After rereading the series over the year, I have to rank the arcs because let’s face it, some are just more totally outrageous than others.

1. Viral: The second volume of J&tH brings some more depth and nuance to all the characters. ANd by that, instead of a black and white battle of Holograms vs Misfits, the Misfits get their own sympathetic backstories especially with Pizzaz’s car crash, showing that they are as much of a family as the Bentons are. In a more dysfunctional way. The Holograms have their own interesting work as they are now officially successful and have to maintain that success while keeping Jerrica’s secret. Plus Rio gets his own limelight issue. Just a great balance of BTM drama, humor and character development. Plus this volume as the fun Christmas special where both bands are forced into secret santa with each other.
2. Showtime: The Jem and the Hologram story is pretty basic if you already know it, but Thompson and Campbell’s killer team-up of design, writing and all-out talent, they manage to make the origin story feel brand new with engaging fast-paced plot.
3. The Misfits: This spin-off focuses on entirely on The Misfits and their reality show. A cash grab in order to outshine the Holograms and recoup some money after their previous bad behavior and cancelled concerts. And it does the job by launching their comeback and bringing readers onto their side, going into their backstories, dealing with size insecurities, learning disabilities, neglect, abandonment and finding confidence in music and the bad.
4. Totally Outrageous: The final arc doesn’t feel final as it wasn’t supposed to be. Damn IDW for cancelling it too soon! Yet I have it fourth in the ranking because I enjoyed the Holograms vs the Stingers banter and sabotoge which gave them more to do than in the actual arc they appeared in. See below. Nonetheless, it does serve its quality of dramedy and friendship feels.
5. Dark Jem: Dark Jem fully utilizes the world’s sci-fi trappings by revealing that a virus, Silica, is taking over Synergy, and wants to take over the world using the Holograms’ sonic soundwaves. It’s a mash-up of rockstars saving the world ala Totally Spies. It’s a diversion where the rest of the series is strictly semi-realistic, dramedy but it does it so well. However, because it feels like such a diversion, it ranks lower. Still the Holograms/Misfits team-up absolutely rocks!
6. Enter the Stingers: The second band that encroaches on Jem’s territory has an interesting edge in that it is bringing the European sound to U.S. audiences and provides a real rival for Jem’s affections, I mean Jerrica’s affections. Which is precisely the problem as Jerrica starts to suffer an identity crises where she literally can’t separate between Jem/Jerrica, subsequently Rio/Riot. However, that interesting plot is skimmed over and solved in less than two pages. I felt like I was missing several issues! Apparently coporate was rushing the comic so they can cancel it already which was such a shame. However, it introduces Raya and she is super sweet. Unfortunately, she also suffers the same lack of character development.
7. Dimensions: If you like to be a completist, or you want more Jem in your life, this anathology provides fun adventures by a variety of artists and writers. It’s slice of life, unrelated to the rest of the arcs so ranks lower. But my favorite story was that of the karoke competition between the bands.
8. Infinite: Basically this is just a sci-fi spinoff where the bands end up in a dystopian dimension of themselves and work to bring about its revolution. It’s just so random and disconnected from the rest even though it takes place right after Totally Outrageous. If you like sci-fi AUs fine, but it wasn’t for me.