It Rhymes with Takei
The life, career, and activism of actor George Takei are chronicled in the stirring graphic novel It Rhymes with Takei.
Takei gave up studying architecture when he heard the siren call of the stage. Despite the limited roles available for Asian Americans, he established a reputation as an actor, culminating in a part he would return to for decades: Hikaru Sulu, a supporting character in the Star Trek franchise. Takei was involved in political campaigns and community service for years, even running for city council, but lived in constant fear of being outed as gay. Over time, Takei realized he needed to be honest with his family and the world. He revealed his sexual orientation in a public interview when he was sixty-eight. The decision was liberating.
Takei is an engaging narrator with a strong sense of humor and an even stronger moral compass. His belief in the power of democracy is inspiring, and his defense of gay marriage in particular is moving and eloquent. The excellent art portrays Takei and a host of celebrities and politicians, but its finest moments are beautiful figurative images, as with a several-panel sequence that shows Takei coming out of a closet at the end of a long, dark corridor.
It Rhymes with Takei is the outstanding graphic autobiography of a principled man who became a cultural icon because of his passion for improving the world for others.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
