Jem and the Misfits Infinite #3 review: The overthrow of JemCorp

The crossover between the Holograms and the Misfits comes to an end! Yet can the two bands manage to overthrow the control of JemCorp?

Jem And The Misfits Infinite #3

Writer: Kelly Thompson

Artist: Jenn St-Onge

Colorist: Brittany Peer

This Revolution Will Be Televised!

Capitalizing on Eric Raymond and JemCorp using the images of Jerrica and her sisters to manipulate the masses, Jem offers an inspiring speech against corporate control. By revealing the fates of “their” Kimber and Stormer, the lies of JemCorp begin to be exposed live on stage. While the images created by Synergy are powerful, they can’t compare to flesh-and-blood musicians, or people for that matter. Yet it would be a very poor issue of Misfits if Pizzazz let her rival do it all!

Image by IDW Publishing

In a show of unity, Jem hands Pizzazz the microphone to aid in this messaging. While the Holograms often represented colorful and upbeat pop-rock, the Misfits were all about edgier, grungier rock. And as their leader, Pizzazz proves to be a natural when it comes to giving thunderous speeches or commanding legions in an audience. Does this come from her experience as band leader and founder, or her often tyrannical temper and zeal? It seems like a bit of both!

Image by IDW Publishing

JemCorp middle manager Elise Harcourt sees which way the wind is tilting, and rushes to warn her boss. While Synergy is still present, Eric Raymond himself is gone. Furthermore, his “secret partner” — the Jem World version of Pizzazz — has seemingly fled with him. Just like that, the revolution is over. The battle of the bands is over, and the bands have won! With one final plea by Jem and Pizzazz for their audience to ditch their tech, everyone begins a march towards “the wall!”

Image by IDW Publishing

Is That All There Is to JemCorp?

The climax is quick and clean — almost too clean. The divided masses are reunited. JemCorp is crippled and its board of directors are gone. Elise unites with both Techrat and Emmett Benton to repair their world. A portal is recreated and both bands take another nerve-wracking plunge through dimensions back to their own home. Finally, the matter of the Holograms’ secret is briefly discussed. Having seen the horrors of a world where it was publicly exposed, Pizzazz must relent.

Image by IDW Publishing

With this, Kelly Thompson completes an uninterrupted run of at least 43 issues between two series, two annuals and a one-shot. Infinite represented one of her most ambitious plots ever, to the degree that almost half of it was spent on exposition and world-building. She is a writer whose voice I absolutely adore and wish to see in subsequent material on Jem and other franchises. Which is why it was a little surprising to me that this finale felt underwhelming to me.

Image by IDW Publishing

While this is not a superhero comic nor are its leads combat characters, the resolution is a little too smooth. JemCorp was able to successfully arrange the deaths, or near deaths, of both bands on Jem World, yet no attempt is made to stop the leads once they reveal their plans. There is no confrontation between Eric Raymond or any of the leads. Nor is there any sort of Pizzazz versus Pizzazz action, which was a conflict the series practically was screaming for. It felt too convenient.

Image by IDW Publishing

Realism vs. Drama?

In fairness, Elise Harcourt seeks to all but explain it in some exposition. She notes that she wasn’t nearly as zealous as Raymond, and aided in their infiltration once it became noticeable. Elise also notes how Eric had overplayed his hand, which consequently caused the masses to be swayed against him easily. Raymond and his board fleeing rather than potentially face an angry mob is a perfectly realistic result. Nobody could have also counted on parallel earth revolutionaries coming.

Image by IDW Publishing

Yet what’s realistic and what’s dramatic are not always mutually exclusive. This is a series about someone utilizing an artificial intelligence to cure stage fright, after all. After so many issues of build up, it feels a little too swift for our heroines to have undone the control of JemCorp after one duet and some speeches without any resistance. Once they snuck into JemCorp’s stage, the revolution was half over. Once Jem and the Misfits assembled the pieces, the puzzle fits too easily.

Image by IDW Publishing

This is a bit of a shame as the message of the issue is a strong one. The themes that Jem and Pizzazz lecture about involve standing up for individuality in the face of corporate control. It reinforces the idea that music and the arts have always been elements of social commentary and even outright revolution. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was written during our second war of independence in 1814, after all. Considering how many politicians at the state and federal level seem to devalue the arts, it is an incredibly potent message being delivered in a timely fashion.

The Universe Really Was Crying out for Duel Pizzazz Action!

Yet it isn’t that either the Holograms or the Misfits haven’t seen some struggle to bring about this revolt. Jerrica and her sisters had to face a reunion with a man who both is, and isn’t, their dead father. Pizzazz had to learn to put aside her vengeance for the greater good, or at least the good of the Misfits. Both bands had to swallow some pride and cooperate, at least for a little while. It just seems like it would be out of character for both of the story’s antagonists to fold off panel.

Image by IDW Publishing

The JemCorp version of Eric Raymond isn’t merely a meddling manager. He’s a corporate monster, and a tyrant. Earlier chapters revealed he was willing to arrange for murders or even terrorist strikes to enforce his will during the transition of power. He had the authorities at his side. Yet more to the point, can anyone imagine a darker version of Pizzazz fleeing? “Our” Pizzazz had to almost be dragged kicking by Jetta into cooperating. Her darker half splits without even a word?

Image by IDW Publishing

This isn’t to suggest that I expected our heroines to lose or even to sacrifice something to prevail. In fact, the secret of Jem’s true identity has been “sacrificed” since the Misfits know now. Yet having the crossover’s primary antagonists flee off panel gives the appearance of haste. Besides, considering the utter romp that was the Kate Bishop mirror match from last week’s Hawkeye #11, I was absolutely psyched for a double Pizzazz showdown. It would’ve made the multiverse shake!

Great Art and Characterization Win the Day!

It’s possible that both the JemCorp versions of Eric and Pizzazz could wind up plaguing our heroines in subsequent material. The ending certainly leads this development wide open. Yet that can’t change this finale from feeling a little unearned. While there is no discounting the power of both music and both the combined efforts of the Misfits and Holograms, a little more difficult to overcome would have made their victory more memorable. It would have given it more…pizzazz.

Image by IDW Publishing

Kelly Thompson’s handle on the characters and dialogue is still strong, however. Ultimately this is more important. The speeches by both Jem and Pizzazz on stage are both terrific. The emotional bits between Emmett and his daughters at the end hit the right chords. And as always, Thompson brings her trademark sense of humor to some of the lines. From Kimber making a reference to a foursome to comments made when everyone falls on each other, dialogue remains the key of this run.

Image by IDW Publishing

Jenn St-Onge and Brittany Peer once again produce a killer set in terms of art. St-Onge excels at character design and emotion, and hits all of the script beats out of the park. From emotional speeches to tender panels between lovers, to gasps of surprise or hilarity, the panels almost speak for themselves. Jem has benefited from a long list of amazing artists, and St-Onge is near the top. Peer once again provides a variety of vibrant and amazing colors, key to any Jem story.

The End of an Era, and the Start of Something New!

In conclusion, this is a satisfying finale to the Infinite crossover — just a little too satisfying. Yet considering how much everyone has overcome, maybe the girls can get away with one performance which isn’t as over the top as a previous one. This also represents the end of Jem And The Holograms in its current inception. November will see the series return in Jem And The Holograms: Dimensions, which will be an anthology series with a rotating cast of creative talent.

Image by IDW Publishing

While this format will see the triumphant return of founding artist Sophie Campbell, it is a different format. Kelly Thompson herself may not be involved in the first issue. She’s working on a Ghostbusters series which comes next week, as well as an increase in Marvel Comics titles. As a result, Infinite really does feel like the end of one chapter in this revival, and the start of a new one. Thompson has helped craft a bold new universe, and Dimensions seeks to share this with others.

Image by IDW Publishing

Next: See the duet that saved a world in Holograms Infinite #3!

In the end, while I may have been critical of this final issue, it’s telling when it boils down to wishing it was more awesome than it already was. And I am certain Kelly Thompson will not be absent long from a franchise she so clearly adores. This is a run which helped forge her career at other publishers, as it showcased how she could properly mingle a love for a franchise with a wise eye towards innovation. The Misfits and Holograms take another curtain call, and put the close on another outrageous arc!

Home/Comics