Showtime: Part One

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Jem and the Holograms #1
Jem cover 1.jpg
"Showtime: Part One"
First published March 25, 2015
Written by Kelly Thompson
Art by Sophie Campbell
Colors by M. Victoria Robado
Letters by Robbie Robbins
Edits by John Barber

Jerrica discovers a secret that may hold the solution to her stage fright.

Synopsis[edit | edit source]

At a studio recording their submission for the Misfits VS! music video competition, The Holograms are giving it their all. That is, with the exception of their lead singer Jerrica, who finds herself literally choking when the time comes for her to come in. As the others stop playing, Jerrica looks back at them in shame and makes a run for the exit.

Following close behind, Kimber checks to see if her sister is feeling okay and inquires why Jerrica is having trouble performing now when she can do it no problem at their home studio. With Jerrica unable to give a proper answer, Kimber is forced to issue an ultimatum: if she can't shape up so they can get their entry in before the next day's deadline, she's leaving the band. Kimber has wanted to play with her sisters since she was a little kid and knows that they're all passionate about it too, but unlike her older sisters, a passion for music is all that Kimber has or wants, and has spent too much time waiting to pursue it. To her, Misfits VS! is The Holograms' best shot at not only making a big impression right out of the gate, but also for all four of them to finally move past the death of their father.

Jerrica agrees to come back inside and give it another shot, unable to argue her sister's point that she doesn't know if she'll ever be able to step up if she can't now, but still needs another minute to calm down. Heading back inside, Kimber laments that she still doesn't understand what Jerrica's problem is. When Shana points out that they're not alone like they are in the studio, Kimber still doesn't understand why their four person camera crew is too much for her to handle. After a brief argument between Aja and Kimber, Shana says that it doesn't matter how many people there are, for Jerrica any audience is frightening. Unbeknownst to the trio, Jerrica had heard everything they said about her and takes off in the rain.

Once she's made it home, Jerrica heads to the recording studio and sadly sings and strums on an acoustic guitar before a clap of thunder frightens her enough to stop. Though the storm has knocked out the house's electricity, an odd glow begins to fill the room as a figure steps out of the shadows, revealing a strange, pink colored woman who greets the frightened Jerrica! She introduces herself as Synergy, a holographic computer that Jerrica's father had built to be the ultimate audiovisual entertainment synthesizer, and notes that the storm seemed to have somehow reactivated her. Meanwhile Aja rushes herself and the others home, having noticed Jerrica's disappearance. Kimber worries that she may have been too harsh.

Back at the Benton home, Jerrica opens her father's safe under Synergy's instruction, finding a birthday present that he'd meant to give her before he passed. Opening it, she finds a pair of earrings and quickly notices both are actually remote hologram projectors. Just then, the others burst in looking for her and are caught off guard by the sight of Synergy. Sensing their disbelief even after she and Jerrica explain what she is, Synergy instructs Aja to punch a code into a nearby jukebox, which then splits in two, revealing a door to a secret facility underneath the house!

Here, Synergy further demonstrates her powers of holographic projection, generating a duplicate of Jerrica that perfectly mimics her appearance and voice and making Aja and Shana both appear to be exact duplicates of Kimber! Realizing Synergy may hold the solution to her problem, Jerrica heads to the computer at the center of the room and begins coding something together. Excitedly explaining her plan to the others and ignoring apprehensive pleas from Aja while she does so, Jerrica quickly finishes up and, with a simple tap of her earrings, the meek Jerrica Benton suddenly transforms herself into the tall, confident pop star… Jem!

Featured characters[edit | edit source]

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

Covers (17)[edit | edit source]

The first eleven covers in this list feature holographic or metallic logos.
  • Plugged In Edition cover: Sophie Campbell's cover A with alternate red metallic logo.
  • Plugged In Edition cover, 2nd printing: Sophie Campbell's cover A with alternate blue holographic logo.
  • Plugged In Edition cover, 3rd printing: Sophie Campbell's cover A with alternate purple holographic logo.
  • Plugged In Edition cover, 4th printing:
  • SDCC exclusive cover: Pizzazz, by Amy Mebberson.
  • SDCC exclusive sketch cover: Blank cover for sketches.
  • Promo cover: Jem and the Holograms, by Sophie Campbell.
  • Comics and Ponies exclusive cover: Jem, by Artgerm.
  • Comics and Ponies exclusive sketch cover: Jem, by Artgerm.
  • Emerald City Convention exclusive cover:Jem and the Holograms, by Agnes Garbowska.
  • Wondercon exclusive cover: Jem, by Amy Mebberson.
  • Yesteryear exclusive cover: Jem and the Holograms, by Amanda Conner and Paul Mounts.
  • Greatest Hits reprint cover: