Jem and the Holograms was a large part of my childhood growing up in the late 80's. I'm excited that its making a resurgence in popularity; however, that travesty that is the upcoming film makes me shutter. I will happily go watch my boxed set and avoid the coming disaster.
That being said, I'm elated that the series has made its way into a graphic novel format. Writers have taken the basic premise and updated it for a more modern teen audience. Yes, its still cheesy, it has to be--holograms and music videos are a bit dated; however, the desire to make it big in music and petty rivalry never age.
The story thus far is that Jerrica & Co have a band and want to make a video to enter a contest against The Misfits but Jerrica has stage fright. Enter Synergy--the computer holographic system left by Jerrica's dearly departed father. She can use the technology to appear as someone else while performing. The band is a huge hit, but The Misfits are jealous and out to sabotage them at every turn.
What I Liked...
The illustrations in and of themselves are a visual feast. These echo back to the cartoon and I just loved them. I want to streak my hair and wear cool make-up (oh, what I do!). The slight changes in plot help out the premise even though the whole thing is pretty far-fetched.
I also liked the modern update of characterization. Kimber falls for Stormer, which is a departure from the cartoon. This exploration of sexuality will appeal to teen girls experiencing similar feelings. I applaud the writers for going there. I like that this graphic novel is for girls and stands apart from the saturation of traditional superhero titles.
What I Didn't Like...
Again, the improbability of the situation is at times hard to swallow. The characters are all a little too stereotypical. Pizzazz and her bullying, drama queen meltdowns, Kimber's unreliability, Jerrica's stage-fright. So, while intentions are good, the characters come across as rather shallow.
Final rating 4 out of 5 stars
#graphicnovel #netgalley #jem #YAlit #LBGTQ #music
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