If you were a young girl growing up in the 1980s, Jem and the Holograms were a cultural icon! Their iconic 80s style clothing, catchy tunes were, dare I say it, truly outrageous?!
When I heard IDW was releasing a Jem comic series I couldn’t resist. I didn’t care if it was good or not, the nostalgic feeling washed over me and I became quickly obsessed. Thankfully, the quality of the comic is stellar.
Thompson (writer) & Campbell (artist) don’t create an overly cute series of the 80s dropped into 2015, instead they liven it up a bit, adding a new and update spin to the story. Social media (specifically Twitter) make an appearance, modernizing the series quite a bit. The characters, too, are genuine and realistic; 20 something young women that put a hold on pursuing their passion to follow the dreams/wishes of their now-deceased father. They aren’t your cookie-cutter perfect 20-something girls; they each have their own unique identity and cover a rage of body types and shapes.
The vibrant 80’s colors leap from the page. I became quite obsessed with the variant covers, many with a a glittery logo that takes me back to my adolescence.
Back to the story, it does hold up. It’s not overly weighty, yet it’s not fluffy or excessively light either. Readers don’t need to have a knowledge of the 80’s Jem and the Holograms, for this series is certain to win over old fans as well as new. All in all, a completely engaging and rewarding series!
One Response to Reading Through Comics, Alphabetically: Jem and the Holograms by Kelly Thompson, Sophie Campbell