Jem: The Misfits #4

The Misfits #4

by Kelly Thompson, Jenn St. Onge (artist), Victoria Robado (colorer)

OUR SONGS ARE BETTER Part Four! The Misfits Reality Show is invading the band’s lives in ways that’s making them all miserable, but none more than Roxanne Pelligrini. Roxy has been living in fear that the world will learn she’s functionally illiterate…has that time finally come?

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction

32 pages, Comic

First published April 26, 2017

About the author

KELLY 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.

Reviews

[Tiffany Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Misfits #4
PLOT: After a fall out with Pizzazz (who has NO idea what the argument is REALLY about) So she goes to let off some steam at the gym. Despite her threats not to follow her, of course, the tv people follow her. Roxy runs into a young fan and she freaks when she asks for an autograph. Cue Roxy's backstory. Even a Misfit in her younger years we see school just isn't her thing. The kids tease her and call her dumb and she's constantly in fights. Yet, we see Roxy being raised by a loving, supportive, father who gives her a gift that sets her on the path that we'll soon see. Roxy confides in her father a secret (that I think we can all tell if we're old fans). And that's that she can't read. Her father vows that they'll fix it, but soon afterwards he dies. Roxy goes to stay with the only family she has now. Her aunt (she and her brother had a fall out before Roxy was born). But Roxy soon see's that she doesn't belong with her aunt or at school so she packs her things. Unfortunately she has to leave her Dad's gift behind. She gets a job as a waitress and then is offered the chance to be in one of the customer's band. Jetta promises Roxy that she'll help her and encourages her that she can do anything. While Roxy talks her young fan Jetta make a decision to draw the tv people's attention away from Roxy with a story of her own.

MY THOUGHTS! I liked that we saw a little more of Roxy's background. She wasn't given much in the cartoon. Her father was a good character. He was loving, supportive, understanding. I was sorry to see him go. Don't really know why Roxy turned from her aunt. At first, I thought she was going to somehow be mean and abusive, but no. But then I guess if she'd stayed we never would have gotten Roxy, Super Star, drummer of the Misfits. And we all know that's where she really belongs. It was also nice to see how close Jetta and Roxy are in this comic. In the show, we never really got to see the dynamic of any of them having individual relationships with one another apart from the band. Much less any of them being besties. It's a good fit. And Roxy with her two braids, VERY CUTE illustration! I thought it was interesting that the name Sheila meant heaven and that she shared the same name with the little girl. And that it was a little girl very similar to Banee. Jetta's dreads were also a nice illustration.

RATING: 7

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roxy's story. Even in the cartoon series, her functional illiteracy was touched upon. Now it's expanded and instead of feeling sorry for Roxy, I rooted for her. She'd overcome so much, became a drummer in a famous band. Unfortunately, reality television might not be as forgiving. However, she's got a ride or die best friend and bandmate named Jetta.

And Jetta has her own story to tell...

Thank the goddess for comics. If not for Jem and the Holograms, where else would one see young women rockers? The romance genre is pretty damn retrograde in that respect. It's like hasn't anyone there heard of Joan Jett? Lita Ford? Heart? Alexis Brown? Patti freaking Smith? Debbie Harry? Wendy O. Williams? Kittie? Just wow.

[Solace Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an amazing story, and it's a powerful look at Roxy's background.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad book.