Ideas and Design Works (IDW) an American publisher of comic books and graphic novels has expanded its long relationship with Hasbro by bringing back 80’s toy/cartoon icons Jem and the Holograms as a comic series.
This cult favourite never had its own comic book series and this will be its first American edition. IDW has earlier produced popular comics based on other Hasbro toy properties like My Little Pony, G.I. Joe and Transformers.
The creative team which will bring this world full of fashion, art, action and style to life are writer Kelly Thompson (Storykiller, The girl who would be King), illustrator Ross Campbell (Glory, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Sara Richard who has earlier worked on the subscription covers of My Little Pony and Dino.
Unlike the TV series that debuted in 1985, Jem and The Holograms, the comic series, will feature them as 21st century girls. Jerrica Benton is the gifted and lead singer of the Holograms, a band that has right look and spot on sound; but one thing that is holding them back is Jerrica’s crippling stage fright. Luckily, she is about to find help in the most unlikely places when she discovers a forgotten present left by her father.
Though there were some Jem comics made in the 80s, they were not released in the US and never as an ongoing series. However, IDW senior editor John Barber has admitted that plans have been in place for three years for a Jem comic book, but they weren’t able to find the right formula. Thompson and Campbell seem to be just the right mixture.
In addition to this comic, Hasbro has also announced that a live-action, motion picture adaptation of Jem and The Holograms will be released in October 2015, starring Aubrey Peeples and will be directed by Jon M Chu.
