Graphic Novel Review - 'Jem and the Holograms, Vol. 4: Enter The Stingers' by Kelly Thompson (Writer), Jen Bartel (Artist), Meredith McClaren (Artist), M. Victoria Robado (Colourist), Shawn Lee (Letterer)

'Jem and the Holograms, Vol. 4: Enter The Stingers' - another fun run and ride with Jem and the Holograms, and the Misfits.

Here we have the Stingers, which include the future Hologram and adorable cinnamon roll Raya, and the narcissistic and entitled lead singer Riot, whom Jerrica as Jem ends up dating, despite being with Rio.

(Rio. Riot. Really?)

Jerrica's identity crisis, and the psychological effects of juggling two separate identities, especially when one of them is a famous singer in a band, comes to a head in this volume.

Then there's the Misfits (or rather, Pizzazz) regressing in development, as they once again try to sabotage the Holograms, to devastating and even dangerous ends. Yeah their label dropped them, and their careers are in the gutter, but they have no reason to blame Jem and the Holograms for this when Pizzazz knows it is entirely due to Riot's machinations! Nearly everything bad that happens in this volume is his fault! Blaze is still a sweetheart.

The devious Dahlia Shen, stage name the Fox, appears.

Shana wants to pursue a career in fashion, and temporarily leaves the Holograms to go to Milan for an internship at a fashion industry. Spoiler: Raya doesn't end up replacing Shana - they are both in the band.

Also there are bears.

This is where 'Jem and the Holograms' goes full band(s) drama, and far less sci-fi, which is... quite a choice, especially considering literally everything from the previous volume. I think Synergy only appears in three panels on one page.

Furthermore, does anyone else think that part of Jerrica's intense psychological state, and preference to be Jem, has something to do with how Silica %*#@ed with her mind and changed her personality in the last volume? It's strange how something so extreme is brought up infinitesimally at the beginning, and then never again. Jem and the Holograms, and the Misfits, plus Rio, Craig, Tony, Eric, and Techrat (where did he go?), found out about real dangerous brainwashing technology, and literally saved the world, and they go back to their lives like nothing happened!

These volumes don't get any darker than 'Dark Jem', sadly. At least until 'Infinite'.

There are also some baffling plot contrivances, rewrites and editing choices in 'Enter the Stingers'. But they are tasty cakes compared to its number one obvious flaw. And it has nothing to do with Riot.

Okay. Let's discuss the elephant in the room.

Let's talk about the art, starting from issue #19.

I'm sorry, I don't want to seem mean, I know drawing for comics is hard, but I have to be honest:

The artwork is truly outrageous, in the worst possible way.

Good goddesses. To go from art so good to this would be jarring enough, but even on its own, it is terrible. It is ugly and off-putting. It's not merely that it doesn't suit 'Jem', I'm not sure where it would be suited, except in very short and sparse funny pages. The artist just couldn't draw humans; they look like aliens, or emaciated Muppets left out in the cold for too long. Whenever any of them opens their gaping black maw, it is nightmare fuel.

I don't expect to be reminded of Allie Brosh's art and a child's doodles of 'Peanuts' characters when reading the 'Jem and the Holograms' reboot comics, is all.

The characters' facial expressions are distinct and pronounced enough that I can always tell what they're thinking and feeling, and follow along fine, but that's the best praise I can give this aspect of the comic.

Thank the Muses that the art changes for the mightily, mercifully better in the fifth and final volume.

There is a funny moment where an ordinary citizen sees Jem change into Jerrica in a car, and he bemoans that he needs more sleep. Sorry. I'm still recovering from the artwork, and trying to find a silver lining in the mess.

If the comic wasn't engaging and entertaining otherwise, I would have knocked off a star for the art for issues #19-23 alone.

But that aside, I recommend 'Jem and the Holograms, Vol. 4: Enter The Stingers' as a continuation of the story of the rebooted 'Jem'. Through its flaws, there remains the sisterhood, and female solidarity and understanding - a sisterhood solidarity. Every woman is dynamic, and they feel real, in spite of their bizarre circumstances.

The music presence is as strong as ever, and I like Raya as a new Hologram member.

Stay tuned for my review of the final volume of the main run of 'Jem and the Holograms' - 'Truly Outrageous'.

Final Score: 3.5/5