Crosswind Volume 1

LIBRARY JOURNAL (STARRED) -- Case Bennett isn't himself, he's in the body of suburbanite Juniper Blue. And the handsome, brash hit man must now cope with a weaselly bully of a husband, while the beleaguered Juniper-pushed around by everybody-in Case's body, is responsible for cleaning up a mishandled hit. How Case and Juniper manage their dilemmas, join forces against psychopath Cruz, and discover the who and why behind the switch emerge in gripping drama. Masterfully orchestrated by Simone (Wonder Woman; Batgirl; Birds of Prey), the plot integrates yet subverts gender expectations, sending Case-as-Juniper to transgender neighbors for help and nicely resolving challenges posed by the hit man's lover. The dead-on dialog evokes empathy and glee as Juniper and Case draw skills from both original and new identities. With nuanced photorealism, Staggs (Supergirl; Smallville) dramatizes character mannerisms, beautifully capturing body swap subtleties with clue-filled coloring. Collects single issues 1-6 of the series.
Verdict With a deft hand, the creators blend social justice issues into this fast-paced thriller that never loses sight of the characters' humanity amid the action, horror, and chuckles. Crime fiction comics buffs and those interested in stories focused on gender and identity will relish this one. Soon to be released as a TV series, with Simone as executive producer and Staggs as consulting producer.-Martha Cornog, Philadelphia