for upper elementary and middle school students who are e...more
The best part was actually the author's notes at the end - I felt like I finally found Bowers' engaging voice. It feels like the book was watered down a bit to make it more accessible to an even younger audience.
Recommended for upper elementary and middle school students who are e...more
This was a fascinating book. However, most of the book is actually preamble to the specific event that the book is officially about. First the author gives the backstory to the KKK and the backstory to the invention of comics and specifically, Superman. Did you know two Jewish boys invented Superman? And like the original Colonel (KFC I mean) and the McDonald Brothers, they made very little from their invention. The history lead up to the official event of the book: the series aired on radio, wh...more
May 07, 2013
Barbara
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
civil-rights,
community,
death,
families,
friendship,
graphic-novels,
holocaust,
social-justice,
social-studies,
war
This highly-engaging story about the birth of Superman, a stalwart of the comic book industry, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan after the Civil War, is fascinating because of all the personalities involved in both strands of the story. When the team behind Superman, including the advertisers who supported his radio program, decided to have him fight against a different form of evil--racial bigotry--in 1946 the response is overwhelmingly positive. Middle grade and teen readers will be fascinated...more
After the war, the world seemed like a different place...German war criminals were on trial in Nuremberg... world leaders were forming the United Nations in New York City. Superman was looking for a new villain, and the Ku Klux Klan was planning a revival. Over a frenetic one-year period, the Man of Steel and the men of hate would pursue their separate paths -- and then collide.
Rick Bowers hits another one out of the park with this history about how a comic book superhero successfully took on on...more
Rick Bowers hits another one out of the park with this history about how a comic book superhero successfully took on on...more
This is a really interesting look at the Ku Klux Klan and at the formation and early years of Superman. Although the confrontation between the two doesn't happen until page 120, I would still recommend this. Its a slim book, but it has a lot of great history about Superman and comics. It can be a difficult read at parts, because its hard to read about the KKK, and all the hate and bigotry.
I do appreciate the point that although most people think comics are really a ridiculous medium, historical...more
I do appreciate the point that although most people think comics are really a ridiculous medium, historical...more
3.5 stars -- very engaging bit of popular culture and American history. Bowers does go off on a bit of a tangent the end, almost presenting us with an idea for another book all together on Superman and his history, but it's only for a few pages.
This would be a great book to get into the hands of a reluctant history-reader - anyone who enjoys superheroes but thinks that history is boring. Bowers gives equal attention to the history of the caped crusader as well as the formation of the KKK.
I wou...more
This would be a great book to get into the hands of a reluctant history-reader - anyone who enjoys superheroes but thinks that history is boring. Bowers gives equal attention to the history of the caped crusader as well as the formation of the KKK.
I wou...more
Jun 12, 2012
Brandi
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Middle School Boys
Recommended to Brandi by:
Work
Shelves:
nonfiction,
boy
Looking for a great way to get comic book fans to read a chapter book? Look no further! Superman Versus The Ku Klux Klan is an engaging, nonfiction title that will captivate and educate. In 1946, The Clan Of The Fiery Cross, a historic and controversial radio broadcast of The Adventures Of Superman, pitted the Man of Steel against the American grown terrorist group. Some people applauded and embraced the message of tolerance, while others were outraged. This is the story of the events leading u...more
I bought this book solely because of the title. The phrase "Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan" was so intriguing that I had to pick it up. The book parallels the history and development of the Ku Klux Klan with the creation and development of the Superman mythos. For the first three fourths of the book, the two stories are only juxtaposed, not interwoven directly. It is not until the very end of the book that Superman directly confronts the KKK in a radio series. Though this is an interesting inc...more
This book is intended for middle schoolers and therefore spends a lot of time on background an adult (hopefully) will not need (such as explaining the Great Depression). However, it is a quick read on an interesting subject, so it doesn't take long to get to the meat of book. In any case having the first two-thirds of the book consist of historical background allows the author to discuss other interesting, if somewhat tangential, subjects (e.g. the resurgent Klan's use of a Southern PR firm in t...more
Despite the title of the book, the author does not get to that particular subject until over three-quarters of the way through and then not a whole lot is said about it. Leading up is some nicely detailed and very interesting history of the evolution of Superman, comic books, and the Ku Klux Klan. Susan Campbell Bartoletti offers a much better overview of Klan history in They Called Themselves the KKK, but Bowers gives a good deal of attention to a fascinating character named Stetson Kennedy. A...more
Today Superman is best known for battling Lex Luthor, General Zod, and other super villains. But before Superman came to stand for "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" he was known as the "Champion of the Oppressed"and he regularly battled dictators, terrorists, and spies. In the summer of 1946 the Man of Steel even took on the Ku Klux Klan. Attacking the infamous organization was a dangerous affair for the creators of the show, and it that required careful planning. Intelligence was gathered...more
Freakonomics included a chapter on this incident, relying on the account of Stetson Kennedy, who fictionalized things to protect informants and (perhaps because he was a folklorist) provide a powerful narrative, and Bowers' previous book included it in a collection of creative and defiant things people did to oppose racist actions in 1950s Alabama (including the marketing of the Home Ec. Teachers' Cookbooks by FFA students, the profits from which went to pay civil rights lawyers). This is a very...more
the title intrigued me so i took it home thinking it would be light and fluffy - on the contrary it was really interesting. the story of how superman came to be - comics and radio show, and a larger history of the ku klux klan and how it has peaked and ebbed was a lot of new information to me. i had no clue that superman was used to extensively during ww2 and after how they crafted the radio storylines to educate kids (and adult listeners too).
The author tells three pretty good stories in a short book. He tells us about the origins of Superman, not the Krypton stuff but about his creators and how he evolved into a major American hero. He tells the history of the Klan with it's numerous deserved falls and unlikely risings. And it tells how a kid's radio show mustered up a huge bucket of courage to be nearly the first media outlet to tell the truth about the scumbags.
Pick it up because it has the most kick-ass title of all history, stay for the history of one of America's most loved hero and despised group.
Pop culture meets historic events. This book does hold one of the most concise, palatable history of the KKK. One of my favorite comments by the author is how the KKK is a group of hypocrisies. Good to see something's never change.
Pick it up. Learn your history and see where your childhood hero came from.
Pop culture meets historic events. This book does hold one of the most concise, palatable history of the KKK. One of my favorite comments by the author is how the KKK is a group of hypocrisies. Good to see something's never change.
Pick it up. Learn your history and see where your childhood hero came from.
An interesting look at the beginning of the comic book industry set against a timeline of historical events and how those events would shape the comic book revolution.
While the title was a bit misleading, I found this to be a compelling book, however, it will likely have a limited appeal. Hardcore comic book fans as well as those interested in history will find this a satisfying read.
While the title was a bit misleading, I found this to be a compelling book, however, it will likely have a limited appeal. Hardcore comic book fans as well as those interested in history will find this a satisfying read.
Great account of the rise of the KKK and the creation of the iconic Superman superhero. Superman's two teenage creators always invisioned the superhero battling evil. But soon realized that he not only needed to battle ficitonal characters, but the true evils of real-life people. And that's how Superman came to take on the KKK.
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Apr 23, 2013 11:57am