Takei was five years old when he and his family were imprisoned behind barbed wire in Arkansas after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
The book from IDW Publishing will chronicle his memories from that time, his family’s struggles after being released and his rise to actor and activist.
“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 said. “We live in uncertain times, and if stories such as mine can inspire us to do better and encourage positive change, I want to share it with as many people as possible, no matter who they are, or where they come from.”
This is his second major project based on his life in the camps.
His Broadway play Allegiance focused on how the trauma of being forced to live in confinement deeply divided Japanese American families as some decided to profess their loyalty to this country and even enlist in the military while others exercised their first amendment rights and fought the incarceration on constitutional grounds.
“Acting as narrator, Takei guides readers through memories of his family’s confinement within the internment camps, the aftermath of starting over with nothing after their release, his rise to stardom as helmsman of the USS Enterprise on Star Trek, and how these life-changing events led him down his chosen path of activism and championing human rights,” IDW told The Hollywood Reporter.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. You can show your support by liking our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/asamnews, following us on Twitter, sharing our stories, interning or joining our staff
AsAmNews is a community of users interested in reading, learning and commenting on news, events, people & issues in the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander communities.