Crosswind #3

By Cat Staggs and Gail Simone

Crosswind is the book that keeps on giving.  Every issue just gives you enough to satisfy your interest while leaving you wanting more.  Crosswind #3 really takes the story to the next level introducing espionage, violence, and a little bit of sex; you know, just enough to get your attention, but not enough to be obscene.  This issue takes up right where the previous issue left off: Juniper is finishing her evening with her husband’s boss while Cason is finishing his evening cleaning up dead bodies, and getting chased by the feds.

Co-creators Cat Staggs and Gail Simone are really quite the dynamic duo, working so well together and off one another throughout this series.  The hyper realistic art style of Staggs is on full display detailing every panel and this creates an almost cinematic experience while reading the book.  It’s all beautifully written and drawn with great panels that show so much emotion.  The shadowing and color on the page are also a huge complement to the art style, making this book feel darker and more complex.  While reading Crosswind, it is extremely easy to picture this book playing out in a movie or tv show.  The realistic art style accompanied with the super relatable dialogue and story give this book another layer of coolness that only makes it further stand out amongst a sea of growing titles.

The ever evolving story focuses on Cason and Juniper getting to experience life as the other one, but also undergo huge life moments that are going to change life for both of them.  June, as Cason, lets a huge potentially life threatening secret about Cason get revealed to the absolute wrong person, while Cason, as June, is getting even with all the men who have done June wrong in her life.  This revenge-capade starts with the local losers who stole her step-son’s bike and looks like it is going to end with her husband Jim. Watching both Cason and June attempt to live each other’s lives has a certain satisfaction to it, like we can only hope that they each learn and grow to become a little more like the other and little less like themselves.  We are still in the satisfying part of this story where it is fun to watch Cason as June look hot as hell as she terrorizes and maims some young hooligans with a crow bar, but you can feel the enjoyment you get out of watching June be pure-on Cason about to become less fun as he has to learn to survive in suburbia.  However, there is not the same enjoyment or satisfaction on the end of June as Cason; it is almost cringe-inducing to watch her get repulsed and upset when people get killed in front of her. Her meek and mild personality is coming through a little bit too much. She is supposed to be passing off as a womanizing assassin, who over indulges in everything in life and her inability to let go of her care taker persona makes it hard to believe. If the story goes the way many other body switching stories go, there is a twist coming and it may be painful to watch.

It is hard to believe this is only the third issue of Crosswind; it feels like a book that has been around for a while or maybe it is just the concept behind the story is.  However familiar the concept is, this unique and original book deserves a spot on everyone’s pull list.  Whether you like superhero genres or spy and intrigue or even supernatural books, there is a little slice of all of the above in this book.  The art style may not be for some, it is not what you would call “traditional art style” for a comic book, but it only adds to the story and gives the reader a more intense experience. As Crosswind continues to live up to expectations every month, it should be a good omen for many looking for a new series to read.

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