Do any of you remember Jem and the Holograms? You know the one from the 1985 American children’s tv show – the stereotypical morality show; don’t cross the road without an adult, stealing is bad etc. Perhaps you know of the movie we shalt never speak of made in 2015. I beg of you to not relate that to the review I am about to give you. To counteract the pain felt while watching the film, we ordered in the first issue of the 2015 Jem and the Holograms.
Without further ado, I want to tell you how much better the comic book is. It’s showtime, Synergy!
The new and improved Jem and her sisters Kimber, Shana and Aja- Jem and the Holograms, Volume One, IDW 2015
You may remember Jerrica Benton, a girl with an amazing singing voice and terrible stage fright. If that name doesn’t ring any nostalgic bells, Jerrica and her sisters are attempting to make themselves into the worlds next superstars, their only hold up being Jerrica’s extreme stage fright. Unfortunately, their father has previously passed away and the sisters have nothing bar their talent and each other. Luckily for them, however, is their father was a scientific extraordinaire – his final glorious machine being Synergy, a sentient holographic computer with the ability to project just about whatever Jerrica wants/needs her to.
Issue #1 art based on the 1980’s show – Jem and the Holograms, Issue One, IDW 2015
The Misfits, who have professed themselves to be the Holograms’ worst enemy, are also just as prevalent in this comic as they were in the original story. Pizzazz, their lead singer, is an absolute terror for everyone, and her band (Jetta, Roxy and Stormer) just go along with it because she might as well own them. But there’s one thing that makes Pizzazz’s life even worse – Stomer, the band’s songwriter and keytarist, has fallen in love with Kimber of the Holograms – as seen in the feature image. (And that’s the biggest and only spoiler I am going to give you).
For fans of the series, though, this first volume can feel a bit like an exposition slog. The first issue is purely an explanation of the characters and main plot. Though, if you were going to read it I wouldn’t suggest just skipping this volume. It’s got an amazing story line, which I’ve tried very hard not to spoil, and the art is absolutely gorgeous.
Do you remember Jem and the Holograms? Have you read the new Jem? What were your thoughts? Leave a comment below!
(Header image; Jem and the Holograms, Volume One, IDW 2015)
The Faceless Librarian 
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