Jem and the Holograms #26 review: Raya and the Bentons take a Bow
By Alex Widen
Kimber’s in trouble; it must be a Wednesday! Can Jem save her and unite the Holograms for their last curtain call?
Jem And The Holograms #26
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Gisele Legace
Colorist: M. Victoria Robado
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Believe it or not, this is the last issue of Jem and the Holograms. Say it isn’t so! Thankfully, it’s far from the end for Jem as a franchise at IDW, nor Kelly Thompson’s run writing the core comics. However, it does mark the end of this volume of Jem, which comes with it a sense of perspective. The fact that a comic based on a 1980s animated series aimed at girls which doesn’t involve superheroes lasted over two years is a commendable feat. And this last issue sums up all of its strengths.
It’s a Hot Time in Hawaii!
As per the usual, Kimber Benton is at the center of drama. Whether she’s dating one of the Misfits or starting a food fight, Kimber’s almost a force of nature. Hence, it’s ironic that she’s been felled by a greater force of nature! After being tricked to the edge of a cliff by the Stingers, Kimber took a literal fall! Now she’s hurt, alone, and seemingly at the mercy of boiling lava in a volcano. It’s a cute homage to an episode of the 1985 cartoon while still offering a modern day twist for all readers!
Image by IDW Publishing
Danger, New Friends, and Foreshadowing!
Fortunately for Kimber, the rest of the Holograms have caught on that she’s missing. Considering their identities as famous lady musicians, Aja raises the possibility that Kimber’s been kidnapped by a stalker or crazed fan. Stormer is almost hysterical over the fate of her lover, but needs to be reminded that her sisters are equally as worried. The crisis also brings Shana’s fears about being “replaced” to a halt. Fortunately, the Holograms have a key ally in their search.
Image by IDW Publishing
Keani, a Maui local and an organizer for the charity the Holograms are playing for, has arrived to help. Very quickly, Keani utilizes her knowledge of the area to orchestrate a proper plan to find Kimber and alert local authorities. All of this craziness has led Raya to realize the source of all of their current troubles. Her former band, the Stingers, in particular Minx and Rapture, have sought revenge on the Holograms for “breaking” Riot’s heart and “taking” Raya from their band.
Image by IDW Publishing
While the Stingers are mischievous, they’re not monsters. Once Minx and Rapture realize that Kimber’s in genuine danger—in addition to being threatened with Aja’s rage—they tag in to help. From there, it comes down to one dramatic rappelling scene for Kimber to finally be rescued. Fortunately, there isn’t any danger from lava. Is it merely a concussion induced hallucination, or has Kimber seen something else? Or could it be a bit of foreshadowing for the next Infinite series?
Image by IDW Publishing
The Holograms Have a Double Identity Crisis!
As a result of being a final issue of sorts, it seems like many subplots get tied into a bow. As Kimber recovers in a hospital, Raya reveals what readers have known for three issues. In escaping from the Misfits’ explosion back in #23, Raya saw through Synegy’s holograms and discovered who Jem was. Raya comes clean about her knowledge here, which further endears her to the Holograms. It also sets up Jerrica to perform a little revenge on the Stingers’ media games!
Image by IDW Publishing
Luckily, Kimber’s injuries prove to be barely enough to slow down her constant stream of sass. The Holograms turn out in full for the Ainalani Initiative concert, complete with Jem and Raya in tow. It’s another vibrant showstopper for the band, which Gisele Legace and M. Victoria Robado utilize to highlight their artistic skills. However, there’s still one piece of unfinished business to resolve before the official end of this volume. The love triangle comes to an end as Rio and Jerrica have a chat!
Image by IDW Publishing
In the previous issue, Kelly Thompson shattered the main romantic status quo of the franchise. In a turn of events which never happened in any of the original cartoon’s three seasons, Rio learned Jem’s true identity. Having stormed off immediately afterward, Rio is back to clear the air a bit. He justifiably feels betrayed, but can’t bring himself to completely break up with Jerrica. Instead, Rio suggests they take a break, and have her think about ending the masquerade before it bites them.
Image by IDW Publishing
Romance and Characterization Is the Backbone of the Series!
With a crossover miniseries coming, Kelly Thompson does a good job of clearing most of the decks. She ties up most of the lingering subplots for the moment while crafting another adventure for the band. While the love affair between Jerrica and Rio gets most of the attention, Stormer and Kimber see plenty of drama too. In addition to the Misfits’ antics over the “inter-band” love, Stormer was the one in peril last year. She got lost in the woods and was menaced by a bear!
Image by IDW Publishing
This extra-sized issue also further demonstrates what makes Thompson rock (pun intended). Her love for the franchise is without question, yet she’s never incapable of changing the status quo for the sake of a better story. The situation with Rio is the ultimate manifestation of it. It showcases she is truly willing to take the franchise to outrageous heights unseen from the cartoon or film. After all, a franchise that never evolves dies, and she’s determined to have Jem thrive.
Image by IDW Publishing
Because Thompson avoids having characters act as stereotypes, her dialogue and drama always feel more genuine. Minx and Rapture may be mischief makers, but Thompson is wise to show them getting concerned when things got serious. Raya’s progression from disillusioned Stinger to proud Hologram has also been interesting to see over the last six issues. Rio and Jerrica’s conversation regarding Jem is easily the highlight of the issue in terms of character drama.
A Change to the Status Quo Which Feels Genuine!
Since Jerrica is the star it’s easy to see things from her perspective. Things become more complicated than her stage fright when Silica utilized her identity to try to take over the world. The fact that Rio is literally a musical journalist only added to the desire for secrecy. Unlike the cartoon, Rio’s love for Jerrica was pure. When a possessed Jem tried to kiss him, Rio rejected her. Leaning that Jerrica has been lying to him essentially since they met is quite a blow for him.
Image by IDW Publishing
Thompson deals with Rio’s sense of betrayal in an honest fashion, without having either resort to raving. As a reader of superhero comics, I have seen no end of domestic disagreements played out as shouting matches, complete with over-the-top posing. There is none of this here. Both of them are heartbroken, and neither Jerrica or Rio want this to be the end. However, things for the moment can’t be the same between them. Trading nostalgic stagnation for organic developments is very wise.
Image by IDW Publishing
In fact, if there’s only one element which feels neglected, it’s Riot. After some of his creepy scenes last issue, it seems strange that he doesn’t even appear in a background shot. There certainly was more going on, from saving Kimber to dealing with the ramifications of two members of the cast learning who Jem is. This was an extra sized issue and he was nowhere with Minx and Rapture. Considering the arc which was being written regarding Riot, his absence here was a little jarring.
Infinitely Terrific Art!
Gisele Lagace continues on her absolute tear on art. Her style makes a reader quickly recall that she’s worked for Archie Comics. Her style is complementary to their old “house” style, yet still distinctly her own. It works very well with Jem, as her flair for the songs and character designs comes the closest to matching Sophie Campbell. Following Campbell is a tough act for any artist, and there have been many talented ones on the book. But Lagace has become my favorite since.
Image by IDW Publishing
The concert is the visual highlight of the issue, as it should be for Jem. Her costumes, poses, and layouts capture the magic of it all. In addition, this issue also offered a bit of adventure with the mountain scenes. While it’s nothing compared to a typical superhero book, it’s still a lot of action for “normal” people. In many ways, this seems to be a dress rehearsal compared to the science fiction storyline which is slated to arrive with the upcoming Infinite crossover.
Image by IDW Publishing
Due later this summer is Infinite, a weekly crossover between Jem and The Misfits spin off. Each will get a separate miniseries that will run weekly for 3 to 4 weeks. The plot is said to revolve around the science fiction aspects of Synergy—more than likely someone else hacking or influencing it. It sounds similar to the “Dark Jem” story of last summer, which I consider a peak for the series so far. If so, it looks like a chance for Thompson to flex her superhero chops a bit more.
Ending on an Outrageous Note!
Taken in that context, Kimber swearing she saw lava may not have been a hallucination. She, like the rest of the Holograms, was possessed by Silica. In fact, the evil artificial intelligence took extra effort to entice her even after Kimber was freed. Hence, it is very possible either Kimber retains some subconscious connection, or the lava bit was someone else “testing the waters” as it were. Techrat, the Misfits’ hacker friend, got a peak at Synergy’s programming last year. So did the Fox.
Image by IDW Publishing
After Infinite, I have little doubt that Jem would return, at least so long as Thompson wished to. Either a fresh volume would begin, or every arc would be its own series, akin to IDW’s Ghostbusters or Dirk Gently. While Thompson had been a published author before, Jem has really made her career in terms of monthly comic book writing. It showcased her passions and strengths as a writer and has led to her subsequent work for Marvel, such as Hawkeye or A-Force.
Next: It's a Hot Time in Hawaii in #25!
With Jem and the Holograms, Thompson has demonstrated both her imagination for franchises and her flair for character interactions. She is so adept at crafting and expanding a cast that she could loan out a third of them for a spinoff and still have no end of characters to utilize. Her plots rarely play things safe and involve fluid reactions to previous actions. Every character is explored, and her dialogue is ripping. It’s been an innovative and outrageous volume, with more yet to come!