At the same time, though, what really struck me in her art this issue is how Lagace really nails the various characters’ youth. Lagace does an excellent job at bringing the necessary pathos in her linework to an issue that is so heavy with drama, something that is key to selling Thompson’s multiple plot threads. Insecurity on all sides is about to bring things to a boil. That will be small comfort to Hologram Kimber, though, as the Stingers’ chaos proves treacherous for Hologram Kimber and puts her in real danger at the near bubbling lava. While those aren’t excuses for their actions, they are explanations for their abhorrent behavior. Losing a band mate has to summon all sorts of questions for the Stingers: their band’s image, its future. Part of that reaction stems from anger in what they see as Raya’s betrayal, but it’s also clear that their actions come from a place of anxiety and insecurity. The Stingers are in Hawaii at the same time as the Holograms and decide to cause chaos among their rival band members in any way they can. While insecurity might make some question the future, others might lash out like a wounded animal. Further, while the Holograms are a family, their music is also their business and, frankly, they all have bills to pay. And while her fellow band mates and Jerrica might feel her questions were ill-timed-and maybe they were-Thompson realizes that everyone reacts to stress differently. Her knee-jerk reaction to learning that Rio is not onboard the Hologram train now that he knows the truth makes Aja concerned how it’ll affect the future of the band. Insecurity also makes people go into protective mode, as seen with Hologram Aja. Riot’s example proves that some people don’t handle being alone well and will make ill-advised decisions to mask their insecurity. To that end, he attempts to make a move with Jerrica, who he doesn’t know is secretly Jem. The Stinger Riot, still reeling from Jem calling it quits with him, decides the best way to win back her affections is to make her jealous. While it remains to be seen how Jerrica will ultimately handle Rio’s absence, some folks dealing with heartbreak don’t exactly have well thought-out plans to handle being alone. However, Thompson shows a maturity in Jerrica in that, while Jerrica initially tried to rationalize her behavior, she ultimately owns her actions. While doing so helped bolster her confidence, it also left her open to poor decisions, such as deceiving others and, in a way, herself. Jerrica’s original decision to adopt the persona of Jem in the first place was due to a certain degree of insecurity as a member of the Holograms. Thompson drives home how so many of the characters’ actions have been or are currently motivated in some extent by insecurity, and the writer shows how each handles that insecurity.
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Meanwhile, former Stinger Raya is feeling a bit removed from and an outsider of the rest of her Hologram band mates, just as her former fellow Stingers plot to cause discord in the Hologram ranks, a move that looks to have dangerous consequences. Not surprisingly, Rio is none-too-happy about the deception and subterfuge on Jerrica’s part, leave the Holograms’ Hawaii guesthouse post-haste.
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In Jem and the Holograms #25, part two of “Truly Outrageous” and the penultimate installment of the series, we see the fallout from last issue’s cliffhanger, with Jerrica explaining to Rio the wherefores and whys about her double-life as Jem.