Jem and The Holograms, Issue 1 (IDW)

## Showtime, Part One

***Jem and The Holograms #1***, subtitled *Showtime, Part One*, is the debut issue of the *Jem and The Holograms* main comic series, and is the first part of the six part story-arc *Showtime*.

It was originally published physically and digitally by IDW Publishing on March 25th, 2015, and was later included in the *Jem and The Holograms Vol 1: Showtime* trade paperback published on October 27th, 2015, followed by being digitally available on November 11th, 2015.

It also serves as the debut issue for the The Holograms.

## Official Synopsis

"SHOWTIME, SYNERGY! Meet JERRICA BENTON—a girl with a secret. She and her sister KIMBER team with two friends to become… JEM AND The Holograms! But what does it mean to be JEM today? Fashion, art, action, and style collide in the most outrageous comic of 2015!"
—IDW Publishing

## Plot Summary

Jerrica and The Holograms are performing, recording a music video to enter the *Misfits VS!* competition. Jerrica gets stage fright and runs off stage. Kimber follows her, and explains that this recording is their final chance - they can't afford to try again.

Kimber goes back inside, but ends up in an argument about the band with Aja about Jerrica's lack of confidence, which Jerrica overhears and leaves.

At the home studio, Jerrica picks up her guitar, and sings *Breathe*. Thunder and lightning cracks, startling her, and when it fades, an extremely tall, pink and purple humanoid is hovering in front of her. She introduces herself as Synergy, and explains that Jerrica's father, Emmett Benton, created her - she is a holographic computer, built to be an 'audiovisual entertainment synthesizer'. She explains that Emmett left a gift for Jerrica in his safe, that he was not able to give to her before he died. Inside her dad's safe is a box, containing a note and a pair of red, star-shaped earrings. Jerrica realizes that they are holographic projectors connected Synergy, which can create holograms anywhere she goes.

Kimber, Aja and Shana arrive soon after, having driven home to find Jerrica. They are startled and confused at finding a giant, glowing person in their home studio, and Jerrica explains who Synergy is, and what she - and her earrings - can do. They don't believe her.

Synergy tells Aja to enter a six digit code into their jukebox, which opens to reveal a glowing, white staircase. At the bottom of the staircase, is the enormous computer which controls Synergy. Synergy demonstrates her abilities, by creating a lifelike hologram of Jerrica, indistinguishable from the real thing. Kimber, excited - asks Synergy to make a copy of her, too - but instead, Synergy uses her holograms to temporarily turn Aja and Shana into holographic copies of Kimber.

Jerrica realizes the potential of Synergy and her earrings, and realizes it's the answer to her performance anxiety problems. With this technology, she can be anything she wants to be.

In the final page, we see Jerrica has transformed herself into into *Jem*.

## Cover Variants

Covers A - E were available in a box set with B - E being exclusive.

Cover A
by Sophie CampbellBox Set Cover B
by Amy MebbersonBox Set Cover C
by Amy MebbersonBox Set Cover D
by Amy MebbersonBox Set Cover E
by Amy MebbersonSubscription Cover
by Sara RichardComics & Ponies Cover
by ArtgermComics & Ponies Cover
by ArtgermYesteryear Comics Cover
by Amanda Conner (art) &
Paul Mounts (colors)ECCC 2015 Cover
by Agnes GarbowskaWondercon 2015 Cover
by Amy MebbersonSDCC 2015 Cover
by Amy MebbersonSDCC 2015 Sketch Cover"Plugged In" Edition
First Reprint"Plugged In" Edition
Second Reprint"Plugged In" Edition
Third Reprint"Plugged In" Edition
Fourth Reprint"$1 Greatest Hits" Reprint
(July 2016)
## Bonus Material

Reader comments answered by
Kelly ThompsonJerrica BentonAja LeithShana ElmsfordKimber Benton

## Navigation

 Main Series
Jem: Dimensions: 01 • 02 • 03 • 04