Smooth Criminals: Stealing Time TP 2019

Author: Kurt Lustgarten
Art: Leisha Riddel
Published: 2019

Cryogenically frozen in 1969 while on the verge of committing the greatest jewel heist of her career, Mia is accidentally unfrozen thirty years later by Brenda, or as she'd like to be known, "Killa-B," hacker extraordinaire. Neither one is on fire to have a partner in crime, but Mia needs help understanding 1999 and Brenda wants an opportunity to show what she can do with her computer. Together they create a plan to find and steal Indra's Net, a set of rare diamonds and the object of Mia's thwarted heist. The dialogue is snappy with enough references to keep the story true to its late '90s Bay Area setting. The character designs also fit the setting, complete with Brenda as a curvy, Latinx, closeted lesbian and Mia as a mid-mod Emma Peel–type. Add in an archenemy, a shady corporation, the Feds, and lots of angsty drama and you have caper perfect for teens ready to level up from middle-grade graphic novels