George Takei Meets Archie Comics

Actor and equal rights advocate George Takei is beaming into a new land this week by appearing as himself in issue No. 6 "By George!" of Archie Comics' Kevin Keller, the series about Riverdale's only gay teenager. "With Archie Comics, it's a fun way and a natural way and an ideal way of advocating [equal rights] happily," Takei said, as reported by The Associated Press.

Jon Goldwater, Archie Comics' co-chief executive officer, said writer and artist Dan Parent "met George at a convention and asked him if he'd be interested in appearing in the Kevin Keller comic, and being a huge Star Trek fan I flipped when he agreed. Sulu was always my favorite character so I said do whatever it takes to get him in the comic."

"I remember as a preteen and a teenager, I used to read Archie Comics," said Takei, 75, who grew up in California. "I was so flattered." In the story Takei is the subject of an essay by Keller who cites him as an inspirational hero -- not just for his acting -- but his advocating on behalf of Asian-Americans and gays and lesbians, too. When Kevin hears that he's at a local convention, he recruits Jughead to go with him, unaware that Mr. Takei, moved by Kevin's article, has made a trip to Riverdale to pay him a visit. Kevin rushes to meet up with his idol, but will he make it in time?

Takei will be signing copies of the comic tomorrow (Wednesday, December 5) at Midtown Comics in New York, along with Dan Parent, from 9-11 P.M. Arrive early! For more, visit their Facebook event.