Review: Jem and the Holograms Volume 2 - Viral

After being signed to the same label as their musical rivals, Jem and the Holograms must learn to navigate the murky waters of working in such close proximity with the Misfits. Meanwhile, the shifty Eric Raymond is assigned as the new manager of the Misfits. His first order of business? To dig up dirt on the competition. What Eric finds out may very well mean the end of Jem and the Holograms.

Jem and the Holograms Volume 2: Viral collects Jem and the Holograms #7-10, the Outrageous Annual 2015 and the 2015 Holiday Special, written by Kelly Thompson with art by Jen Bartel, Sophie Campbell, Agnes Garbowska, Corin Howell, Rebekah Isaacs and more.

Following their splashy concert opposite the Mistfits’ Vs. competition, Jem and the Holograms are riding high on a new level of popularity and acclaim. However, Jerrica is finding it increasingly difficult to manage the group while her sisters and bandmates are off pursuing their own interests. This leaves her alone to make the big decisions – like signing to the same label as the Misfits and agreeing to open for them on tour. Unbeknownst to Jerrica and the others, the Misfits’ new manager Eric Raymond is working tirelessly to ensure that Jem and the Holograms are nothing more than a flash in the pan. These developments make up the bulk of Viral, which build upon the events that preceded it in Showtime. Writer Kelly Thompson continues to show off her knowledge and affection for the classic cartoon through this introduction of Eric Raymond (that snake!) and she even has Shana pursuing fashion design. However, she adds new layers by digging into more realistic emotional components. Namely, we’re seeing Jerrica struggling to keep the group going and Kimber remains very much hung up on Stormer.

For the most part, Viral continues to build on the events that preceded it in Showtime. Thompson does this through the introduction of new characters (the aforementioned Eric Raymond, as well as the slimy hacker Techrat) and by rolling out new plot developments. Thompson’s pacing is impeccable for the vast majority of these issues in that respect. She knows how to tease out a series of dramatic reveals, all of which lead into an explosive Halloween-themed issue that ends with two incredible cliffhangers. Not to spoil anything – but Thompson’s twist regarding a beloved character hikes the tension up to an unbearable level. Unfortunately, what proceeds it is a rather oddly plotted issue that focuses almost entirely on Rio and explores his past and present relationships with the Misfits and with Jerrica. Thompson does almost nothing with the dangling plot threads from the issue that preceded it, with the only sense of progression being when Jerrica agrees to tour with the Misfits.

The annual and Christmas special are placed at the beginning and end of this collection, which contribute to an overall sense of filler to this chunk of stories. This, of course, isn’t a fair assessment as these are bonus stories intended to be enjoyed outside of the main narrative. Regardless, both are super fun. The annual features a series of dream sequences wherein the Holograms imagine themselves in parodies of iconic movies (i.e. Jerrica in Teen Wolf, Aja in Mad Max), with each sequence drawn by a different artist. The issue doesn’t exactly develop the characters, but it does have a lot of fun dialogue and it showcases their personalities really well (especially Aja’s). The Christmas special feels less tacked on, as it is clearly set shortly after the events of issue 10. The Holograms go to a holiday party thrown by their record label and are unwittingly forced into doing a Secret Santa with the Misfits. What follows is a really sweet and heartwarming exchange that shows readers a different side of the Misfits – without undermining their reputation, of course.

Overall, Jem and the Holograms Volume 2: Viral is not quite as poppy and electric as the volume that preceded it. The absence of Sophie Campbell on art duties is felt and diminishes the overall aesthetic quality of this collection. That said, Emma Vieceli (who handles the bulk of the pencils here) is an excellent replacement. Her style is similar to Campbell’s, though it’s admittedly less whimsical, and the characters look beautifully expressive throughout. The same cannot be said for Corin Howell, whose work on issue 10 is extremely rough and clashes entirely with the aesthetic of Jem and the Holograms. Thankfully, Thompson is on point for the vast majority of the issues collected here. Her dialogue and character dynamics continue to be captivating, thus cultivating a very loveable cast. She gets bonus points for her cliffhangers, but a slight demerit for issue 10’s maddening halting pace.

RATING: B