Aaron reviewed It Rhymes with Takei by George Takei
It Rhymes with Takei
5 stars
Takei's first graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy, dealt with a specific, harrowing moment in his life: his family's internment during World War II. By contrast, It Rhymes with Takei is far more sweeping since it covers his entire life, but focuses on the theme of his life as a gay man attempting to live within a career and country that demanded he stay in the closet. Takei writes honestly about his emotions, his relationship with his family, falling in love with his now-husband, and his personal journey to becoming a more outspoken advocate for gay rights in the United States. I feel that artist Harmony Becker spread her wings a bit more in this volume compared to the first one, and it is also published in vibrant color. Star Trek fans will enjoy Takei recounting how he got the role of Sulu and some of his later conversations …
Takei's first graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy, dealt with a specific, harrowing moment in his life: his family's internment during World War II. By contrast, It Rhymes with Takei is far more sweeping since it covers his entire life, but focuses on the theme of his life as a gay man attempting to live within a career and country that demanded he stay in the closet. Takei writes honestly about his emotions, his relationship with his family, falling in love with his now-husband, and his personal journey to becoming a more outspoken advocate for gay rights in the United States. I feel that artist Harmony Becker spread her wings a bit more in this volume compared to the first one, and it is also published in vibrant color. Star Trek fans will enjoy Takei recounting how he got the role of Sulu and some of his later conversations with Gene Roddenberry, but this is not a Hollywood tell-all. Rather, Takei delves into his own personal journey of coming to terms with his identity, with great effect.