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Jem and the Holograms Book One
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Kelly Thompson
814 books1,119 followersKELLY THOMPSON has a degree in Sequential Art from The Savannah College of Art & Design. Her love of comics and superheroes have compelled her since she first discovered them as a teenager. Currently living in Portland, Oregon with her boyfriend and the two brilliant cats that run their lives, you can find Kelly all over the Internet where she is generally well liked, except where she's detested.
Kelly has published two novels - THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE KING (2012) and STORYKILLER (2014) and the graphic novel HEART IN A BOX from Dark Horse Comics (2015). She's currently writing ROGUE & GAMBIT, HAWKEYE, and PHASMA for Marvel Comics and GHOSTBUSTERS for IDW. Other major credits include: A-Force, Captain Marvel & The Carol Corps, Jem and The Holograms, Misfits, Power Rangers Pink, and the creator-owned mini-series Mega Princess.
Kelly's ambitions are eclipsed only by her desire to exist entirely in pajamas. Fortunately pajamas and writers go hand in hand (most of the time). Please buy all her stuff so that she can buy (and wear) more pajamas.
Kelly has published two novels - THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE KING (2012) and STORYKILLER (2014) and the graphic novel HEART IN A BOX from Dark Horse Comics (2015). She's currently writing ROGUE & GAMBIT, HAWKEYE, and PHASMA for Marvel Comics and GHOSTBUSTERS for IDW. Other major credits include: A-Force, Captain Marvel & The Carol Corps, Jem and The Holograms, Misfits, Power Rangers Pink, and the creator-owned mini-series Mega Princess.
Kelly's ambitions are eclipsed only by her desire to exist entirely in pajamas. Fortunately pajamas and writers go hand in hand (most of the time). Please buy all her stuff so that she can buy (and wear) more pajamas.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As someone who discovered Jem and the Holograms a bit later than the original 1980’s, but a fan of the series, I wanted to see how this translated to a 21st century update. While it does have some interesting plot lines and has the major set pieces, it lost much of the original spirit and replaces it with a 2010’s CW vibe, with a darker, heavier, angstier, and edgier vibe.
First off, this is a collection of the 2010’s comic series, so there’s little to no brand new material if you followed the comics at the time, but if you enjoyed the series at the time and want to recollect, this is your chance. However, this comic felt more dated in some aspects just a decade later than a 1980’s TV series.
As for the actual story, it has a similar setup to the TV show, but with some adjustments that I liked to start with, like Jerrica struggling to sing in public, and diving in a bit into AI that the 1980’s series didn’t go into. And as the story continued, it felt like instead of going with the light drama, mostly fun vibes, there’s high drama, a ton of heavy romance drama, and a bunch of near death situations taken seriously. The Holograms and Misfits didn’t feel like friendly enemies; the Misfits felt like they wanted to murder the band at least once. While the characters had a baseline, many felt flat beyond it, and several of them were butchered from their original characters. Poor Pizzazz, she wasn’t always the most outstanding character in the original, but she felt meaner and I felt horrible for her.
While I love the use of color for the characters and some of the panels, especially in the song sections, the art’s rather inconsistent in the main story, and there’s plenty of times where the characters were off model. Overall, it’s on the wordy side and the placement of the panels makes the pacing drag. Other things that made the pacing slog was the amount of characters and plot lines introduced in such a short time, to the point that I got lost on what was going on.
The last third of the book are three side stories, called B-Side, which I enjoyed the most. They had a mostly fun tone to them, closer to the original TV show, and I wished the whole story kept that tone, it would’ve made the story more enjoyable to read. Honestly, I thought this was going to be a tone similar or slightly darker to Aikatsu or PriPara, idol anime that came out in the same time period. This story is much darker than K-Pop Demon Hunters.
It might be worth a curiosity to look at and the B-Sides were interesting, but overall a miss in terms of being a successor to an established franchise.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and BOOM!Box. All opinions are my own.*
First off, this is a collection of the 2010’s comic series, so there’s little to no brand new material if you followed the comics at the time, but if you enjoyed the series at the time and want to recollect, this is your chance. However, this comic felt more dated in some aspects just a decade later than a 1980’s TV series.
As for the actual story, it has a similar setup to the TV show, but with some adjustments that I liked to start with, like Jerrica struggling to sing in public, and diving in a bit into AI that the 1980’s series didn’t go into. And as the story continued, it felt like instead of going with the light drama, mostly fun vibes, there’s high drama, a ton of heavy romance drama, and a bunch of near death situations taken seriously. The Holograms and Misfits didn’t feel like friendly enemies; the Misfits felt like they wanted to murder the band at least once. While the characters had a baseline, many felt flat beyond it, and several of them were butchered from their original characters. Poor Pizzazz, she wasn’t always the most outstanding character in the original, but she felt meaner and I felt horrible for her.
While I love the use of color for the characters and some of the panels, especially in the song sections, the art’s rather inconsistent in the main story, and there’s plenty of times where the characters were off model. Overall, it’s on the wordy side and the placement of the panels makes the pacing drag. Other things that made the pacing slog was the amount of characters and plot lines introduced in such a short time, to the point that I got lost on what was going on.
The last third of the book are three side stories, called B-Side, which I enjoyed the most. They had a mostly fun tone to them, closer to the original TV show, and I wished the whole story kept that tone, it would’ve made the story more enjoyable to read. Honestly, I thought this was going to be a tone similar or slightly darker to Aikatsu or PriPara, idol anime that came out in the same time period. This story is much darker than K-Pop Demon Hunters.
It might be worth a curiosity to look at and the B-Sides were interesting, but overall a miss in terms of being a successor to an established franchise.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and BOOM!Box. All opinions are my own.*
July 2, 2026
I never read the original of this so I have nothing to compare it to, and never saw the tv show either 😅 I picked Jem and the Holograms because it looked really cool and honestly I was *not* disappointed! I love the whole “hidden identity” thing with Jem, and the story was so cute. I can’t wait to read more of this!
Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy (but also it means I may have to wait even longer for the next book 😭)
Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy (but also it means I may have to wait even longer for the next book 😭)
June 1, 2026
4/5 Stars
Thank you to BOOM!Box for providing me with an arc.
I didn’t grow up watching Jem and the Holograms so this was my first introduction to these characters and it was a great graphic novel. This collects Jem and the Holograms 1-10 into one collection as well as a ton of extra bonus content. I wasn’t expecting this to feature a sapphic romance but it does! I had a great time with these characters and would pick up future books with them. I highly recommend this if you want a girl power graphic novel with so much friendship and a cute sapphic side romance.
Thank you to BOOM!Box for providing me with an arc.
I didn’t grow up watching Jem and the Holograms so this was my first introduction to these characters and it was a great graphic novel. This collects Jem and the Holograms 1-10 into one collection as well as a ton of extra bonus content. I wasn’t expecting this to feature a sapphic romance but it does! I had a great time with these characters and would pick up future books with them. I highly recommend this if you want a girl power graphic novel with so much friendship and a cute sapphic side romance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into Jem and the Holograms Book One without really knowing much about the franchise, and I was surprised by how easy it was to get into. Even as a new reader, I think the story does a good job introducing the characters and the overall vibe of the series. The mix of music, friendship, drama, and colorful aesthetics makes it a really fun and energetic read.
One of the strongest aspects of this graphic novel is definitely the art. The pages are vibrant, stylish, and full of personality, which fits perfectly with the tone of the story and the over-the-top pop star atmosphere. I especially loved how expressive and colorful everything felt. There’s a lot of visual energy throughout the book, and it really captures the emotional and musical side of the narrative well.
However, I have to admit that around the halfway point, the story started to lose me a little. The pacing became more uneven, and some plotlines felt a bit confusing or too intermingled for me to stay fully invested in what was happening. At first, I thought the changes in art style were only meant for bonus stories or side content, but eventually those shifts started happening during the main plot as well. Unfortunately, the difference between the various artists was very noticeable to me, and it sometimes made the reading experience feel disjointed.
I also had mixed feelings about the character dynamics. I liked the cast overall and I can definitely see the potential in all of them, but I would have loved more time dedicated to developing each character individually. Some emotional moments didn’t hit as hard as they could have because everything moved very quickly. The romantic relationships especially felt a little underdeveloped, with some leaning too heavily into insta-love for my taste. The one relationship I genuinely found interesting was Kimber and Stormer’s: their chemistry felt more natural, and I’d actually love to see more focus on them in future volumes.
Another small issue for me was how the friendships were written early on. The group dynamic didn’t always feel as strong or believable as I expected, especially with everyone constantly splitting off, arguing, or getting upset at each other.
By the second half, I found myself losing interest a bit, and the changing art styles didn’t help. Since there are already a lot of characters to keep track of, the visual inconsistency occasionally made it harder for me to immediately recognize who was who beyond their neon hair colors.
Still, despite my criticisms, I did enjoy the overall experience. It’s the kind of graphic novel that feels lively and passionate, even when the storytelling becomes "messy". I think readers who enjoy colorful, music-centered stories with a big cast of characters will still have a lot of fun with it, even if the pacing and structure aren’t always consistent.
I went into Jem and the Holograms Book One without really knowing much about the franchise, and I was surprised by how easy it was to get into. Even as a new reader, I think the story does a good job introducing the characters and the overall vibe of the series. The mix of music, friendship, drama, and colorful aesthetics makes it a really fun and energetic read.
One of the strongest aspects of this graphic novel is definitely the art. The pages are vibrant, stylish, and full of personality, which fits perfectly with the tone of the story and the over-the-top pop star atmosphere. I especially loved how expressive and colorful everything felt. There’s a lot of visual energy throughout the book, and it really captures the emotional and musical side of the narrative well.
However, I have to admit that around the halfway point, the story started to lose me a little. The pacing became more uneven, and some plotlines felt a bit confusing or too intermingled for me to stay fully invested in what was happening. At first, I thought the changes in art style were only meant for bonus stories or side content, but eventually those shifts started happening during the main plot as well. Unfortunately, the difference between the various artists was very noticeable to me, and it sometimes made the reading experience feel disjointed.
I also had mixed feelings about the character dynamics. I liked the cast overall and I can definitely see the potential in all of them, but I would have loved more time dedicated to developing each character individually. Some emotional moments didn’t hit as hard as they could have because everything moved very quickly. The romantic relationships especially felt a little underdeveloped, with some leaning too heavily into insta-love for my taste. The one relationship I genuinely found interesting was Kimber and Stormer’s: their chemistry felt more natural, and I’d actually love to see more focus on them in future volumes.
Another small issue for me was how the friendships were written early on. The group dynamic didn’t always feel as strong or believable as I expected, especially with everyone constantly splitting off, arguing, or getting upset at each other.
By the second half, I found myself losing interest a bit, and the changing art styles didn’t help. Since there are already a lot of characters to keep track of, the visual inconsistency occasionally made it harder for me to immediately recognize who was who beyond their neon hair colors.
Still, despite my criticisms, I did enjoy the overall experience. It’s the kind of graphic novel that feels lively and passionate, even when the storytelling becomes "messy". I think readers who enjoy colorful, music-centered stories with a big cast of characters will still have a lot of fun with it, even if the pacing and structure aren’t always consistent.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for this arc
As a long time Jem fan, thanks to my mother buying the DVDs of one of her teen-years shows, I was super excited for this graphic novel. However, I found myself very let down. While this might be a good edition for someone just meeting Jem, especially young girls, I did not enjoy much of it.
Firstly, the main girls. Opening to them acting like absolute assholes was an interesting decision. Why are they talking bad about Jerrica? Off the bat I'm questioning it. In the same vein, why have we drastically changed their motivation? The Starlight Foundation, Starlight Music? Gone. Now they just feel like doing music, which removes any of the emotional impact of saving their father's company from Eric's hands and keeping themselves and the girls housed. What do they even do for a living now? There's nothing about working, needing money, anything.
Side characters were a struggle. Rio was weird. A reporter instead of Jerrica's longtime boyfriend? No sort of love triangle with him and Jem, he just hates Jem. Eric doesn't show up until half way through even though he was the major antagonist? The Starlight girls are barely there, the band just volunteers at a community center now. And the Misfits? A popular, established band, not the main rivals with Jem. It's like they took the plot of Cruella (rising designer against established one) instead of the show's actual plot of two rising bands competing at the same level.
And some of the plot twists? What? What do you mean What is happening?
And so many other little odd choices. A food fight that gets the Holograms kicked out of the contest? The sheer amount of My Little Pony references? And a very inconsistent art style, the girls go from looking like adults to looking like high schoolers and I'm lost.
I will say, Kimber being queer was cool, and the secret dating with Stormer was fun. I liked that element. And I appreciate the inclusion of special comics like holiday editions in the back.
All in all, I was disappointed by this graphic novel, though someone without exposure to the source material might enjoy it. I, personally, will be shelving it with the Netflix's Jem and the Holograms movie as a remake I don't want to consume.
As a long time Jem fan, thanks to my mother buying the DVDs of one of her teen-years shows, I was super excited for this graphic novel. However, I found myself very let down. While this might be a good edition for someone just meeting Jem, especially young girls, I did not enjoy much of it.
Firstly, the main girls. Opening to them acting like absolute assholes was an interesting decision. Why are they talking bad about Jerrica? Off the bat I'm questioning it. In the same vein, why have we drastically changed their motivation? The Starlight Foundation, Starlight Music? Gone. Now they just feel like doing music, which removes any of the emotional impact of saving their father's company from Eric's hands and keeping themselves and the girls housed. What do they even do for a living now? There's nothing about working, needing money, anything.
Side characters were a struggle. Rio was weird. A reporter instead of Jerrica's longtime boyfriend? No sort of love triangle with him and Jem, he just hates Jem. Eric doesn't show up until half way through even though he was the major antagonist? The Starlight girls are barely there, the band just volunteers at a community center now. And the Misfits? A popular, established band, not the main rivals with Jem. It's like they took the plot of Cruella (rising designer against established one) instead of the show's actual plot of two rising bands competing at the same level.
And some of the plot twists? What? What do you mean What is happening?
And so many other little odd choices. A food fight that gets the Holograms kicked out of the contest? The sheer amount of My Little Pony references? And a very inconsistent art style, the girls go from looking like adults to looking like high schoolers and I'm lost.
I will say, Kimber being queer was cool, and the secret dating with Stormer was fun. I liked that element. And I appreciate the inclusion of special comics like holiday editions in the back.
All in all, I was disappointed by this graphic novel, though someone without exposure to the source material might enjoy it. I, personally, will be shelving it with the Netflix's Jem and the Holograms movie as a remake I don't want to consume.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(Review copy courtesy of BOOM!Box, Kelly Thompson, Sophie Campbell, and NetGalley.)
4.5⭐ for the BOOM! reprint of the original 5⭐ IDW run
Note: This new edition collects Jem and the Holograms #1-10, along with bonus B-side content including the Annual, Holiday, and Valentine’s specials. From what I could tell, you’d need to buy Books 1 and 2 of the IDW run to get that content. Though I’m not sure whether the Valentine’s Special was included in either of those. More on the missing pieces later.
It’s showtime, Synergy!
I’ve been looking at other people’s ratings and reviews, and I feel GENUINELY displaced in time. I originally read these comics when they came out in 2015, and it was PEAK Tumblr energy goodness, you know? People (myself included!) gobbled up the fresh, modern take on the campy cartoon. Vibrant, bold, body-positive, queer-positive, and just all-around fun. When I started reading these comics again 11 years later, I felt every ounce of that same joy.
…So what’s up with all the mediocre reviews? At the time of writing this review, the original Vol. 1 from IDW has a 4.11⭐ on Goodreads, but this BOOM! edition is sitting at just 3.25⭐. Is this book just reaching a MUCH different audience? Has everyone who read it in 2015 moved on? IDK. I still love it tremendously.
Because listen, this series is incredible. The character designs? Fantastic. The diversity of the sisters? Yes. The bombastic costumes? Absolutely. The campy storylines? Delicious. The romances? Stormer and Kimber are my OTP, and I will die on that glitter-covered hill. Everything is updated, but it still feels so true to the truly outrageous nature of the cartoon.
Sophie Campbell does the majority of the art, and her work is absolutely stellar. However, there are a few guest artists who filled in for her in the main comic and especially on the one-shot specials. The art in those ranges from great to pretty good to… oh… oh NO. (The artwork in #10 is a choice.)
There is some bonus content missing from this reprint. First, are the fantastic letters Kelly Thompson and Sophie Campbell wrote, along with all the fan letters to the editors. I assume(?) this is a rights issue, where those letters are the property of IDW or something. But it would have been cool if they’d been able to get new or edited intro letters from the creative team celebrating the new release and 40 years of Jem. (Well, that was certainly a reminder of my own mortality... 😫)
Okay, so maybe I understand why the letters aren’t there. But! The missing variant covers from the individual comics and the character bios? Downright criminal. How am I supposed to know that Shana loves sushi and hates snakes without them?!
I cannot tell you how absolutely nostalgic this graphic novel made me for 2015. Especially this:
Techrat says, “They have… I mean it must be literal A.I…. Somehow, but I mean… that doesn't exist yet, it's impossible! [...] it's like decades ahead of the rest of the world.”
God, I wish, Techrat.
📌 TL;DR: This continues to be, even after all this time, a truly, truly outrageous series that I love with my whole heart! If you already own the IDW individual or collected comics, those have better extras. But if you missed them, definitely pick this Jem (er, gem) up from BOOM! You won’t regret it!
4.5⭐ for the BOOM! reprint of the original 5⭐ IDW run
Note: This new edition collects Jem and the Holograms #1-10, along with bonus B-side content including the Annual, Holiday, and Valentine’s specials. From what I could tell, you’d need to buy Books 1 and 2 of the IDW run to get that content. Though I’m not sure whether the Valentine’s Special was included in either of those. More on the missing pieces later.
It’s showtime, Synergy!
I’ve been looking at other people’s ratings and reviews, and I feel GENUINELY displaced in time. I originally read these comics when they came out in 2015, and it was PEAK Tumblr energy goodness, you know? People (myself included!) gobbled up the fresh, modern take on the campy cartoon. Vibrant, bold, body-positive, queer-positive, and just all-around fun. When I started reading these comics again 11 years later, I felt every ounce of that same joy.
…So what’s up with all the mediocre reviews? At the time of writing this review, the original Vol. 1 from IDW has a 4.11⭐ on Goodreads, but this BOOM! edition is sitting at just 3.25⭐. Is this book just reaching a MUCH different audience? Has everyone who read it in 2015 moved on? IDK. I still love it tremendously.
Because listen, this series is incredible. The character designs? Fantastic. The diversity of the sisters? Yes. The bombastic costumes? Absolutely. The campy storylines? Delicious. The romances? Stormer and Kimber are my OTP, and I will die on that glitter-covered hill. Everything is updated, but it still feels so true to the truly outrageous nature of the cartoon.
Sophie Campbell does the majority of the art, and her work is absolutely stellar. However, there are a few guest artists who filled in for her in the main comic and especially on the one-shot specials. The art in those ranges from great to pretty good to… oh… oh NO. (The artwork in #10 is a choice.)
There is some bonus content missing from this reprint. First, are the fantastic letters Kelly Thompson and Sophie Campbell wrote, along with all the fan letters to the editors. I assume(?) this is a rights issue, where those letters are the property of IDW or something. But it would have been cool if they’d been able to get new or edited intro letters from the creative team celebrating the new release and 40 years of Jem. (Well, that was certainly a reminder of my own mortality... 😫)
Okay, so maybe I understand why the letters aren’t there. But! The missing variant covers from the individual comics and the character bios? Downright criminal. How am I supposed to know that Shana loves sushi and hates snakes without them?!
I cannot tell you how absolutely nostalgic this graphic novel made me for 2015. Especially this:
Techrat says, “They have… I mean it must be literal A.I…. Somehow, but I mean… that doesn't exist yet, it's impossible! [...] it's like decades ahead of the rest of the world.”
God, I wish, Techrat.
📌 TL;DR: This continues to be, even after all this time, a truly, truly outrageous series that I love with my whole heart! If you already own the IDW individual or collected comics, those have better extras. But if you missed them, definitely pick this Jem (er, gem) up from BOOM! You won’t regret it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a fun blast from the past - I grew up watching Jem and the Holograms, and I'm sure a lot of the jokes and older content flew over my head as a kid - but it definitely hits as an adult. I loved the nostalgia and the bright colors, and the rivalry of JatH and the Misfits.
The B-sides and alternate artist styles were super fun to read as well, and I'd definitely pick it up as a collector's item (doesn't hurt that my daughter sat down next to me while reading and she fell absolutely in love as well - so it's a multi-generational good time!)
I love how they discusses Synergy as a futuristic gen-AI system - it's fascinating to look at Synergy with fresh 2026 eyes, and how they decide that she absolutely cannot be shared with the world (because let's the honest, it would go horribly awry immediately). And even Synergy is like, hard pass, the humans at large cannot deal with me.
The illustrations are gorgeous and the LGBTQ+ world hits just right - Stomer and Kimber's love story hits even harder than Jem and Rio, although there's is cute too!
It definitely deviates from the OG show in terms of character motivations and the roles that some of the villains play - it gave the success of the band less high stakes (and I am ok with that) - I feel like in a wider Jem universe, this opens up some fun new pathways for the next volume to go - like evil Synergy perhaps? I think about it like a Marvel (X-men) type of future-verse - it would be cool to see different timelines and different evolutions of characters. In graphic novel/comic form, I am happy to see all these different versions of the characters (although it's not going to be for everyone, and I get that!)
*Opinions are my own, I'm grateful to have received an ARC via NetGalley from BOOM! Studios/BOOM!Box.
The B-sides and alternate artist styles were super fun to read as well, and I'd definitely pick it up as a collector's item (doesn't hurt that my daughter sat down next to me while reading and she fell absolutely in love as well - so it's a multi-generational good time!)
I love how they discusses Synergy as a futuristic gen-AI system - it's fascinating to look at Synergy with fresh 2026 eyes, and how they decide that she absolutely cannot be shared with the world (because let's the honest, it would go horribly awry immediately). And even Synergy is like, hard pass, the humans at large cannot deal with me.
The illustrations are gorgeous and the LGBTQ+ world hits just right - Stomer and Kimber's love story hits even harder than Jem and Rio, although there's is cute too!
It definitely deviates from the OG show in terms of character motivations and the roles that some of the villains play - it gave the success of the band less high stakes (and I am ok with that) - I feel like in a wider Jem universe, this opens up some fun new pathways for the next volume to go - like evil Synergy perhaps? I think about it like a Marvel (X-men) type of future-verse - it would be cool to see different timelines and different evolutions of characters. In graphic novel/comic form, I am happy to see all these different versions of the characters (although it's not going to be for everyone, and I get that!)
*Opinions are my own, I'm grateful to have received an ARC via NetGalley from BOOM! Studios/BOOM!Box.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 stars rounded up
This was... odd?
I usually like graphic novels, but this one was just sort of all over the place? Like, the plot kept skipping and it felt very disjointed at times. I found out after I was already done with the book that it was a collection from fifteen(ish) years ago and I can say that does explain some of the story telling. It falls into that "ohhhhhhh it was the early 20210s marketing towards women? Yeah. That explains it."
Like a lot of the drama between the Misfits and the Holograms felt oddly severe. Like, straight up attempted murder from a Jems and the Hologram comfort read was a wild ride. I also feel justified in calling it a comfort read because none of these comics are new, and even when published were a nostalgic callback to the 80s cartoon. Overall, this made me a bit frustrated because this IP seems to be so cool and fun and just has not been able to do the fun callbacks and bring itself successfully into the limelight again when it is a fun concept.
The best part of this book is the B-side, or the last set of comics. The art style is super cool (which was a complaint of mine in other places) and the stories get significantly more fun. Like, they are bright and silly while still having heart, which is what I went into the book thinking the entirety would be.
A different reviewer called out how CW it feels and I honestly can say they hit it right on the head but in the Archie way, not in the Vampire Diaries way (well, maybe the last season of VD). Sometimes dark, most times without purpose, yet the characters are fun enough to keep you invested enough to get through the marathon.
This was... odd?
I usually like graphic novels, but this one was just sort of all over the place? Like, the plot kept skipping and it felt very disjointed at times. I found out after I was already done with the book that it was a collection from fifteen(ish) years ago and I can say that does explain some of the story telling. It falls into that "ohhhhhhh it was the early 20210s marketing towards women? Yeah. That explains it."
Like a lot of the drama between the Misfits and the Holograms felt oddly severe. Like, straight up attempted murder from a Jems and the Hologram comfort read was a wild ride. I also feel justified in calling it a comfort read because none of these comics are new, and even when published were a nostalgic callback to the 80s cartoon. Overall, this made me a bit frustrated because this IP seems to be so cool and fun and just has not been able to do the fun callbacks and bring itself successfully into the limelight again when it is a fun concept.
The best part of this book is the B-side, or the last set of comics. The art style is super cool (which was a complaint of mine in other places) and the stories get significantly more fun. Like, they are bright and silly while still having heart, which is what I went into the book thinking the entirety would be.
A different reviewer called out how CW it feels and I honestly can say they hit it right on the head but in the Archie way, not in the Vampire Diaries way (well, maybe the last season of VD). Sometimes dark, most times without purpose, yet the characters are fun enough to keep you invested enough to get through the marathon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This is a fun reimagining of the much loved 1980s tv series. Fans of the original will probably have issues with the updates to more modern tastes but I think new readers will enjoy the stories.The art is bright and vibrant, keeping the 1980s flair without going into tacky retro territory. The art can also feel very inconsistent, though, as if rushed or done by someone else in a pinch. But the colors are vivid and the paneling does a great job of imparting energy and vibrance. Like Jem, it had a lot of energy.
Similar to the art issues, the story can be inconsistent. A lot of that may be owing to the original material from which this was taken but interesting decisions were made for the update. It still works and admittedly, perhaps even better for the current audience. This is definitely a book targeted at modern girls rather than adults looking for a nostalgia fix. So yes, purists can debate choices about the Misfits being murderously evil rather than just mean and the removal of Jem as a love triangle object for Rio. But welcome additions are a sweet romance between Stormer and Kimber that never could have been possible in the 1980s.
In all, I did enjoy this comic, especially the art style. If it had been consistent, It' would have been even better. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ein Comic über Freundschaft, Liebe & Leidenschaft für die Musik! Ich hab nicht viel erwartet, aber was ich bekommen hab, hat mir gut gefallen. Man konnte sich gut in die Charaktere hineinversetzen, so auch in ihre Ups and Downs. Es war nicht zu übertrieben, so dass man die Handlungen gut nachvollziehen konnte und sich immer mal dachte “mhm, kann ich total verstehen”. So bekam man auch relativ schnell einen guten Draht zu den einzelnen Individuen und ihre verschiedenen Persönlichkeiten. Jede spiegelt etwas anderes wider und so gibt’s ein buntes Sammelsurium. Der Plot handelt davon, dass vier Schwestern mit ihrer Band an einem Contest teilnehmen wollen - doch eine von ihnen hat extremes Lampenfieber und traut sich nicht vor anderen zu singen oder aufzutreten.. ihr verstorbener Vater hat ihnen eine geheime Erfindung hinterlassen, auch weil er genau wusste, wie es ihnen wohl in diesem Moment ergeht.. und so kommt es dazu, dass sie doch auftreten können!
Natürlich gibt’s auch Rivalitäten - wie sollte es auch anders sein. Dabei ergeben sich auch ziemlich viele witzige Szenen, bei denen ich schon ziemlich schmunzeln musste (inkl einer Küchenschlacht, haha). Die Bonuskapitel waren allerdings nicht so meins - einerseits haben mich die Zeichnungen nicht so angesprochen, aber auch die Storylines davon fand ich nicht ganz so spannend. Aber ich bin durchaus neugierig, wie es mit ihnen weitergeht - Band 2 wird allerdings erst 2027 rauskommen.
Wenn ihr aber die Gelegenheit habt mal in den Comic reinzugucken, dann macht das auf jeden Fall! 😊
Natürlich gibt’s auch Rivalitäten - wie sollte es auch anders sein. Dabei ergeben sich auch ziemlich viele witzige Szenen, bei denen ich schon ziemlich schmunzeln musste (inkl einer Küchenschlacht, haha). Die Bonuskapitel waren allerdings nicht so meins - einerseits haben mich die Zeichnungen nicht so angesprochen, aber auch die Storylines davon fand ich nicht ganz so spannend. Aber ich bin durchaus neugierig, wie es mit ihnen weitergeht - Band 2 wird allerdings erst 2027 rauskommen.
Wenn ihr aber die Gelegenheit habt mal in den Comic reinzugucken, dann macht das auf jeden Fall! 😊
May 31, 2026
I’ve been a fan of Jem for a long time. I watched the cartoons. I had the dolls. I wrote fanfic. I’ve sincerely contemplating attending JemCon.
So it’s difficult, for me, to rate this graphic novel on its own merits, without turning to the decades of characterizations I’ve crafted in my mind.
But I can say that this is clearly a labor of love. I recognize little moments that only a fan would notice of think to include in the story.
The art is stunning, truly outrageous. I love that the women have different body types. Personally, I’m not a fan of a lot of the choices made with their hair - I miss Stormers big curls! - but I’m sure others will love the stylistic decisions.
The graphic novel is true to the spirit of the cartoon and the fandom, while bringing new stories to our familiar characters. I loved the occasional My Little Pony shoutouts, since IDW published both. I read the digital version of this and think I prefer holding graphic novels in my hand, at times I struggled because the pages would turn when I tried to zoom.
The story is fun with twists and turns and heart. I think this will appeal to those who want soap opera drama, bright colors, and strong women in their graphic novels.
Overall, while I might have made different decisions with the adaptation, I am thrilled BOOM! Studios is helping to keep Jem alive and a part of our pop culture lexicon.
I received a digital copy of this graphic novel from NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
So it’s difficult, for me, to rate this graphic novel on its own merits, without turning to the decades of characterizations I’ve crafted in my mind.
But I can say that this is clearly a labor of love. I recognize little moments that only a fan would notice of think to include in the story.
The art is stunning, truly outrageous. I love that the women have different body types. Personally, I’m not a fan of a lot of the choices made with their hair - I miss Stormers big curls! - but I’m sure others will love the stylistic decisions.
The graphic novel is true to the spirit of the cartoon and the fandom, while bringing new stories to our familiar characters. I loved the occasional My Little Pony shoutouts, since IDW published both. I read the digital version of this and think I prefer holding graphic novels in my hand, at times I struggled because the pages would turn when I tried to zoom.
The story is fun with twists and turns and heart. I think this will appeal to those who want soap opera drama, bright colors, and strong women in their graphic novels.
Overall, while I might have made different decisions with the adaptation, I am thrilled BOOM! Studios is helping to keep Jem alive and a part of our pop culture lexicon.
I received a digital copy of this graphic novel from NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I grew up watching JEM and the Holograms in the 80s and its reruns in the early 90s. I collected the dolls and tape cassettes. I had special activity books and comic books, too. I was obsessed.
So, I was looking forward to seeing this iteration of JEM to see if my nostalgia would explode with joy, but to also see how they would reimagine this 80s classic.
I have mixed feelings about it, so I’m keeping this review short. It’s pretty faithful to the original story as far as I can remember, with some new twists, such as stage sabotage, secret love affairs, and a cliffhanger surrounding an accident.
I like that they kicked up the queerness and have a love story between Kimber and Stormer, members of JEM and the rival band the Misfits.
But I didn’t get into the character redesigns as much as I’d hope. JEM and the Holograms struck me as high-fashion 80s pop to the extreme, and here they kind of look a bit…punk. And that’s a little too similar to how the Misfits look, even though the bands’ color schemes are different. The Misfits looking like a punk band makes total sense to me. JEM and the Holograms, not so much.
The differing art styles are completely jarring, too. Sometimes I’ve seen switching artists and styles work, but unfortunately this time it didn’t do that much for me. The artists are talented but the styles differ greatly.
I’m so bummed to say that the art and design overall is kind of what’s holding this comic back from its highest potential. The story is strong, I think–I just wish the fashion style looked more pop-glam than punk rock.
So, I was looking forward to seeing this iteration of JEM to see if my nostalgia would explode with joy, but to also see how they would reimagine this 80s classic.
I have mixed feelings about it, so I’m keeping this review short. It’s pretty faithful to the original story as far as I can remember, with some new twists, such as stage sabotage, secret love affairs, and a cliffhanger surrounding an accident.
I like that they kicked up the queerness and have a love story between Kimber and Stormer, members of JEM and the rival band the Misfits.
But I didn’t get into the character redesigns as much as I’d hope. JEM and the Holograms struck me as high-fashion 80s pop to the extreme, and here they kind of look a bit…punk. And that’s a little too similar to how the Misfits look, even though the bands’ color schemes are different. The Misfits looking like a punk band makes total sense to me. JEM and the Holograms, not so much.
The differing art styles are completely jarring, too. Sometimes I’ve seen switching artists and styles work, but unfortunately this time it didn’t do that much for me. The artists are talented but the styles differ greatly.
I’m so bummed to say that the art and design overall is kind of what’s holding this comic back from its highest potential. The story is strong, I think–I just wish the fashion style looked more pop-glam than punk rock.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and Boom! Studios, all opinions are my own.
When I saw this as a review option on the monthly offerings from Boom! I knew I had to read it! As a child of the 80s, I loved Jem and was a loyal watcher of the animated series. This graphic novel takes the beloved characters and storyline and brings it into the present day while giving nods to some favorite pop-culture nods to the 80s. Fans of the 80s and those like myself who grew up in the 80s will appreciate the references to other 80s series and movies.
This begins as an origin story for Jem and the Holograms and sets up the rivalry with the Misfits another already established band. The storyline keeps alot of the elements of the original show, while adding some unique twists and bringing the band into the present day. We have social media and the internet that wasn't even a thought back in the 80s. There are lyrics present on the pages to represent the music we used to get in the show. The graphic novel delves into the relationships between the characters in each of the bands, the music, and the developing rivalry between the
I absolutely loved this. Jem was a staple in my after school routine in the 80s. The art style captures the bright colors from that time and captures the darker punk style to represent the Misfits and the lighter pop rock style to represent the Holograms. This graphic novel made me so happy! I loved the storyline and I can't wait to see what happens in the next volume.
When I saw this as a review option on the monthly offerings from Boom! I knew I had to read it! As a child of the 80s, I loved Jem and was a loyal watcher of the animated series. This graphic novel takes the beloved characters and storyline and brings it into the present day while giving nods to some favorite pop-culture nods to the 80s. Fans of the 80s and those like myself who grew up in the 80s will appreciate the references to other 80s series and movies.
This begins as an origin story for Jem and the Holograms and sets up the rivalry with the Misfits another already established band. The storyline keeps alot of the elements of the original show, while adding some unique twists and bringing the band into the present day. We have social media and the internet that wasn't even a thought back in the 80s. There are lyrics present on the pages to represent the music we used to get in the show. The graphic novel delves into the relationships between the characters in each of the bands, the music, and the developing rivalry between the
I absolutely loved this. Jem was a staple in my after school routine in the 80s. The art style captures the bright colors from that time and captures the darker punk style to represent the Misfits and the lighter pop rock style to represent the Holograms. This graphic novel made me so happy! I loved the storyline and I can't wait to see what happens in the next volume.
May 25, 2026
Thank you Net Galley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
As a child of the ‘80’s, I found this book very nostalgic. We had very few good female main characters at the time and Jem and the Holograms(and the Misfits) were some of the them. I loved Gem and the Holograms(GATH) as a child. This was a very good reboot. It kept what was great about GATH but modernized it. We now have queer and BIPOC characters❤️ alongside Jerrica and Rio. I love the neon/pastel punk aesthetic. It was so familiar(in a good way) but made even better(without taking away what made it so special in the 1st place).
Early on we meet Jerrica and the Holograms and learn that Jerrica has stage fright. We meet Synergy pretty quickly although we don’t know much about them. Synergy helps Jerrica be able to go on stage. We learn that the Holograms are entering a competition set up by the Misfits. We also get the Misfits POV and they are set up as the Villians, particularly Pizzazz. The story follows the main plot points of the original story from there with a modern lens, from what I remember, except we have the introduction of a cute queer romance.
I didn’t need some of the later volumes(b sides) but they also didn’t bother me. I am interested in where things go with Synergy and I LOVE this version of Kimber. Pizzazz is giving me some Cruella vibes and I’m here for that as well. I’m definitely interested in reading book 2.
As a child of the ‘80’s, I found this book very nostalgic. We had very few good female main characters at the time and Jem and the Holograms(and the Misfits) were some of the them. I loved Gem and the Holograms(GATH) as a child. This was a very good reboot. It kept what was great about GATH but modernized it. We now have queer and BIPOC characters❤️ alongside Jerrica and Rio. I love the neon/pastel punk aesthetic. It was so familiar(in a good way) but made even better(without taking away what made it so special in the 1st place).
Early on we meet Jerrica and the Holograms and learn that Jerrica has stage fright. We meet Synergy pretty quickly although we don’t know much about them. Synergy helps Jerrica be able to go on stage. We learn that the Holograms are entering a competition set up by the Misfits. We also get the Misfits POV and they are set up as the Villians, particularly Pizzazz. The story follows the main plot points of the original story from there with a modern lens, from what I remember, except we have the introduction of a cute queer romance.
I didn’t need some of the later volumes(b sides) but they also didn’t bother me. I am interested in where things go with Synergy and I LOVE this version of Kimber. Pizzazz is giving me some Cruella vibes and I’m here for that as well. I’m definitely interested in reading book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 stars rounded up.
I'm just going to be blunt. If you're a fan of the original cartoon, I cannot recommend this reimagining.
The art is so very not my cup of tea and not in the spirit of the original. ~Glamour and glitter, fashion and fame~
No one in this book is well dressed. Jerrica dresses like a reject from Blossom and looks and acts like she's about 14, instead of the strong, independent businesswoman she's suposed to be. Kimber is for some reason freakishly tall and suffers from albinism? is auditioning to be the Joker? I do not understand her character design here. And Aja and Shana look like clown college dropouts. The Misfits are equally distorted.
As far as the plot goes, none of the changes are for the better. The sisters are all planning their exits from the band, Eric is an afterthought, Rio hates Jem, and Jem actually has so little screentime that it's almost bizarre that she's the title of the book.
As a fan of the original, much like that horrible live action movie (that I did DNF), this is not what I was hoping for. I would love to see a continuation of the original series. See the culmination of the Jem-Jerrica-Rio-Riot love cube or whatever shape that was. See Kimber grow up a bit. See more of the Starlight girls.
I also really missed the music. There were lyrics on some of the pages, but the layout and color choices made them difficult to read. I couldn’t get the characters to sing them in my head (but that's probably a me issue.)
I'm just going to be blunt. If you're a fan of the original cartoon, I cannot recommend this reimagining.
The art is so very not my cup of tea and not in the spirit of the original. ~Glamour and glitter, fashion and fame~
No one in this book is well dressed. Jerrica dresses like a reject from Blossom and looks and acts like she's about 14, instead of the strong, independent businesswoman she's suposed to be. Kimber is for some reason freakishly tall and suffers from albinism? is auditioning to be the Joker? I do not understand her character design here. And Aja and Shana look like clown college dropouts. The Misfits are equally distorted.
As far as the plot goes, none of the changes are for the better. The sisters are all planning their exits from the band, Eric is an afterthought, Rio hates Jem, and Jem actually has so little screentime that it's almost bizarre that she's the title of the book.
As a fan of the original, much like that horrible live action movie (that I did DNF), this is not what I was hoping for. I would love to see a continuation of the original series. See the culmination of the Jem-Jerrica-Rio-Riot love cube or whatever shape that was. See Kimber grow up a bit. See more of the Starlight girls.
I also really missed the music. There were lyrics on some of the pages, but the layout and color choices made them difficult to read. I couldn’t get the characters to sing them in my head (but that's probably a me issue.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been a long time fan of Sophie Campbell's work, and always loved her take on Jem and the girls. Though I was intrigued, I never actually got around to reading the comics, so I thought this book collecting volumes 1-10 would be a great way to start.
For all the chapters illustrated by Campbell I was totally invested. There is plenty to take in from all the costume designs and hair styles, and the plot was fun enough to keep me engaged. I knew that Campbell would not be the illustrator for the entirety of the series, but I was surprised by how much I lost interest once the artists started changing more frequently. A lot of the other styles are also great, I just find Campbell's mix of colorful and edgy to be perfect for the Holograms and the Misfits. I found the plot also lost my attention at this point as well. At first I thought that the art change signified only bonus stories, but eventually more of the actual plot started to work its way in as well. It starts to feel like the pacing gets lost and the side stories are too intermingled with everything else for me to keep focused on what is actually going on.
The preview at the end for book 2 is back in Sophie Campbell's style, and I know the Dark Jem arc is upcoming, so maybe I would give the series another shot to see if it gets back on track.
Many thanks to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for the digital ARC!
For all the chapters illustrated by Campbell I was totally invested. There is plenty to take in from all the costume designs and hair styles, and the plot was fun enough to keep me engaged. I knew that Campbell would not be the illustrator for the entirety of the series, but I was surprised by how much I lost interest once the artists started changing more frequently. A lot of the other styles are also great, I just find Campbell's mix of colorful and edgy to be perfect for the Holograms and the Misfits. I found the plot also lost my attention at this point as well. At first I thought that the art change signified only bonus stories, but eventually more of the actual plot started to work its way in as well. It starts to feel like the pacing gets lost and the side stories are too intermingled with everything else for me to keep focused on what is actually going on.
The preview at the end for book 2 is back in Sophie Campbell's style, and I know the Dark Jem arc is upcoming, so maybe I would give the series another shot to see if it gets back on track.
Many thanks to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for the digital ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
I grew up watching the Jem and the Holograms tv show from the 80s, since it was something my mom loved and passed down to me. I feel like I had extremely high hopes which led me to get a little disappointed here. The story sticks to mostly the original, but there is a lack of backstory behind the girls and Synergy that I remember from the TV show that is not mentioned at all. I would have liked for there to be more backstory, as well as for Jerrica to be painted in less like a scared overworked kid and more of a stronger older sister instead of almost picturing her as being used by the other girls. I also feel that the story has been made into being too modern to the point where I feel like some of the best magic of the show just doesn't come into this comic form.
That being said, the comic itself wasn't bad at all. The characters were dynamic and the plot was fast paced enough to where I kept reading. I do wish that there wasn't the occasional change in artist as I definitely liked some more than others. It was a fun read focusing on music and sisterhood, but as a fan of the 80s show, I was left wanting something more and a little different than what was received.
I grew up watching the Jem and the Holograms tv show from the 80s, since it was something my mom loved and passed down to me. I feel like I had extremely high hopes which led me to get a little disappointed here. The story sticks to mostly the original, but there is a lack of backstory behind the girls and Synergy that I remember from the TV show that is not mentioned at all. I would have liked for there to be more backstory, as well as for Jerrica to be painted in less like a scared overworked kid and more of a stronger older sister instead of almost picturing her as being used by the other girls. I also feel that the story has been made into being too modern to the point where I feel like some of the best magic of the show just doesn't come into this comic form.
That being said, the comic itself wasn't bad at all. The characters were dynamic and the plot was fast paced enough to where I kept reading. I do wish that there wasn't the occasional change in artist as I definitely liked some more than others. It was a fun read focusing on music and sisterhood, but as a fan of the 80s show, I was left wanting something more and a little different than what was received.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Art: ★★★☆☆
Story/Events: ★★★☆☆
Characters: ★★★★☆
Relationships: ★★☆☆☆
I didn’t know there was a TV series on Jem and the Holograms, but I have seen other comics centered on them. No, I haven’t read them either and thought maybe this is where I should start.
I’m not sure I liked how they established the friends shittalking each other in the first issue. Their bond didn’t feel as solid with everyone going off to do their own thing and getting real pissy about their friends not being there. The way they were written and their dialogues feel a lil juvenile imo.
The love interests were underdeveloped and suffered from insta-love. I didn’t really care for them. The only one I eventually found cute was Kimber’s relationship with Stormer. I feel like their story has a lot of potential in it.
I lost interest in the story about halfway. It didn’t help that the art style changes too and as someone who doesn’t fully remember the multitude of characters here, I can only sort of identify them by the color of their neon hair.
So no, I don’t think this was the best way to get into the series. Maybe I’ll try again with a different comic or even check out the OG TV show.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this graphic novel.
Story/Events: ★★★☆☆
Characters: ★★★★☆
Relationships: ★★☆☆☆
I didn’t know there was a TV series on Jem and the Holograms, but I have seen other comics centered on them. No, I haven’t read them either and thought maybe this is where I should start.
I’m not sure I liked how they established the friends shittalking each other in the first issue. Their bond didn’t feel as solid with everyone going off to do their own thing and getting real pissy about their friends not being there. The way they were written and their dialogues feel a lil juvenile imo.
The love interests were underdeveloped and suffered from insta-love. I didn’t really care for them. The only one I eventually found cute was Kimber’s relationship with Stormer. I feel like their story has a lot of potential in it.
I lost interest in the story about halfway. It didn’t help that the art style changes too and as someone who doesn’t fully remember the multitude of characters here, I can only sort of identify them by the color of their neon hair.
So no, I don’t think this was the best way to get into the series. Maybe I’ll try again with a different comic or even check out the OG TV show.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this graphic novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐
Even though I’ve never read anything related to Jem and the Holograms before, I didn’t feel lost at all. New readers can definitely jump into this without needing previous knowledge of the franchise.
I really enjoyed the beautiful and colorful art style of this graphic novel. Every page felt vibrant and energetic, and it matched the overall tone of the story really well. I also loved the little Mad Max reference.
That said, I wasn’t completely sold on the decision to have multiple artists/writers contributing to the story. At times it made the pacing feel uneven, with some moments feeling rushed while others didn’t fully make sense to me. The transitions between parts of the story could feel a bit disjointed.
I did enjoy the characters and thought they were written well overall, but I would have loved more development and page time for each of them. There’s a lot of potential there, and I wanted to get to know them better by the end.
Overall, this was a fun and visually stunning read, especially for readers looking for a colorful and music-themed graphic novel experience.
Even though I’ve never read anything related to Jem and the Holograms before, I didn’t feel lost at all. New readers can definitely jump into this without needing previous knowledge of the franchise.
I really enjoyed the beautiful and colorful art style of this graphic novel. Every page felt vibrant and energetic, and it matched the overall tone of the story really well. I also loved the little Mad Max reference.
That said, I wasn’t completely sold on the decision to have multiple artists/writers contributing to the story. At times it made the pacing feel uneven, with some moments feeling rushed while others didn’t fully make sense to me. The transitions between parts of the story could feel a bit disjointed.
I did enjoy the characters and thought they were written well overall, but I would have loved more development and page time for each of them. There’s a lot of potential there, and I wanted to get to know them better by the end.
Overall, this was a fun and visually stunning read, especially for readers looking for a colorful and music-themed graphic novel experience.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, Netgalley for an advanced copy of this graphic novel for an honest review.
I grow up watching gem amd the holograms so when I saw this i was like I have to read it, and I highly enjoyed it.
Now In this book they look different then when I grew up but we are in a different time so I understand that, yet the story was kinda simular to the original a bit, we have a band who want to entire a competition yet main singer has stage fright . Yet how rhey find synergy is different (Me growing up she found synergy by following clues left to her by her dad and turned on the machine if i remember correctly) in this the bad weather from the lighting turned her on and she introduces herself, so I found that interesting and after synergy transforms them it looks different but the same and it gave me nostalgic vibes I won't lie... I hope this gets other children and teens into gem and the holograms because that show was one that helped shape me in some ways with lessons in each episode, music etc.
If you love stories about growing up, following ur dreams and music then this is for you and if you love it go and search up the old series of cartoons from the 80-90s.
I grow up watching gem amd the holograms so when I saw this i was like I have to read it, and I highly enjoyed it.
Now In this book they look different then when I grew up but we are in a different time so I understand that, yet the story was kinda simular to the original a bit, we have a band who want to entire a competition yet main singer has stage fright . Yet how rhey find synergy is different (Me growing up she found synergy by following clues left to her by her dad and turned on the machine if i remember correctly) in this the bad weather from the lighting turned her on and she introduces herself, so I found that interesting and after synergy transforms them it looks different but the same and it gave me nostalgic vibes I won't lie... I hope this gets other children and teens into gem and the holograms because that show was one that helped shape me in some ways with lessons in each episode, music etc.
If you love stories about growing up, following ur dreams and music then this is for you and if you love it go and search up the old series of cartoons from the 80-90s.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was so excited to revisit my childhood with this one. I absolutely loved the cartoon when I was younger but this fell a little flat for me. I think if you aren’t familiar with the original you’ll enjoy this a lot more. I just couldn’t help comparing it with the original storyline.
Jem and the Holograms follows the band, as they navigate relationships and their rivalry with The Misfits. The story has been updated so it’s more modern and reflective of the current time.
While I liked the updates, especially with the AI and LGBTQ rep, I was a little sad that some of the original storyline is missing. I was surprised that the band is no longer running a home for girls, there’s no fight for the record company, and Rio isn’t working for the band. This comic seems to lean in more to the relationship drama and near death experiences as opposed to it being more lighthearted and fun.
The art is absolutely gorgeous! It’s vibrant and really brings the story to life. The B side comics were especially fun with different storylines and art styles. The Christmas one was too cute!
If you’re a fan of the original, I’d recommend going into this with an open mind. And if you don’t know Jem and the Holograms yet, definitely give this a try for a truly outrageous time!
Thank you to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for the advanced copy.
Jem and the Holograms follows the band, as they navigate relationships and their rivalry with The Misfits. The story has been updated so it’s more modern and reflective of the current time.
While I liked the updates, especially with the AI and LGBTQ rep, I was a little sad that some of the original storyline is missing. I was surprised that the band is no longer running a home for girls, there’s no fight for the record company, and Rio isn’t working for the band. This comic seems to lean in more to the relationship drama and near death experiences as opposed to it being more lighthearted and fun.
The art is absolutely gorgeous! It’s vibrant and really brings the story to life. The B side comics were especially fun with different storylines and art styles. The Christmas one was too cute!
If you’re a fan of the original, I’d recommend going into this with an open mind. And if you don’t know Jem and the Holograms yet, definitely give this a try for a truly outrageous time!
Thank you to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This picks up from the very creation of Jem and the Holograms with a brief overview of the sister's past. Follow their journey of going on tour with The Misfits and some romantic interests on the way.
I think this will draw new fans of Jem and the Holograms. Those who grew up Jem and the girls may feel a bit disappointed though. There have been many updated additions to the story such as language and a lesbian romance. It has a more GenAlpha feel to the story, so it will resonate with a newer generation.
The artwork was great, and the essence Jem is still there, but at the end of the day, I don't want my family to read it. It takes away who and what I know Jem to be and I'm not sure I want to spoil that original version in my head. (Note: the girls are still mean girls...that hasn't changed.)
Would I recommend it to those with no preconceived notions of Jem - YES! I want new generations to love this group of girls the way I did. But I don't want the original ruined for my family.
***NetGalley ARC Review***
I think this will draw new fans of Jem and the Holograms. Those who grew up Jem and the girls may feel a bit disappointed though. There have been many updated additions to the story such as language and a lesbian romance. It has a more GenAlpha feel to the story, so it will resonate with a newer generation.
The artwork was great, and the essence Jem is still there, but at the end of the day, I don't want my family to read it. It takes away who and what I know Jem to be and I'm not sure I want to spoil that original version in my head. (Note: the girls are still mean girls...that hasn't changed.)
Would I recommend it to those with no preconceived notions of Jem - YES! I want new generations to love this group of girls the way I did. But I don't want the original ruined for my family.
***NetGalley ARC Review***
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm aging myself, but I was toddling around when JEM ended its run on TV and I remember having a few themed items from the show. When I saw this was an option to read, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia.
I appreciate that the clothing styles are more of a stylized version than what they were in the 80s. I really like Aja's look. It's fun but weird for me to read an up to date version with references like Youtube in something that I watched as a toddler before the internet was a normal household thing.
It wasn't until chapter 10 when I noticed the art style changed and had to go back to see that there are different artists for each chapter/story. At first I thought the guy was Rio but he didn't look right at all so I thought it was their new manager dude, but no, it's supposed to be Rio. Nothing against the illustrator for "Rio Pacheco, Boy Reporter" story, but I feel like the change in art distracted me a ton from the story.
Overall it's a really cute story of family and friendship that would be great for people of any age.
I appreciate that the clothing styles are more of a stylized version than what they were in the 80s. I really like Aja's look. It's fun but weird for me to read an up to date version with references like Youtube in something that I watched as a toddler before the internet was a normal household thing.
It wasn't until chapter 10 when I noticed the art style changed and had to go back to see that there are different artists for each chapter/story. At first I thought the guy was Rio but he didn't look right at all so I thought it was their new manager dude, but no, it's supposed to be Rio. Nothing against the illustrator for "Rio Pacheco, Boy Reporter" story, but I feel like the change in art distracted me a ton from the story.
Overall it's a really cute story of family and friendship that would be great for people of any age.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a little disappointing. It lost all the charm it used to have, and felt like a fanfic re-write. I think it would have been way better if it had stuck with the same artist and writer the whole way though too. We lost much of the backstory the original show used to have, and the characters felt so much different. Everyone felt so flat and immature to me. With all the writing and illustration changes, it didn't feel cohesive at all and just felt like a bunch of random stories shoved together. It feels like it was trying to be edgy in a way the original Jem wasn't too.
It was a bit of a struggle to finish, and felt very disjointed by the art styles changing and so much not matching up from the source material. The art was very pretty to look at, and I did really enjoy parts of it. Unfortunately as a whole, it was a miss for me. Sometimes it's just better to leave things in the past instead of changing them so much you barely recognize them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Boom!Box for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jem and the Holograms is one of the 1980s pop culture phenomena that I shared with my oldest daughter, who watched the show when she was younger. I don’t remember much of the plots of the shows, but I remember enjoying the overall vibe of the show. During the 2010s, comics were made that reimagined the TV show that was an 80s banger. The first ten comics, plus the B-sides and alternate art make up this volume.
Some of the changes that deviate from the original are good and others are kind of meh. I appreciated how Synergy is portrayed as a trailblazing AI system that could be used for evil and not be shared with the world. I also liked that Rio was not a longtime boyfriend; Kimber and Stormer’s love story is fantastic.
I have a consistent soft spot for graphic novels that revisit favorites from the past, and while I didn’t find Jem and the Holograms fantastic, it was still a nice nostalgic trip featuring some new ideas.
Jem and the Holograms is one of the 1980s pop culture phenomena that I shared with my oldest daughter, who watched the show when she was younger. I don’t remember much of the plots of the shows, but I remember enjoying the overall vibe of the show. During the 2010s, comics were made that reimagined the TV show that was an 80s banger. The first ten comics, plus the B-sides and alternate art make up this volume.
Some of the changes that deviate from the original are good and others are kind of meh. I appreciated how Synergy is portrayed as a trailblazing AI system that could be used for evil and not be shared with the world. I also liked that Rio was not a longtime boyfriend; Kimber and Stormer’s love story is fantastic.
I have a consistent soft spot for graphic novels that revisit favorites from the past, and while I didn’t find Jem and the Holograms fantastic, it was still a nice nostalgic trip featuring some new ideas.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I grew up with a show in the '80s, and I was so excited to see a revival. I had previously read the first issue of this comic book when it was originally released, so I was very excited to come upon this book. I loved the story. They went deeper into Jerrica's backstory, why she can't be on stage. I also like that they give Rio a bit more of a personality and a reason as to why he's always there. Maybe there was one in the '80s cartoon, but he was just always there, and I didn't know why. I really enjoyed the art style. When you get to chapter 10, it changes, though, and it threw me for a bit of a loop, but once I adjusted, it was okay. I do prefer the first artist myself, though. The storyline was great. I like the setup for it and the conflicts; it was a little bit silly, but it reminded me very much of the TV show. I love the campy over-the-topness. I love how angry Pizzazz gets. I just really enjoyed reading this. I think it was a good bridge between people like me who watch the '80s show and new readers.
I received an ARC copy through NetGalley.
I received an ARC copy through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Boom Studios for a digitial copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my review!
I had never heard of this franchise before seeing this graphic novel on netgalley so I cannot account for the nostalgia that others feel. I thought it was alright as a graphic novel, the art was good and the story made sense, if a little rushed. I feel like I did not get a great grasp of the characters individually like I would have liked to. The bright colors and alternative styles of all of the characters is definitely specific but it wasn't really to my personal taste and I wish there was more background about their style and also how everyone are sisters...and how all of their parents died? Maybe stuff like that is coming later but I thought it was a little difficult to connect to the characters and found them a little annoying.
I had never heard of this franchise before seeing this graphic novel on netgalley so I cannot account for the nostalgia that others feel. I thought it was alright as a graphic novel, the art was good and the story made sense, if a little rushed. I feel like I did not get a great grasp of the characters individually like I would have liked to. The bright colors and alternative styles of all of the characters is definitely specific but it wasn't really to my personal taste and I wish there was more background about their style and also how everyone are sisters...and how all of their parents died? Maybe stuff like that is coming later but I thought it was a little difficult to connect to the characters and found them a little annoying.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC Review: ⭐️⭐️
It hits those 80s/90s vibes perfectly. Nostalgic and colorful. Love the costume designs and makeup. I never watched the original show, but I've seen this idea redone quite a few times over the years. Without that personal connection to the original story this came across as something I've seen before.
The storyline feels chaotic, childish, and I'm having a heck of time pinning down how old these characters are supposed to be. A lot is skipped over. No build up to most of the relationships. Intense art style changes after the 64% of the book.
There are some really intriguing threads woven into the background here - the use of AI, lack of oversight, and greed. Good for future plot which gives it potential to become a more complex story.
Thank you NetGalley and Boom! Box for this ARC!
It hits those 80s/90s vibes perfectly. Nostalgic and colorful. Love the costume designs and makeup. I never watched the original show, but I've seen this idea redone quite a few times over the years. Without that personal connection to the original story this came across as something I've seen before.
The storyline feels chaotic, childish, and I'm having a heck of time pinning down how old these characters are supposed to be. A lot is skipped over. No build up to most of the relationships. Intense art style changes after the 64% of the book.
There are some really intriguing threads woven into the background here - the use of AI, lack of oversight, and greed. Good for future plot which gives it potential to become a more complex story.
Thank you NetGalley and Boom! Box for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the gifted ARC copy of Jem and the Holograms
The artwork in this comic was absolutely gorgeous. I found myself admiring the illustrations more than actually reading the story at times. The colors, character designs, and overall visual style were magnificent and definitely the highlight for me.
Unfortunately, the story itself did not work as well for me. It felt a little too long, and the tone leaned much younger and more teenage-focused than I expected. I went in hoping for more of that edgy “K-pop Demon Hunters” vibe, so I think my expectations may have been a bit different from what the comic was aiming for.
Sadly, this one just was not for me, but I can still appreciate how stunning the artwork was throughout the book.
The artwork in this comic was absolutely gorgeous. I found myself admiring the illustrations more than actually reading the story at times. The colors, character designs, and overall visual style were magnificent and definitely the highlight for me.
Unfortunately, the story itself did not work as well for me. It felt a little too long, and the tone leaned much younger and more teenage-focused than I expected. I went in hoping for more of that edgy “K-pop Demon Hunters” vibe, so I think my expectations may have been a bit different from what the comic was aiming for.
Sadly, this one just was not for me, but I can still appreciate how stunning the artwork was throughout the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is an updated version of Jem and collects 12 issues of the comic into one book. I had fun reading it and one panel even made me laugh out loud. I like the characters and the colors used are bright and fun.
The book sticks to the main story of Jem and the Holograms wanting to be a famous band, but struggling due to their singer's stage fright. That's when they discover Synergy and their lives change. I liked the two main romances and the third one seems kind of thrown in there, but it's nice. I would read Book Two.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The book sticks to the main story of Jem and the Holograms wanting to be a famous band, but struggling due to their singer's stage fright. That's when they discover Synergy and their lives change. I liked the two main romances and the third one seems kind of thrown in there, but it's nice. I would read Book Two.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
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