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We don't hate anyone, Chuck! On the contrary, we are motivated by love- love of our nation! A nation will crumble to dust unless its people are united as one. You understand? And it is impossible to unite an impure people! That is the mission of the Klan of the Fiery Kross... To burn away America's impurities!
„
~ Matt explains the Klan's ideology to his nephew Chuck.
“
People of Metropolis... I am the Grand Scorpion of the Klan of the Fiery Kross! By your very presence here, you are supporting the so-called Unity House- That blighted symbol of Metropolis' festering impurity! Is that really what you want?! Do you really want your city- our nation- to come apart at the seams?!
„
~ The Grand Scorpion's speech at the Unity House charity baseball game
Matthew "Matt" Riggs also known as the GrandScorpion is the main antagonist of the DC Comics limited series Superman Smashes the Klan. He's the de-facto leader of the Klan of the Fiery Kross, a white supremacist terrorist organization based on the suburban area of Metropolis. Due to his countless harassment of the recently-moved chinese immigrant family, the Lees, Matt ends up clashing with Superman, who decides to put an end to the Klan's hateful activities once in for all.
Matt is a xenophobic and bigoted individual who has heavily internalized the Klan's supremacist philosophies. He is an avid believer in racial segregation and seeks to maintain the "racial purity" of Metropolis and America in general. Matt's fanatic devotion to the Klan's ideology surpasses even that of its own leader, Segret Wilson (who was actually just using it as a means to further his real agenda) to the point that he's willing to die for it. Matt's xenophobia extends to even extraterrestrial beings. While he initially seems to respect Superman, seeing him as the proof of the superiority of the white race, upon finding out he was an alien, Matt decides to kill him using Dr. Wilson's secret Kryptonite weapons, deeming him a "foreign threat".
In general, Matt is shown to be a very cunning and charismatic individual, willing to weaponize anything he sees fit if it means furthering his agenda. He manipulates his own nephew, Chuck, into being initiated on the Klan, using his tensions with his chinese classmate, Tommy Lee, as a motivation to join him. Chuck himself seems to really respect his uncle, claiming that he's been finantially helping him and his mother. It's unknown whether or not Matt did care about his family as the story never dwelves into that aspect of his character, however, Matt was shown to be willing to kill Chuck after he rejected his ideals, meaning he most likely valued the Klan ideology above even his own family.
History[]
TBA
Quotes[]
“
Grand Scorpion: You don't seem to that the Klan of the Fiery Kross isn't just a group of men. We are a conviction. The conviction that a strong America is a pure America! And even you can't smash that with your fists! When push comes to shove, you cannot unite a nation of people who share neither blood nor history! And as much as you try to deny it, Superman, you are one of us!
Superman: I'm not one of you! I'm not nothing like you! Grand Scorpion: Tell me, how did you become what you are? Was it mystic training, like the rumors say? A megavitamin serum? The truth is, whatever you did wouldn't have worked had you been of inferior blood! That's why my nephew admires you so much, isn't it? That's why the whole country admires you! You're living proof of how superior a white man can be!
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~ The Grand Scorpion taunting Superman
“
We're going to teach the Daily Planet a lesson about interfering with Klan business! Because of you, good, honest, one hundred percent americans have to wear hoods over our faces just to say what we really believe!
„
~ The Grand Scorpion talking to the kidnapped members of The Daily Planet
“
You all want to know how he can fly?! How he can shoot heat rays out of his eyes?! Your most beloved citizen isn't a citizen at all! Go on, Superman! Tell them what you really are!
„
~ The Grand Scorpion exposing Superman's true nature as an alien to the rest of Metropolis
“
You see now?! The Klan of the Fiery Kross has always protected America from foreign threats! And Superman is the most foreign of them all! [...] You hear that, alien? All the real one hundred percent americans want you exterminated! And I've got just the weapon to do it! DIE, YOU ALIEN SCUM!
„
~ The Grand Scorpion turning all of Metropolis against Superman, shortly before shooting him with a kryptonite ray
“
I'd rather have no tomorrow at all!
„
~ The Grand Scorpion before attacking Superman with a kryptonite dagger, as well as his final words in the comic
Trivia[]
Matt Riggs made his first appearance in the 1946 radio serial The Adventures of Superman in the episode "The Clan of the Fiery Cross", which served as the primary inspiration for the comic.
Matt Riggs' title of "Grand Scorpion" is a reference to the title of "Grand Wizard" given to the national leaders of the real life Ku Klux Klan.