It Rhymes with Takei is an autobiographical graphic novel, centred around George Takei's life in - and then out of - the closet and how it affected every other aspect of his life. It moves quickly past his childhood experience of an internment camp, which is of course the focus of 'They Called Us Enemy', although this experience is naturally referred to at various points throughout the book. The narrative skips through childhood and begins in detail in High School, where Takei gets his first taste of campaigning when running for Student President, and also picks up an interest in the theatre. His interests in politics and acting run in tandem throughout his life, complimenting and - at times - conflicting with each other.

While most readers will probably know the major points in American gay history, Takei makes them personal without being sentimental. We see his fear when he attempts to find community amongst gay men only to be warned of police infiltration and brutality. By the time of the Stonewall riots, this fear has been joined by anger and guilt. Then there is the tragedy and uncertainty of the AIDS epidemic, which turns into anger at the reaction of the American political establishment. Throughout his career there is a constant anxiety about being 'found out', and much of the book hinges around this tension between keeping his secrets and grasping the opportunities he encounters.

This story really benefits from being a graphic novel rather than a prose autobiography. It helps that the art in this book is also lovely, with a great use of colour to tell the story. The layouts are really well done and each section flows clearly. While naturally Star Trek is a presence in the book, it isn't the main subject and no knowledge is needed. Likewise, Takei at various times discusses actors and celebrities he's met, but not in a way that makes you miss out on important content if you don't know them.

Highly recommended. Thank you to the publishers for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my God.

I am so emotional.

Folks, this book is so good. Like genuinely amazing. I can't praise it enough. It made me laugh, it made me cry.

It is just so hopeful for the future while also not shying away from past struggles. It is a really great reminder of how far we have come and an inspiration for how much we can still do.

It is also just a really great personal account of history. I learned so much! I had wikipedia up the whole time I was reading.

I can't wait to get a hard copy! Everyone read this book!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the ARC! All opinions are my own!

This book is essentially a memoir, a beautiful story of career, education, friends, hobbies… of what has been won, but also of what has been lost. I was not that familiar with George Takei, but it was really interesting to find out more about his life from this graphic novel, even though it has been rather extensive and detailed. I liked the artwork as well.

Some beautiful quotes:
- “I lived life as a rhyme of my real self for so long.”
- “When friends die, we die with them.”

George Takei’s new graphic memoir, It Rhymes with Takei, is a powerful and timely read. With humor and heart, Takei reflects on his struggle to accept his identity and his journey to becoming a proud, vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Released just in time for PRIDE, this inspiring memoir is a reminder of the courage it takes to live your truth.

It Rhymes With Takei was a very complete trip and full of emotions. A very happy surprise, a story that feels intimate and personal.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this advanced reader's copy.

It Rhymes With Takei was a charming read, all heart and with the right dose of humor. George Takei is an incredibly interesting protagonist to follow, someone who feels as though they have lived one hundred lives in one. In following Takei's journey through the years before and after he came out of the closet, the reader is introduced to watershed moments in the gay rights movement from Takei's perspective (e.g, Prop 8, Stonewall). There's something arresting about watching history unfold from someone else's eyes, especially someone who is deeply touched by unfolding events. Hearing how Takei felt or thought in those instances made these events feel more real and personal--not just chapters in a textbook, but pages in the book of a rich life. I especially appreciated how Takei emphasized that he was never afflicted by self-hatred nor did he question who he was, thanks to his upbringing--it was fascinating to read a different story, one that focused more on how external circumstances drove his internal conflicts. While I felt the book could have explored some moments in more detail and with greater depth, I understand the challenge of condensing a life well-lived into around 300 pages.

George Takei has created a touching and engaging graphic novel. It Rhymes with Takei tells the journey of George, who evolves from a young aspiring actor to a strong activist, movie star, and social influencer. His transformation from a closeted teenager to an open husband of Brad Altman is both inspiring and emotional. I highly recommend this graphic memoir to anyone curious about making a difference.

The book shares George's early experiences as a boy who felt different and faced intolerance. It highlights the prejudices, bullying, and homophobic language he encountered, making it clear why he chose to hide his true self.

George vividly describes his life, offering insights into American society from the 1950s onward. His detailed storytelling helps readers understand his perspectives and the political environment. Although LGBTQIA+ rights have made progress, many still face discrimination today. This graphic novel effectively covers various issues and George's feelings throughout his journey.

Amazing and beautiful graphic novel. I loved the insight into George's life and what it was like to hide who he was growing up and in Hollywood. His story is inspiring. Thanks to NetGalley and IDW publishing for the eARC.

George Takei has done it again!

This is an amazing memoir, filled with personal stories of Takei’s struggles with his sexuality both within himself and in the context of the world around him.

Takei’s story is one that resonates with every queer person and makes for an amazing way for people who are straight to get some insight on what it was like for so many queer people growing up.

Mixing personal experiences of his life with the larger political and historical happenings throughout his life this memoir is deeply moving while showcasing how policies and harmful cultural norms deeply impact people.

Once again, the illustrator that Takei partnered with for this project did a fantastic job bring his story to life.

One small criticism is that at times the text was small and difficult to read because there was so much packed into a single text box.

Thank you so much to IDW publishing and NetGalley for giving me an Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
I mean, who doesn't like George Takei? We got his graphic novel about being in a concentration camp here during WWII at our library and I love promoting it. I thought this would be interesting, but it was absolutely captivating. This story of his life and how hard it was to remain closeted, and what happened when he came out, was excellently done and very good reading. I am delighted to add this to our library's collection and plan to have a great time promoting it too. This is very relevant today; people are getting all crazy about stuff but no one really honestly talks about what it feels like to hide in a closet and how difficult and demanding this is. Well, this book does an admirable job of that. Recommended.

First and foremost, thank you to Netgalley and IDW Publishing | Top Shelf Productions for providing this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review

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⚝ Rating ⚝: 5✩ / 5✩’s

⚝ Review ⚝: I officially need all my biographies/memoirs in graphic novel style because I flew through this whereas normally I would struggle to get through a memoir via traditional reading. My dad has always been a Star Trek dad, and I've enjoyed the show myself. Learning about George Takei's life and how his beliefs impacted the show and cast has always been interesting, and to get his life story in this format was honestly, an honor. I loved the repeated sentiment: It's okay to be Takei.

My only issue was that at times, the text was hard to read. I switched between my phone and a full computer screen and at times, still found myself having to zoom in quite a bit to be able to read what was in the text bubbles.

⚝ Illustrations⚝: Harmony Becker is credited with the illustrative work of It Rhymes with Takei and her work is absolutely beautiful. The illustrations complimented the story so well.

⚝ Representation ⚝: Gay, Queer, Asian American

⚝ TWs ⚝: Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Death, Chronic Illness, AIDS

My monthly reading breakdown for May will be posted to TikTok, IG, and Threads the first week of June.

Thank you to NetGalley, George Takei, and IDW Publishing for a copy of this book.

Oh myyyyy…

George Takei’s autobiographical graphic novel is a punch to the gut. It starts off with the understanding that George knew, even as a young boy, that he was different. Different in that he was a Japanese-American post WWII, yes, but he was different in another way as well. Though the word was not necessarily ‘gay’ during his youth, George knew he was a homosexual.

Throughout the graphic novel, we share in George’s triumphs and set backs; his push to be something greater than who he was; his passion for learning, educating, and leading. As George grows, we grow with him. We grow to understand his passions and his pains–what is was like to be a closeted rising star, every move watched by the media and fans across the world.

George’s story is the story of a lot of us who are LGBTQIA+. A lot of us suffered through beatings and abuse. A lot of us stayed in the closet because it was safe, even if it was eating us up inside. A lot of us were actors from the very start, pretending to be someone we are not just to fit in and continue to live comfortably. “It Rhymes With Takei” is sharp, witty, funny, sad, and most of all, very, very human.

I would recommend this graphic novel to literally every person in the world, even if they are against LGBTQIA+ rights. Perhaps seeing the world through the eyes of George Takei, a gay man, will open your own eyes. We are all trapped on this spinning rock until we die. It is better to love and be loved than sully your soul with hate.

I would like to think that Mr. Takei would agree.

As a fan of Takei's I loved this and especially loved that it was done as more of a comic book, it felt fitting for him and his story. I loved this as it flowed easily and made me love him even more. thanks NetGalley and Topshelf for this ARC read.

Takei has loved such a storied and impactful life. I had such a good time reading this. It’s something you’ll want to sit with for a while, but it is incredible. He is incredibly admirable.

It’s ok to be Takei!

Absolutely beautiful story from beginning to present(ish) about George Takei’s life. I had been familiar with several of the events in the book due to following him on Social media for over a decade.

10/10 for the artist interpretation illustrations for the book, all of the people represented were drawn well enough I was able to recognize them and that’s always a concern I have with non-fiction graphic novels.

10/10 for the follow through of George’s life and the care IDW took in organizing the historical events that took place in his life. Some of the events I and many adults now lived through as well may remember. The book illustrates the grief of AIDS and the lack of political support until the hard work of many to bring the public knowledge/support to the forefront.
This book does an excellent job of preserving that history, and so much more.

It is done by the same team who did his Internment Camp book which worked really well. I can hear his voice in the writing. The story was super interesting I enjoyed seeing what life was like in the 1950s for him. The added interviews was a really nice touch.

5 stars

Another outstanding graphic novel memoir by George Takei. Once again, Takei does not shy away from what was a very personal and emotional story to tell. Delving into his personal battle with the acceptance of his sexuality, Takei explores his history of activism while continuing to closet his deepest identity. Takei, with Eisinger and Scott, has presented his life in an unabashedly frank way, telling his story in his own inimitable and entertaining style.

A grateful thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the opportunity to get an early look at this graphic novel.

For many of us, it seemed like George Takei appeared overnight, fully formed into a political voice on Twitter, but it was a long path getting there. This is the story largely of how he became an actor, got involved in politics and human rights issues, and how he navigated being gay at a time when it was important to remain closeted. I appreciate all the times he ran away from situations where he was worried about being exposed or even arrested for being gay, which make it all the more admirable that he’s now a loud political voice for the gay community. I wish I had his type of boldness in other avenues, but so much is about time, place, position and safety.

This is quite a long graphic novel (nearly 350 pages), but it tells the story of nearly a lifetime. It feels inspirational, but I don’t quite know what to do with that inspiration. But perhaps we’re a cumulation of a lifetime of inspirations. He certainly is. I enjoyed learning about his early acting days, how he met Brad, and how Howard Stern popularized his iconic “oh my.” The book is very tastefully done and well written. I’m sure it will sell well once it comes out in June of 2025. I was lucky enough to get an early glimpse of it through Netgalley.

Now, for the first time ever, George shares the full story of his life in the closet, his decision to come out as gay at the age of 68, and the way that moment transformed everything. 

George Takei is an inspiration for so many reasons, and being gay and an activist is just 2 things .
This story is told with emotions that anyone who has ever had to hide the one part of themselves that was the most important thing can understand.
I remember when just being suspected of being gay could lose you your job, your friends, your family. And as some powers that be are trying so hard to shove us back in the closet, Mr. Takei reminds us that fighting back to have the chance at happiness can and has worked.

This novel is very well illustrated, and the story is an inspiration.
Highly recommended. Expected publishing date is June 10, 2025.

Highly recommended. Expected publish date: 6/10/2025
Thanks to @netgalley and IDW Publishing/Top Shelf Productions for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Thanks to IDW and NetGalley for this eARC. Loved to learn more about the life of George Takei and the impact with the gay community.