I really loved "They Called Us Enemy", which is about Takei's childhood growing up in a Japanese camp during wwii, so I was excited to see this new graphic novel from him and that team! This is also an autobiographical graphic novel about Takei but this time focusing more on his queer journey through his life from the 1940s through his acting career in the 60s and to his marriage in the 2000s. Definitely a great read for anyone who likes star trek, history, queer history, and/or graphic novels!

Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I believe George had two main reasons for creating a graphic novel biography: First, he felt dissatisfied and even guilty over having a memoir published in the 90s that omitted his sexual identity. Being closeted clearly filled him with fear, shame, and grief throughout his life, and having an incomplete story out there as his own story in his own words caused him pain. Second, he saw the impact of telling true stories in the graphic novel format after working with the same team to create They Called Us Enemy, about his childhood in the American internment camps during WWII. The artwork is incredible- there is so much detail and still so much text able to be included on the page. George is a champion of human rights and his life and his advocacy for others should not be forgotten. I hope this book makes it onto library shelves even with the pressures to erase LGBT stories by the far-right.

I grew up watching Star Trek because my dad was a Trekkie, and though NextGen came out as I was a kid, the original was there when my dad was young. So, I've always known who George Takei was. It wasn't until the last 10 years that I appreciated Takei for who he was, and even then, I didn't know how much of an impact he has had on the world around him. I don't know much about celebrities. I have read an autobiography here and there, but overall, I don't pay much attention. So, though I am aware that Takei has written many, many books, and some very important books and an important play, I like to live in the world of fiction where you can leave any time you want.
This is written in the form of a graphic novel, and though there are a ton of beautifully drawn pages, it is still a densely verbose story. Takei talks about growing up being a gay boy and then a gay man and hiding who he was. Either by choice or by societal expectations. He talks about the AIDS epidemic and how difficult to watch his friends go through this and yet society vilified the LGBTQ+ community. Then the fear of being arrested just for being in a gay bar. He talks about his political foray and activism and then how he met Brad and their story. It is an interesting read, and even when he talks about how his brother disowned him when he came out, he remains optimistic. Throughout all the unimaginable hardships it is amazing the amount of optimism this man has. I love how he got his catchphrase and how he embraced himself as a character to make people feel more comfortable in their own skin. I learned a lot about Takei, and though LGBTQ+ rights have come a long way in the last 50 years, there is still a long way to go and I think that Takei's experiences are quite eye-opening. This book was well-written and well worth-the read.

4 stars, I am a big, big fan of "uncle" George Takei - I loved Star Trek of course, but more than that I admire and support his many, many years of activism. And I learned a lot from his previous and excellent "They Called Us Enemy" too. So if the same team was bringing us his autobiography just in time for Pride, it was a "have to read" on my TBR and I am so grateful to have been approved to read it early. I found it quite interesting, George's acting career, love life and marriage to Brad, and of course all the many, many important and good things that George has been and still is fighting for. There were a couple places I would have liked a bit more or less detail, but overall, this is a remarkable look at a remarkable human & I highly recommend it. My sincere thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my advance readers copy - a true pleasure to read and review this title!

It Rhymes With Takei is George Takei’s second graphic memoir, this time focusing on his decision to come out as gay at the age of 68. I loved his first graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy, so when I saw this was available on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it!

You don’t need to have read his first memoir to read this one, though I personally found it enhanced the experience for me. However, if you are also a fan of They Called Us Enemy, you will be excited to learn that George worked with the same team: Harmony Becker, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger. You’ll recognize the art and writing style, except this memoir is in full color.

Though this memoir is about Takei’s decision to come out at age 68, it really covers experiences throughout his lifespan. George explores experiences of being othered as a Japanese American (which is further explored in They Called Us Enemy) and as a gay person. He also explores the political and historical contexts, movements, and personal contexts of various times in his life, and how they impacted his decision making around staying in the closet, and then ultimately coming out. But even beyond that, we learn about his family, friends, loves, education, travels, career, and advocacy throughout his life. All the details we didn’t get to see in his first memoir.

I felt all the feels while reading this one. Hope, joy, anger, sadness, disappointment, heartbreak, all of it. I think you’ll feel them, too. I'm impressed not only with the depth of emotion, but also with how Takei and the team are able to create such a moving and cohesive memoir while covering so much ground in terms of personal and historical narrative.

Overall, I really enjoyed Takei’s second graphic memoir. It’s an obvious recommendation for his fans. But I would also recommend it to fans of memoirs in general. It also covers a lot of LGBTQ+ history, so those interested in the historical context with a personal touch may be interested in picking it up.

*Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

I received a digital copy of the graphic memoir "It Rhymes With Takei" by George Takkei, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisnger. George Takei writes of his life knowing from a young age that he was Gay. For the majority of his life he stayed in the closet. He knew the penalties and hatred he would face if he "came out" He writes of his family spending years in an internment camp because his family was Japanese and it was during world War 2. he family were treated with hatred. when he knew he was gay he had to keep it a secret. since he was an actor and in the public eye coming out as gay could destroy his career.
He met his future husband Brad and they quietly became a couple. They married when it became legal. He knew around this time he had to come out as gay. He became an outspoken advocate for gay rights. This book is a graphic book. it is well written and the graphics are very good. I am a fan of George Takei and a supporter of gay rights. So happy to read this book.

I loved this graphic memoir. I have previously read, and enjoyed, Takei's "They Called Us Enemy" and this book about his life does not disappoint. I think the author does a great job at describing how his life played out, how he came to be who he is today, and all of the obstacles and difficulties he had to face and endure to be the amazing human he is today. A MUST READ.

As a long time queer Star Trek fan, I've followed George Takei's story for decades. I jumped on the chance to read his novel as soon at I could get my hands on a copy. It was an in-depth look at his career, his life, and his battle for equality and the right to marry his long time love, Brad Altman. He delves deep into his despair and personal tragedies during the AIDS crisis, and other monumental moments in his life. I highly recommend this book.

A life-affirming, invaluable and engaging memoir of Takei which inspires and informs without being didactic.
I highly recommend this to all parents, and teachers in particular.

I can’t imagine giving someone’s life story anything less than 5 stars, especially someone as amazing as George Takei. I had recently read They Called Us Enemy, so I had to jump at the opportunity to read the ARC for It Rhymes with Takei. (Thank you Netgalley!)
I’ve never been one to follow celebrity lives, so I learned a lot more about George Takei than I had known before. Like how he ran for congress at one point. I knew he was an advocate, but I never knew just the extent of everything he’s done. I feel so lucky to be able to learn so much about such an incredible human being. And I’m really proud of him for taking the step to come out when he did.
His story is a powerful one, and I’m so glad he’s decided to share it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for me to review!

Lovely artwork. Really well done narrative. The cover is perfect and the title is hilarious.

This is also your requisite reminder that George Takei is a national treasure.

No, really. Read "They Called Us Enemy," and then this book, and go look up some videos on YouTube, and rewatch the OG Star Trek as a refresher, then look me in the eye and tell me you don't have total respect for this man.

Literally watching Tr*mp undoing so much of the work George Takei and so, so many others have put in to secure rights for the LGBTQIA+ community every single day right now. This book could not come at a better time.

Read it, mourn for the losses we've suffered, and pick up your pens, phones, banners, and flags -- get back out there and keep fighting for the fundamental civil and human rights that belong to ALL of us.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
George Takei is one of those rare people who has had a truly fascinating life, full of both opportunities and stands taken. This is a thoughtful graphic autobiography that made for compelling reading. I am proud to be a member of the same community that is so honoured to have George Takei as one of our advocates.

I adore George Takei.

This graphic novel is a beautifully rendered portrait of his life up to this point. While the narrative is filled with fear and hatred, it was beautiful to see George and Brad's love story boom amongst it. I'm so happy they were able to step into the light and get married.

Thanks to NetGalley and Top Shelf Publishing for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Oh, my! This graphic memoir from Star Trek’s George Takei is a follow-up to his much lauded and often challenged book, They Call Us Enemy, (Amazon US), which detailed his childhood trauma of being in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. You do not need to have read that book to appreciate this volume, which tells of Takei’s life in the closet.

George Takei is very vocally gay now on social media, but he spent most of his life closeted. He didn’t want to be outed, even in Hollywood, because during the 1950s and 60s, the taint of being gay could be a career killer. One of his screen idols, Tab Hunter, was outed and his career suffered drastically. Takei talks of his time on the original Star Trek and the lifetime friends he made.

But Takei also talks about what it was like to be a gay Asian American at a time when there were laws that specifically targeted gays. He talks about his effort to toe the line and keep his gayness a secret. He became politically active after Star Trek and fought for the rights of many at the local and state level, but he always stayed away from the gay rights movement because of his fear of being found out.

George also talks about his love story with Brad. The two met in a jogging club and instantly clicked. It was Brad who gave Takei the courage to come out as gay at the ripe old age of 68! In 2005, he and Brad married when the law allowed same-sex marriage, which is now under attack. Since that time, Takei (and Brad) have been very vocal in their activism for equal rights for all. This octogenarian has been a social media darling for more than a decade and has captured an audience on all platforms he’s on.

I highly recommend this graphic memoir, which has great artwork, to fans of Takei, those who want to study gay rights, or anyone who has an open mind and a clear heart. I know that I will be adding this book to our household library, knowing that it will most assuredly face challenges because it talks about gay rights and social activism.

George Takei’s ventured into storytelling once again, and It Rhymes With Takei is his best effort to date. I love that he’s been using the graphic novel format. The visual presentation of important world-changing events during George’s life serve to elevate history from dull black and white to the full rainbow of visuals.

You’ll experience the events and causes George felt compelled to get involved with. You’ll learn so much about history, civics, gay rights, and the challenges facing a college student. You’ll cheer him on as he pays his dues in theater and television, and later on, in the movies. At times I felt like I was right there alongside George and his friends, fighting for rights they should never have been denied.

The graphic novel format is perfect for allowing us to see the emotions on George’s face during the happy times – and the terrible times. I enjoyed his mother’s adorable smile, and winced at his brother’s metamorphosis from sibling to stranger. I loved watching famous activists in action. History is brought to life.

At 336 pages, the book’s got room to cover a lot and, it does! We learn about George’s childhood, his family dynamics, his college days, his discovery of his love of theater, the hungry years of a young, hopeful actor paying his dues. We agonize alongside him over his need to keep his true self hidden out of fear and shame. And we get to rejoice throughout his courtship with Brad. Their relationship played out through the years of AIDS and changes in marriage laws.

If you’re a Trekkie, there’s anecdotes about the show and the movies, and his friendships with the cast and Gene Roddenberry. If you already admire George, you’ll love getting to know him better. If you need to know more about who we were as a society from the 1950s through the 1990s, you’ll learn through notable events George became involved with. I sure did; I knew he was an activist but I had no idea he was involved in so much!

You need to be aware that George’s exploration of sexuality is part of his life story. It’s certainly not shied away from; it’s presented honestly yet tastefully. I’m of the opinion that this book would be appropriate for readers from about age thirteen and up.

My thanks to George Takei, Top Shelf Productions, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital advance review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

It Rhymes With Takei releases on June 10, 2025. Help support its success by pre-ordering your copy now.

This review first published at SciFi.Radio.

Great follow up to "They Called Us Enemy'! Appreciated the continuation of the story, exploration or difficulties of being closeted and honest portrayal of so many aspects of life. Hugely recommend.

Having only just read "They Called Us Enemy" this year, I was excited to see this book offered in NetGalley. Once again, George Takei pulls no punches. This book was incredibly hopeful, kind, sad, emotional, humorous, and powerful all at once. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone as a great path through LGBTQ rights and history as seen through the eyes of one man.

Thank you to George Takei, IDW, and NetGalley for the ARC!

I have been a fan of George Takei since I saw him in Star Trek as a little Korean American kid. As I got older and learned more about his life, I became an even bigger fan of him because of all the advocacy and education work he has done for Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II. I knew that George Takei is gay, but I couldn't wait to read his new graphic novel to learn more about his life. I learned so much more about George Takei and queer history than I could have ever imagined and my respect and admiration for him grew every page. I cried tears of joy, sadness, and anger throughout this book and I am so endlessly grateful to my queer Asian American elders like George who helped fight for where our community is today!

A powerful and emotional graphic novel memoir of living through history.

Takei has lived through so much history and has experienced the injustices of time like being imprisoned in the Japanese internment camps during WWII and living through Operation Wetback and the Aids Epidemic. These moments of history (plus others) are navigated with the utmost respect and emotional strife that strikes a resonating core to our collective human experience. It saddened me to feel the weight of Takei's lived experience, particularly the weight of hiding who he truly is for majority of his life. But it also filled me with immense joy to see glimpses of his love story with Brad in his later years, proving that it's never too late to find your soulmate.

We also see Takei's riveting acting career; from his roots in voice acting to his most influential role as Sulu in Star Trek. And in between acting gigs, his activism is effortlessly part of his life from political campaigns to theater start ups!

If there is only one memoir you read this year, let it be this one. It's a MUST read that will leave you with tears of hope in your heart.

It Rhymes With Takei is George Takei’s memoir revealing his life as a closeted gay man. It blends the tumultuous history of gay activism with the reality of how George lived through those times. He led an amazing life, with great friendships, intimate moments and times of great fear. This is a beautiful and painful book that should be read by everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for this DRC.
#ItRhymesWithTakei #NetGalley