The only reason that the graphic novel, Tokyo Rose – Zero Hour: A Japanese American Woman’s Persecution and Ultimate Redemption After World War II by Andre R. Frattino, is not a five rating is because of the illustrations. While it is understandable why they are in black and white, they were not my favorite things for multiple reasons.
I know that illustrator Kate Kasenow did a lot of work on them. I appreciate the hard work, the time and even the final result to make it fit with what was wanted for the story. However, they could be a bit busy and it was sometimes hard to pick up facts needed to move the later story on. However, the use of the images to show the “feelings” of the “Tokyo Rose” persona and the woman herself as that villain, is strong and emotionally tugging. Using the Asian stereotypical dress and makeup of a female tells you pretty much everything about what the soldiers, Americans and the people who would testify against Iva Toguri D’Aquino were thinking.
The format of starting at the almost end at the moments before the trial of the one woman who stood up to claim the name, who was first labeled hero then traitor, and going to the beginning, following the war years and finally the final end, was a clever format. The “other side” of the story is done well, and while you can tell the creators believe Hero not Traitor, you are still allowed to see where the “traitor label” comes from. And Toguri-D’Aquino never thought herself either, but as someone who was an American, loved America, hated the war, the Japanese soldiers who were her prison gaurds, and never understood why her country turned against her.
The creator notes say most of their information and facts come from written transcripts and research of what was said. Therefore, it is up to you to say these are the “real facts” and not the creators making something that would fit in with a more anti-racism mentality, or she was wrapped up in a game she could never hope to win. And while I would compare this situation to that of the Rosenberg trial, this outcome is a bit more optimistic, even if it took decades to come about. Also, I would recommend They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, as a counter point of what was happening in the US as well. And if nothing else, this book made me think about the theme and other questions that came from that.
