George Takei Beamed to Riverdale in 'Archie' Comics Appearance

George Takei and his husband Brad make an appearance in a 'Kevin Keller' Archie comic released today, USA Today reports:

In the new Kevin Keller comic, Kevin and his friends are assigned to write about somebody who inspires them, and he pens an essay about Takei, who came out to the press as a gay man in 2005.

The issue shares Takei's life story, from his childhood spent in Japanese-American internment camps during World War II with his family to playing Sulu on the iconic 1960s Star Trek series to his later advocacy for gay rights and equality.

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"It's reflecting the diversity of America, and embracing that diversity as a positive," Takei says of his comic appearance. "There I am not only as a gay man but as an Asian-American gay man and I'm idolized by Kevin. Him and his gang travel to a sci-fi convention. How much more American can you be?"

Much more at USA Today...

Takei will be at New York City's Midtown Comics tonight at 9 to sign the issue.

Check out more panes from the issue, AFTER THE JUMP...

Donald Trump Attended Gay Wedding and Found it 'Beautiful', He Tells George Takei During Lunch Date

Donald Trump lunched with George Takei yesterday, according to a note on Takei's Facebook page.

Writes the Star Trek legend:

Friends, I had lunch with Donald Trump today at the Trump Tower Grill. It was a lively and engaging hour-long conversation that touched upon his personal position on marriage equality. He confided that he recently attended a same-sex wedding and that he'd found it "beautiful."

I remarked that NY is now a marriage-equality state, and that after all, marriage is better for business! Minds are changing across America, and I am always ready to speak to those ready to listen. I hope that my chat with The Don might have some effect on his stance on the subject.

Good work, Mr. Sulu.

No word on whether this was the lunch that Trump had promised Takei back in May, when Takei said:

“I want to listen to what his concerns are," the gay, married actor said today. "I respect people’s right to their faith…However, we’re talking about civil law as opposed to religious law, and how religious faith or value should be written into a law that effects everyone.”

Explaining why he wants to sit down with Trump, Takei said, "He is an influential person. He effects the thinking of a lot of people…I think he’s an open minded fair minded person and certainly a savvy businessman."

George Takei Teams Up With Old Navy For 'Cheermageddon': VIDEO

Again proving himself to be awesome on an out-of-this-world scale, George Takei sings, dances and is very generous with his gifts in this ad for Old Navy's Black Friday "Cheermageddon" sale. The ad will air during the American Music Awards airing this Sunday.

The track Takei is belting, by the way, is called "I Don't Want To Miss A Sale" -- not even when he's dreaming of shoes.

Watch the exceptionally entertaining advert AFTER THE JUMP.

LGBT Celebrities Speak Out for Obama: VIDEO

Jane Lynch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Chaz Bono, George Takei, Zachary Quinto, Wanda Sykes, and Billie Jean King speak out about Obama's LGBT accomplishments and what it means to them in a new video for the campaign.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

And remember, get out and vote!

George Takei Cheers Voter Registration In New Obama Ad: VIDEO

George Takei typically brings a bit of tongue-in-cheek to his progressive activism, like when he had a "fireside chat" to take down anti-gay Tennessee lawmakers or when he dressed up as a Scout during the gay pride parade, a move meant to protest the Boy Scouts of America's discriminatory policies. But in his latest venture, a campaign video urging Asian-Americans to vote for President Obama, Takei is all business.

Takei opens by recalling how his family was put internment camp during World War II simply because of their appearance, and then flashes forward to highlight the tremendous progress that has been made for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders since then. But more works needs to be done, he says, and it can only be done by boosting low voter registration.

"We've got to be actively involved in the electoral process," he says. "If you really appreciate the price that has been paid for that right, you should be in there participating, protecting our interests and in so doing, making our democracy a truer democracy."

It's the Star Trek actor at his most buttoned up and on-the-money. But don't worry: Takei's inimitable savoir faire still beams through.

Watch Takei's appearance AFTER THE JUMP.

George Takei's Big Weekend: VIDEO

Congrats to the fabulous gay man, excellent actor, hilarious Facebook photo-poster, and all-around mensch George Takei on his big weekend. Not only is today the 46th birthday of Star Trek -- the show on which Takei became famous as Mr. Sulu, maybe the first heroic TV role ever given to a Japanese American -- but this is also the first weekend of previews for Allegiance, a new musical by Jay Kuo, Marc Acito, and Lorenzo Thione, in which George Takei stars at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre.

From the Old Globe's website:

Allegiance is an epic story of family, love and patriotism set during the Japanese American internment of World War II. Sixty years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a chance meeting forces WWII veteran Sam Kimura (television and film star George Takei) to remember his family's relocation from their California farm to the Heart Mountain internment camp. As they struggle to adjust to their new home, Young Sam (Telly Leung – Godspell, "Glee") and his sister Kei (Lea Salonga, Tony Award winner for Miss Saigon) find themselves torn between loyalty to their family and allegiance to their country. With its moving score, ALLEGIANCE takes audiences on a journey into our nation's history through the eyes of one American family.

As it happens, Mr. Takei spent a portion of his childhood in one of the United States' Japanese internment camps. Here you can hear him discuss the experience on PRI's The World. And AFTER THE JUMP, you can hear one of Allegiance's songs and view some photos from rehearsal.

Allegiance officially opens at the Old Globe on September 19th.