Jem and the Holograms #12 continues the “Dark Jem” arc wherein Synergy gets infected by a virus spreadable by music and passes it onto Jerrica and her sisters. Meanwhile, Pizzazz is still recovering from her car accident, and management has decided to replace her for the first part of the tour until she recovers. But the reason this issue will be cherished is the positive portrayal of Blaze’s coming out as a trans woman, the support Clash offers her, and the delightful response from the Misfits.
The “Dark Jem” arc appears to be offering more that the obvious style reversal for the Holograms. Although the first show of the band’s new look is jaw-droppingly delicious. The Starlight Girls are bickering before their lesson with the Holograms in that annoying Starlight Girls way. In walk the newly refashioned Holograms who simply take the stage, teach them a lesson, and exit. It’s left unclear whether the Starlight orphans have simply been “mean girled” or have been infected with the dark virus through the music. Sophie Campbell’s designs for the Dark Jem look are brutally gorgeous. I’m hoping the Starlight girls are infected just so I can see Campbell’s gothic designs for them.
The real reversal comes in the way the Holograms have become the haute, distant band apathetic to emotion, the role the Misfits originally played, while the Misfits have become the emotional heart of the arc. Certainly there is concern about the sudden change in the Holograms, but that concern is quickly turned to anger by the sisters’ cold, dismissive responses to expressions of worry. Meanwhile, Stormer, Jetta, and Roxy are coming to terms with having to replace Pizzazz. Stormer, being the most emotionally intelligent one, tries to reach out to her before they leave on the tour, encouraging her to heal and join them as soon as she can. They miss her. Pizzazz doesn’t answer but certainly hears the entreaty from her position on the other side of the door. Notably, it is also Stormer who declares that something is really wrong with the Holograms when she finally interacts with Kimber.
But the true heart-full moment in this issue comes from Blaze and Clash. Blaze has wowed the Misfits with her audition for replacement lead singer, and they offer it to her on the spot. With the tour only three days away, they need an answer now. Blaze is initially psyched but then asks to think about it. As she goes into the hallway, she runs into Clash, who had also auditioned for the spot. Clash starts by sarcastically deriding Blaze for not accepting her–their–dream job, but when she sees that Blaze is truly upset, her demeanor immediately changes. Earnestly, she asks Blaze what’s wrong, and Blaze explains that she doesn’t know how to tell them she’s trans.
This. This right here is why this title has been celebrated as a best title for teens. Thompson and Campbell handle this scene with empathy and understanding. I was emotionally moved by the display of support Clash gives. First, she tells Blaze that she doesn’t have to tell them. Second, she says if she does tell them, and they don’t want her anymore, then they’re wankers and Clash and Blaze will burn all their Misfits albums and merch. Blaze feels obligated to tell the band, since they’re an all-girl band and tour spaces are pretty intimate. She shows both vulnerability in their potential responses but also confidence in who she is. She states that if they don’t want her, she’ll understand, they’ll be wrong, but she’ll understand. But the Misfits wave it off–”Is that all?” “Whatever.” They say their real concern is punctuality. Yes. A thousand times yes.
I hope that this issue finds its way into many hands. The earnest way in which it explores Blaze’s concerns of acceptance as a trans woman and the support it offers her through her close friend Clash and the Misfits as new partners fills me with hope that some day, support and acceptance like this will be the norm. This should be required reading for all teens. Heck, adults too.
EDIT: Since initially reading the issue and writing this review, I found the Comicosity.com review by Emma Houxbois, a trans comics critic who presents a much more critical take on Blaze’s coming out than I had. Houxbois engages with the scene as a transwoman, while I can only do so as a cisgendered woman, and expresses valid concerns with a number of the choices Thompson made. I would encourage anyone who reads the issue to check out her article for a fuller understanding of the nuances and ramifications of the scene as presented.