Jem and the Holograms Infinite #3 review: Hacking Synergy with a duet
By Alex Widen
The Holograms and the Misfits reunite on another world! Yet can they cooperate long enough to retake command of Synergy in Jen and the Holograms #3?
Jem And The Holograms Infinite #3
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Jen Hickman
Colorist: Sarah Stern
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Stories about parallel worlds are a common trope in comic books. One of the many advantages is that allows for character exploration without shattering a status quo. In theory it is a mechanic which can push characters into confronting themselves or their foibles in interesting ways. In practice, many stories utilize this as a gimmick for new designs or extra violence. Yet the Infinite crossover between the Holograms and the Misfits is doing everything right by parallel worlds. Now it’s time to set up the show-stopping climax!
Image by IDW Publishing
As a result of taking control of the holographic technology Synergy, Eric Raymond has taken over the world via his JemCorp company. To this end he’s spearheaded the manipulation and control of the populace as well as arranged the murders of both bands. However, he didn’t count on Techrat going to another world and plucking the Holograms and Misfits from “our” world to stop him! This has allowed the Holograms to reunite with their dad, and the Misfits to discover some lost rebels.
Image by IDW Publishing
A Heartfelt Reunion and a Mad Gambit!
While the Holograms were meeting with the parallel version of their dad Emmett Benton, the Misfits went over “the wall” to see how the exiled masses live. With a deadline passed, Shana is suspicious as to whether the Misfits will return at all. Yet as Pizzazz brags, once she gives her word she always keeps it. Through the Misfits’ investigation, they found that two survivors of Eric’s massacre survived. Hence, Emmett gets to reunite with “his” Kimber as well as Stormer.
Image by IDW Publishing
Rather than be thrilled at saving a world, however, Pizzazz continues to struggle to cooperate with Jem. She sees Jem as both a rival and an interloper, with her involvement in a lot of her misfortune. The fact that much of the cause of this universe’s peril were Pizzazz’s counterpart’s actions hardly fills her with tolerance, either. Having a moral all but beaten into Pizzazz has done little to ease her attitude towards Jerrica. While the Misfits insist she’s trying her best, it gives Jerrica little comfort.
Image by IDW Publishing
Yet the Bentons’ plan involves more skeletons from the Holograms’ closet. Not only have they revealed Jem’s identity to their rivals, but they have to discuss Silica too! Last year, Silica was unleashed upon their world as a viral flaw in Synergy’s program. It sought to conquer the world via mind controlling music. As a result, the Misfits and Holograms had to unite for the first time to stop Silica. Pizzazz and the Misfits didn’t know how responsible the Holograms were until now!
Image by IDW Publishing
One More Tag Team to End All Tag Teams!
As explained by Jerrica and Aja, their plan involves two phases. One will see Techrat and Emmett hack into Synergy and attempt to utilize the flaws programming in her to “awaken” Silica and allow them access. Yet as Pizzazz quickly guesses, there’s more to their plan than that! Unfortunately, while the ladies may be expert musicians and show-stoppers, they’re not terribly technical. As a result, there’s a lot of sitting around waiting for the hackers to do their hacking!
Image by IDW Publishing
Eric Raymond, meanwhile, continues to be mad with the power he has through JemCorp. When his middle manager Elise Harcourt grows less than thrilled with his latest oppressive strategy, he considers axing her with Synergy. Yet little does he know that Synergy is about to be freed from his control! Within the realm of cyberspace, she meets up with her version of Silica. Rather than be enemies, they’re akin to two lost digital sisters, who merge into one gestalt artificial life form.
Image by IDW Publishing
The last time a world needed to be saved, the Holograms and Misfits did a killer duet to save their world from Silica’s brainwashing. This time, it’s to save a parallel world from Raymond’s control via corruption of Synergy. While the masses are used to being mesmerized by literal holograms, now they’re seeing the two bands put out a set for the first time in years, if not ever. Furthermore, with Synergy and Silica having met in cyberspace, Jem reveals a new gestalt form! Yet is this the end?
Image by IDW Publishing
It’s Pizzazz’s World, We Just Live in It!
Kelly Thompson continues along with her most ambitious plot for Jem & the Holograms so far, with much aplomb. While the exposition about how this world is different and became so is fascinating, none of it would mean anything without emotional connections or character pathos. Fortunately, Thompson has this covered, with this issue bringing some of these beats home since it is the penultimate chapter of the entire crossover. Jerrica and Pizzazz hit some of those head on!
Image by IDW Publishing
For Pizzazz, it means coming to terms with not only her temper (at times), but her need for revenge against Jem. Learning that such attempts at revenge led to the doom of this world haven’t made Pizzazz feel any better. Yet in this issue, she’s genuinely trying to tone herself down. Furthermore, she reunites Emmett with his daughter as well as supports Jerrica during her on-stage “coming out” moment. Considering her feeling that Jem “cheated” into success, this is huge.
Image by IDW Publishing
Speaking of Pizzazz, it’s nice to be right about some of the storyline guesses I make here. The biggest one was the identity of Eric Raymond’s secret partner. For at least the last two chapters I’ve suspected it’s actually this world’s version of Pizzazz. I won’t post the “money shot” but it turns out that I was correct. It’s a classic case of something being organic versus being predictable. Kelly could have made it Raya for the sake of a surprise, but Pizzazz facing “herself” is symbolic!
Image by IDW Publishing
There’s Plenty of Emotional Depth beyond the Sci-Fi!
It’s no secret that while Jem may be the titular star of the franchise, Thompson has invested a lot into fleshing out Pizzazz. More than a mere antagonist, Thompson’s expanded on her motivations and beliefs in the core series as well as the Misfits spin-off. Rejected by her father and having had to claw her way to the top of the pop charts, Pizzazz sees Jem as a threat who arrived through improper means. Having to face a version of herself who went all in for revenge will be epic.
Image by IDW Publishing
Yet the rest of the gang have plenty of growth to chew on too! The entire Benton brood, especially Shana and Aja, get some closure seeing Emmett one last time (even if he isn’t “their” Emmett). Both Kimber and Stormer not only get to see a reunion, they get to see how “real” their romance is. In this universe, their counterparts remained together despite the death of their friends, an evil corporation taking over the world, and one of them losing an arm! Talk about weathering a storm!
Image by IDW Publishing
As for Jerrica, the circumstances of this world allow her to stage a “coming out” scene before the world without shattering her status quo at home. In theory this could seem as a cop out, but in practice it doesn’t matter where Jerrica reveals her identity. It’s all real to her — revealing that she’s Jem become a live audience of thousands, if not millions. The fact they’re from another universe doesn’t matter. The real question is, will this influence how Jerrica will proceed at home?
Image by IDW Publishing
Outrageous Art Leads to a Spectacular Climax!
Jen Hickman and Sarah Stern do another phenomenal job on art. The visual highlights include the digital meeting between Silica and Synergy, and naturally the finale concert. After all, it wouldn’t be Jem and the Holograms if the concert sequence wasn’t the highlight, right? Stern’s coloring is utterly amazing for all of the crazy Synergy-style holograms everyone is wearing. The visual comedy of the cast waiting around for the hackers to do their hacking is also delightful.
Image by IDW Publishing
Next: The Misfits go beyond the wall in Misfits Infinite #2!
All that remains now is the suspense-packed final chapter over at the Misfits end of things. How will Eric react to the mess of his plans? And more importantly, can the entire cosmos handle Pizzazz versus Pizzazz? This is matter meeting anti-matter, crossing-the-streams in Ghostbusters level chaos here! And more importantly, what happens to the world when the bands leave? The stakes have been raised for the final chapter of the biggest Jem adventure yet, as they should be!