George Takei Will Publish a Graphic Novel

The story will take on his time in a WWII-era US internment camp

Actor George Takei is taking up the pen to write a graphic novel about his childhood, according to a statement released by publisher IDW. Best known for his portrayal of Sulu on Star Trek and his rather amusing Twitter, Takei will be telling the story of his family’s detention in a US internment camp during World War II. At the time, Takei was five. The novel will take on issues of racism and human rights and will explore how Takei’s confinement impacted his art, fame, and activism. The New York Times reported on the publisher’s announcement; Takei, of course, had his own take on Twitter:

Warning: Graphic material. https://t.co/QvvgqG7MNl

 — @GeorgeTakei

Takei previously delved into similar material in 2015, when he starred in the musical Allegiance, which was also based on his youth. He sees the graphic novel as an opportunity to reach an even wider audience, according to his statement: “When the opportunity to tell my story in the form of a graphic novel presented itself, I recognized the value in making it easily accessible for our youth to discover and digest the material, bringing attention to an important and relevant issue, while preserving it for generations to come.”

He also noted that he hopes the book will advance his “ongoing mission of spreading awareness of this disgraceful chapter of American history.”

The as yet untitled work is due out in 2018.

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