I love a good pun and Lumberjanes continually delivers. The title of the fifth volume plays on band in the literal and “come together” uses. Because this is the Lumberjanes, the literal band is made of mer-people, and coming together is one of the best traits of these hard core lady types.
This collection of comics opens with a flash back to the first day of summer camp as we see each girl being dropped off. These scenes give us a brief peak into their lives away from camp and the influences that shape their characters. Unsurprisingly they come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Large, families, small (possibly) single parent homes, and one girl with same sex parents. While April and Jo have long been friends, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are new to Lumberjanes summer camp. Sharing a cabin and camp hijinks quickly bond the girls into a unit with their camp counselor, Jen.
The other three issues that make up the rest of Band Together jumps forward to present time. A day spent at the lake takes an unexpected turn when Jo, fishing off the dock, pulls up a vest covered in band patches. Mermaid, Harlow, quickly surfaces to reclaim it causing April to nearly lose her mind with excitement. Having dreamed of mer-people her whole life, April wants to do what ever she can to become friends with Harlow. The girls learn that due to a falling out, Harlow is no longer with the band she and her friend Taylor had formed. As the Lumberjane motto is “Friendship to the Max”, and April is determined to become friends with mer-people, April decides she must do whatever she can to heal the rift between Harlow and Taylor to get the band back together.
Jo, Mal, Molly, Ripley, and Jen help April in her endeavors but become increasingly annoyed as April becomes obsessively focused on helping Harlow and Taylor. By putting the needs of the mer-people first April ignores what her friends had wanted to do that day, preventing them from preparing for the Bandicoot Bacchanal that is happening in the evening. Can Harlow and Taylor forgive each other and get the band back together? Can the Lumberjanes overcome hurt feelings and band together to save their plans? Friendship isn’t always easy but these comics continue to show realistic relationships and positive problem solving through working together.