Icon: A Hero's Welcome by Dewayne McDuffie

In 1839, an alien, intergalactic passenger liner explodes. One life boat crash lands in a cotton field in the Southern United States. The life boat technology recreates the alien's genetic structure to resemble the dominate lifeform. He is found by a black slave named, Miriam.

The alien is still with us today working as a lawyer and waiting for Earth's technology to catch up enough for him to go home. His secret is discovered by a young woman who convinces him to be a more active part of his "community"; to become the super hero Icon; and to take her as his sidekick Rocket.

Do not make assumptions about this book. Though there are similarities, this is not the Black Superman or some heavyhanded commentary on race relations. First and foremost, this is a good read. Ok, there is some social commentary, but it does not hinder with the story.