Superman vs The KKK

Don't be fooled, loyal readers, this is not my big Superman movie pitch. This is the recorded events of how the 1940's Superman radio show delivered a crushing blow to the Ku Klux Klan. Makes sense, the KKK hate aliens and Superman is literally an alien.

"The Adventures of Superman" was a radio broadcast that aired from 1940 to 1951, it had 2,068 episodes and helped the American public cope with World War II, similar to the first series of comic books. Actor Bob Collyer voiced the title character, with Stacy Harris and Ronald Liss voicing Batman and Robin respectively for occasional team-ups. It's because of these radio shows that Superman got his 1948 movie serials, which went on to inspire Richard Donner's 1978 film, of which launched Superman into modern popularity.

After War World II, an author named Stetson Kennedy infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan as part of a personal mission to ruin the KKK from inside. Along with feeding information to the authorities, Kennedy also called the writers of "The Adventures of Superman" and fed them the same intel. This resulted in an episode titled "Clan of the Fiery Cross" that pitted The Man of Steel against the White-Hooded Hooligans. In this episode, the codewords and rituals of the KKK are given vivid descriptions and accurate depictions. Its because of this story that the membership and recruitment processes of the KKK dropped in the mid-40's and early-50's. The public was swayed away from the KKK's beliefs by hearing how Superman didn't like the KKK and members of the KKK quit the group after seeing their own children cheer Superman on during his battle against the white hoods. Following the monumental decline in membership, Kennedy wrote a bestselling book about his experiences, further crippling the KKK.

A golden example of comic book superheroes effecting the real world, this true story proves how influential comics books have been on our nation. Not only do you have superheroes like Superman pulling the country through War World II with his commitment to justice, but you have him show both children and adults that true heroes believe in equality between races and that the people who stand against that idea are only part of the country's problems. If all this inspirational talk doesn't hit home the fact that superheroes hold a bright candle in U.S. history, I'll make the statement bolder: The reason why we don't worry about the KKK anymore-the way we worry about terrorism-is because Superman wiped them out. Yes, that goody-two-shoes in the red underwear who's too powerful to be liked, helped take down one of the most sinister organizations in U.S. history. There, now the red undies seem a little less silly. Thanks for reading!

Facebook: The Panel Biter

Twitter: @ThePanelBiter