diff --git a/src/binding.cc b/src/binding.cc
index 5592ed9d..c304d7e0 100644
--- a/src/binding.cc
+++ b/src/binding.cc
@@ -220,17 +220,9 @@ const v8::Data* v8__Global__New(v8::Isolate* isolate, const v8::Data& other) {
   return make_pod<v8::Data*>(std::move(global));
 }
 
-void v8__Global__Reset__0(const v8::Data*& self) {
-  auto global = ptr_to_global(self);
+void v8__Global__Reset(const v8::Data* data) {
+  auto global = ptr_to_global(data);
   global.Reset();
-  self = make_pod<v8::Data*>(std::move(global));
-}
-
-void v8__Global__Reset__2(const v8::Data*& self, v8::Isolate* isolate,
-                          const v8::Data* const& other) {
-  auto global = ptr_to_global(self);
-  global.Reset(isolate, ptr_to_local(other));
-  self = make_pod<v8::Data*>(std::move(global));
 }
 
 void v8__ScriptCompiler__Source__CONSTRUCT(
diff --git a/src/data.rs b/src/data.rs
index 31133acc..990a2854 100644
--- a/src/data.rs
+++ b/src/data.rs
@@ -53,33 +53,38 @@ macro_rules! impl_eq {
   };
 }
 
+extern "C" {
+  fn v8__Data__EQ(this: *const Data, other: *const Data) -> bool;
+  fn v8__Value__StrictEquals(this: *const Value, other: *const Value) -> bool;
+}
+
 macro_rules! impl_partial_eq {
   { $rhs:ident for $type:ident use identity } => {
-    impl<'s> PartialEq<Local<'s, $rhs>> for Local<'s, $type> {
-      fn eq(&self, other: &Local<'s, $rhs>) -> bool {
-        self.eq_identity((*other).into())
+    impl<'s> PartialEq<$rhs> for $type {
+      fn eq(&self, other: &$rhs) -> bool {
+        unsafe {
+          v8__Data__EQ(
+            self as *const _ as *const Data,
+            other as *const _ as *const Data,
+          )
+        }
       }
     }
   };
   { $rhs:ident for $type:ident use strict_equals } => {
-    impl<'s> PartialEq<Local<'s, $rhs>> for Local<'s, $type> {
-      fn eq(&self, other: &Local<'s, $rhs>) -> bool {
-        self.strict_equals((*other).into())
+    impl<'s> PartialEq<$rhs> for $type {
+      fn eq(&self, other: &$rhs) -> bool {
+        unsafe {
+          v8__Value__StrictEquals(
+            self as *const _ as *const Value,
+            other as *const _ as *const Value,
+          )
+        }
       }
     }
   };
 }
 
-extern "C" {
-  fn v8__Data__EQ(this: *const Data, other: *const Data) -> bool;
-}
-
-impl Data {
-  fn eq_identity(&self, other: Local<Self>) -> bool {
-    unsafe { v8__Data__EQ(self, &*other) }
-  }
-}
-
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
 pub struct TryFromTypeError {
   expected_type: &'static str,
diff --git a/src/global.rs b/src/global.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index c178b080..00000000
--- a/src/global.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,179 +0,0 @@
-use std::mem::transmute;
-use std::ptr::NonNull;
-
-use crate::Data;
-use crate::HandleScope;
-use crate::Isolate;
-use crate::IsolateHandle;
-use crate::Local;
-
-extern "C" {
-  fn v8__Local__New(isolate: *mut Isolate, other: *const Data) -> *const Data;
-
-  fn v8__Global__New(isolate: *mut Isolate, other: *const Data) -> *const Data;
-
-  fn v8__Global__Reset__0(this: *mut *const Data);
-
-  fn v8__Global__Reset__2(
-    this: *mut *const Data,
-    isolate: *mut Isolate,
-    other: *const *const Data,
-  );
-}
-
-/// An object reference that is independent of any handle scope. Where
-/// a Local handle only lives as long as the HandleScope in which it was
-/// allocated, a global handle remains valid until it is explicitly
-/// disposed using reset().
-///
-/// A global handle contains a reference to a storage cell within
-/// the V8 engine which holds an object value and which is updated by
-/// the garbage collector whenever the object is moved. A new storage
-/// cell can be created using the constructor or Global::set and
-/// existing handles can be disposed using Global::reset.
-#[repr(C)]
-pub struct Global<T> {
-  value: Option<NonNull<T>>,
-  isolate_handle: Option<IsolateHandle>,
-}
-
-impl<T> Global<T> {
-  /// Construct a Global with no storage cell.
-  pub fn new() -> Self {
-    Self {
-      value: None,
-      isolate_handle: None,
-    }
-  }
-
-  /// Construct a new Global from an existing handle. When the existing handle
-  /// is non-empty, a new storage cell is created pointing to the same object,
-  /// and no flags are set.
-  pub fn new_from(scope: &mut Isolate, other: impl AnyHandle<T>) -> Self {
-    let other_value = other.read(scope);
-    Self {
-      value: other_value
-        .map(|v| unsafe { transmute(v8__Global__New(scope, transmute(v))) }),
-      isolate_handle: other_value.map(|_| scope.thread_safe_handle()),
-    }
-  }
-
-  /// Returns true if this Global is empty, i.e., has not been
-  /// assigned an object.
-  pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
-    self.value.is_none()
-  }
-
-  /// Construct a Local<T> from this global handle.
-  pub fn get<'s>(
-    &self,
-    scope: &mut HandleScope<'s, ()>,
-  ) -> Option<Local<'s, T>> {
-    self.check_isolate(scope);
-    self
-      .value
-      .map(|g| g.as_ptr() as *const Data)
-      .and_then(|g| unsafe {
-        scope
-          .cast_local(|sd| v8__Local__New(sd.get_isolate_ptr(), g) as *const T)
-      })
-  }
-
-  /// If non-empty, destroy the underlying storage cell
-  /// and create a new one with the contents of other if other is non empty.
-  pub fn set(&mut self, scope: &mut Isolate, other: impl AnyHandle<T>) {
-    self.check_isolate(scope);
-    let other_value = other.read(scope);
-    match (&mut self.value, &other_value) {
-      (None, None) => {}
-      (target, None) => unsafe {
-        v8__Global__Reset__0(
-          &mut *(target as *mut Option<NonNull<T>> as *mut *const Data),
-        )
-      },
-      (target, source) => unsafe {
-        v8__Global__Reset__2(
-          &mut *(target as *mut Option<NonNull<T>> as *mut *const Data),
-          scope,
-          &*(source as *const Option<NonNull<T>> as *const *const Data),
-        )
-      },
-    }
-    self.isolate_handle = other_value.map(|_| scope.thread_safe_handle());
-  }
-
-  /// If non-empty, destroy the underlying storage cell
-  /// IsEmpty() will return true after this call.
-  pub fn reset(&mut self, scope: &mut Isolate) {
-    self.set(scope, None);
-  }
-
-  fn check_isolate(&self, isolate: &mut Isolate) {
-    match self.value {
-      None => assert!(self.isolate_handle.is_none()),
-      Some(_) => assert_eq!(
-        unsafe { self.isolate_handle.as_ref().unwrap().get_isolate_ptr() },
-        isolate as *mut _
-      ),
-    }
-  }
-}
-
-impl<T> Default for Global<T> {
-  fn default() -> Self {
-    Self::new()
-  }
-}
-
-impl<T> Drop for Global<T> {
-  fn drop(&mut self) {
-    match &mut self.value {
-      None => {
-        // This global handle is empty.
-        assert!(self.isolate_handle.is_none())
-      }
-      Some(_)
-        if unsafe {
-          self
-            .isolate_handle
-            .as_ref()
-            .unwrap()
-            .get_isolate_ptr()
-            .is_null()
-        } =>
-      {
-        // This global handle is associated with an Isolate that has already
-        // been disposed.
-      }
-      addr @ Some(_) => unsafe {
-        // Destroy the storage cell that contains the contents of this Global.
-        v8__Global__Reset__0(
-          &mut *(addr as *mut Option<NonNull<T>> as *mut *const Data),
-        )
-      },
-    }
-  }
-}
-
-pub trait AnyHandle<T> {
-  fn read(self, isolate: &mut Isolate) -> Option<NonNull<T>>;
-}
-
-impl<'s, T> AnyHandle<T> for Local<'s, T> {
-  fn read(self, _isolate: &mut Isolate) -> Option<NonNull<T>> {
-    Some(self.as_non_null())
-  }
-}
-
-impl<'s, T> AnyHandle<T> for Option<Local<'s, T>> {
-  fn read(self, _isolate: &mut Isolate) -> Option<NonNull<T>> {
-    self.map(|local| local.as_non_null())
-  }
-}
-
-impl<'s, T> AnyHandle<T> for &Global<T> {
-  fn read(self, isolate: &mut Isolate) -> Option<NonNull<T>> {
-    self.check_isolate(isolate);
-    self.value
-  }
-}
diff --git a/src/handle.rs b/src/handle.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d8e4bbd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/handle.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,373 @@
+use std::marker::PhantomData;
+use std::mem::transmute;
+use std::ops::Deref;
+use std::ptr::NonNull;
+
+use crate::Data;
+use crate::HandleScope;
+use crate::Isolate;
+use crate::IsolateHandle;
+
+extern "C" {
+  fn v8__Local__New(isolate: *mut Isolate, other: *const Data) -> *const Data;
+  fn v8__Global__New(isolate: *mut Isolate, data: *const Data) -> *const Data;
+  fn v8__Global__Reset(data: *const Data);
+}
+
+/// An object reference managed by the v8 garbage collector.
+///
+/// All objects returned from v8 have to be tracked by the garbage
+/// collector so that it knows that the objects are still alive.  Also,
+/// because the garbage collector may move objects, it is unsafe to
+/// point directly to an object.  Instead, all objects are stored in
+/// handles which are known by the garbage collector and updated
+/// whenever an object moves.  Handles should always be passed by value
+/// (except in cases like out-parameters) and they should never be
+/// allocated on the heap.
+///
+/// There are two types of handles: local and persistent handles.
+///
+/// Local handles are light-weight and transient and typically used in
+/// local operations.  They are managed by HandleScopes. That means that a
+/// HandleScope must exist on the stack when they are created and that they are
+/// only valid inside of the `HandleScope` active during their creation.
+/// For passing a local handle to an outer `HandleScope`, an
+/// `EscapableHandleScope` and its `Escape()` method must be used.
+///
+/// Persistent handles can be used when storing objects across several
+/// independent operations and have to be explicitly deallocated when they're no
+/// longer used.
+///
+/// It is safe to extract the object stored in the handle by
+/// dereferencing the handle (for instance, to extract the *Object from
+/// a Local<Object>); the value will still be governed by a handle
+/// behind the scenes and the same rules apply to these values as to
+/// their handles.
+///
+/// Note: Local handles in Rusty V8 differ from the V8 C++ API in that they are
+/// never empty. In situations where empty handles are needed, use
+/// Option<Local>.
+#[repr(C)]
+pub struct Local<'s, T>(NonNull<T>, PhantomData<&'s ()>);
+
+impl<'s, T> Local<'s, T> {
+  /// Construct a new Local from an existing Handle.
+  pub fn new(
+    scope: &mut HandleScope<'s, ()>,
+    handle: impl Handle<Data = T>,
+  ) -> Self {
+    let HandleInfo { data, host } = handle.get_handle_info();
+    host.assert_match_isolate(scope);
+    unsafe {
+      scope.cast_local(|sd| {
+        v8__Local__New(sd.get_isolate_ptr(), data.cast().as_ptr()) as *const T
+      })
+    }
+    .unwrap()
+  }
+
+  /// Create a local handle by downcasting from one of its super types.
+  /// This function is unsafe because the cast is unchecked.
+  pub unsafe fn cast<A>(other: Local<'s, A>) -> Self
+  where
+    Local<'s, A>: From<Self>,
+  {
+    transmute(other)
+  }
+
+  pub(crate) unsafe fn from_raw(ptr: *const T) -> Option<Self> {
+    NonNull::new(ptr as *mut _).map(|nn| Self::from_non_null(nn))
+  }
+
+  pub(crate) unsafe fn from_non_null(nn: NonNull<T>) -> Self {
+    Self(nn, PhantomData)
+  }
+
+  pub(crate) fn as_non_null(self) -> NonNull<T> {
+    self.0
+  }
+
+  pub(crate) fn slice_into_raw(slice: &[Self]) -> &[*const T] {
+    unsafe { &*(slice as *const [Self] as *const [*const T]) }
+  }
+}
+
+impl<'s, T> Copy for Local<'s, T> {}
+
+impl<'s, T> Clone for Local<'s, T> {
+  fn clone(&self) -> Self {
+    *self
+  }
+}
+
+impl<'s, T> Deref for Local<'s, T> {
+  type Target = T;
+  fn deref(&self) -> &T {
+    unsafe { self.0.as_ref() }
+  }
+}
+
+/// An object reference that is independent of any handle scope. Where
+/// a Local handle only lives as long as the HandleScope in which it was
+/// allocated, a global handle remains valid until it is explicitly
+/// disposed using reset().
+///
+/// A global handle contains a reference to a storage cell within
+/// the V8 engine which holds an object value and which is updated by
+/// the garbage collector whenever the object is moved.
+pub struct Global<T> {
+  data: NonNull<T>,
+  isolate_handle: IsolateHandle,
+}
+
+impl<T> Global<T> {
+  /// Construct a new Global from an existing Handle.
+  pub fn new(isolate: &mut Isolate, handle: impl Handle<Data = T>) -> Self {
+    let HandleInfo { data, host } = handle.get_handle_info();
+    host.assert_match_isolate(isolate);
+    unsafe { Self::new_raw(isolate, data) }
+  }
+
+  /// Implementation helper function that contains the code that can be shared
+  /// between `Global::new()` and `Global::clone()`.
+  unsafe fn new_raw(isolate: *mut Isolate, data: NonNull<T>) -> Self {
+    let data = data.cast().as_ptr();
+    let data = v8__Global__New(isolate, data) as *const T;
+    let data = NonNull::new_unchecked(data as *mut _);
+    let isolate_handle = (*isolate).thread_safe_handle();
+    Self {
+      data,
+      isolate_handle,
+    }
+  }
+
+  pub fn get<'a>(&'a self, scope: &mut Isolate) -> &'a T {
+    Handle::get(self, scope)
+  }
+}
+
+impl<T> Clone for Global<T> {
+  fn clone(&self) -> Self {
+    let HandleInfo { data, host } = self.get_handle_info();
+    unsafe { Self::new_raw(host.get_isolate().as_mut(), data) }
+  }
+}
+
+impl<T> Drop for Global<T> {
+  fn drop(&mut self) {
+    unsafe {
+      if self.isolate_handle.get_isolate_ptr().is_null() {
+        // This `Global` handle is associated with an `Isolate` that has already
+        // been disposed.
+      } else {
+        // Destroy the storage cell that contains the contents of this Global.
+        v8__Global__Reset(self.data.cast().as_ptr())
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+pub trait Handle: Sized {
+  type Data;
+
+  #[doc(hidden)]
+  fn get_handle_info(&self) -> HandleInfo<Self::Data>;
+
+  /// Returns a reference to the V8 heap object that this handle represents.
+  /// The handle does not get cloned, nor is it converted to a `Local` handle.
+  ///
+  /// # Panics
+  ///
+  /// This function panics in the following situations:
+  /// - The handle is not hosted by the specified Isolate.
+  /// - The Isolate that hosts this handle has been disposed.
+  fn get<'a>(&'a self, isolate: &mut Isolate) -> &'a Self::Data {
+    let HandleInfo { data, host } = self.get_handle_info();
+    host.assert_match_isolate(isolate);
+    unsafe { &*data.as_ptr() }
+  }
+
+  /// Reads the inner value contained in this handle, _without_ verifying that
+  /// the this handle is hosted by the currently active `Isolate`.
+  ///
+  /// # Safety
+  ///
+  /// Using a V8 heap object with another `Isolate` than the `Isolate` that
+  /// hosts it is not permitted under any circumstance. Doing so leads to
+  /// undefined behavior, likely a crash.
+  ///
+  /// # Panics
+  ///
+  /// This function panics if the `Isolate` that hosts the handle has been
+  /// disposed.
+  unsafe fn get_unchecked(&self) -> &Self::Data {
+    let HandleInfo { data, host } = self.get_handle_info();
+    if let HandleHost::DisposedIsolate = host {
+      panic!("attempt to access Handle hosted by disposed Isolate");
+    }
+    &*data.as_ptr()
+  }
+}
+
+impl<'s, T> Handle for Local<'s, T> {
+  type Data = T;
+  fn get_handle_info(&self) -> HandleInfo<T> {
+    HandleInfo::new(self.as_non_null(), HandleHost::Scope)
+  }
+}
+
+impl<'a, 's: 'a, T> Handle for &'a Local<'s, T> {
+  type Data = T;
+  fn get_handle_info(&self) -> HandleInfo<T> {
+    HandleInfo::new(self.as_non_null(), HandleHost::Scope)
+  }
+}
+
+impl<T> Handle for Global<T> {
+  type Data = T;
+  fn get_handle_info(&self) -> HandleInfo<T> {
+    HandleInfo::new(self.data, (&self.isolate_handle).into())
+  }
+}
+
+impl<'a, T> Handle for &'a Global<T> {
+  type Data = T;
+  fn get_handle_info(&self) -> HandleInfo<T> {
+    HandleInfo::new(self.data, (&self.isolate_handle).into())
+  }
+}
+
+impl<'s, T, Rhs: Handle> PartialEq<Rhs> for Local<'s, T>
+where
+  T: PartialEq<Rhs::Data>,
+{
+  fn eq(&self, other: &Rhs) -> bool {
+    let i1 = self.get_handle_info();
+    let i2 = other.get_handle_info();
+    i1.host.match_host(i2.host, None)
+      && unsafe { i1.data.as_ref() == i2.data.as_ref() }
+  }
+}
+
+impl<'s, T, Rhs: Handle> PartialEq<Rhs> for Global<T>
+where
+  T: PartialEq<Rhs::Data>,
+{
+  fn eq(&self, other: &Rhs) -> bool {
+    let i1 = self.get_handle_info();
+    let i2 = other.get_handle_info();
+    i1.host.match_host(i2.host, None)
+      && unsafe { i1.data.as_ref() == i2.data.as_ref() }
+  }
+}
+
+#[derive(Copy, Clone)]
+pub struct HandleInfo<T> {
+  data: NonNull<T>,
+  host: HandleHost,
+}
+
+impl<T> HandleInfo<T> {
+  fn new(data: NonNull<T>, host: HandleHost) -> Self {
+    Self { data, host }
+  }
+}
+
+#[derive(Copy, Clone)]
+enum HandleHost {
+  // Note: the `HandleHost::Scope` variant does not indicate that the handle
+  // it applies to is not associated with an `Isolate`. It only means that
+  // the handle is a `Local` handle that was unable to provide a pointer to
+  // the `Isolate` that hosts it (the handle) and the currently entered
+  // scope.
+  Scope,
+  Isolate(NonNull<Isolate>),
+  DisposedIsolate,
+}
+
+impl From<&'_ mut Isolate> for HandleHost {
+  fn from(isolate: &'_ mut Isolate) -> Self {
+    Self::Isolate(NonNull::from(isolate))
+  }
+}
+
+impl From<&'_ IsolateHandle> for HandleHost {
+  fn from(isolate_handle: &IsolateHandle) -> Self {
+    NonNull::new(unsafe { isolate_handle.get_isolate_ptr() })
+      .map(Self::Isolate)
+      .unwrap_or(Self::DisposedIsolate)
+  }
+}
+
+impl HandleHost {
+  /// Compares two `HandleHost` values, returning `true` if they refer to the
+  /// same `Isolate`, or `false` if they refer to different isolates.
+  ///
+  /// If the caller knows which `Isolate` the currently entered scope (if any)
+  /// belongs to, it should pass on this information via the second argument
+  /// (`scope_isolate_opt`).
+  ///
+  /// # Panics
+  ///
+  /// This function panics if one of the `HandleHost` values refers to an
+  /// `Isolate` that has been disposed.
+  ///
+  /// # Safety / Bugs
+  ///
+  /// The current implementation is a bit too forgiving. If it cannot decide
+  /// whether two hosts refer to the same `Isolate`, it just returns `true`.
+  /// Note that this can only happen when the caller does _not_ provide a value
+  /// for the `scope_isolate_opt` argument.
+  fn match_host(
+    self,
+    other: Self,
+    scope_isolate_opt: Option<&mut Isolate>,
+  ) -> bool {
+    let scope_isolate_opt_nn = scope_isolate_opt.map(NonNull::from);
+    match (self, other, scope_isolate_opt_nn) {
+      (Self::Scope, Self::Scope, _) => true,
+      (Self::Isolate(ile1), Self::Isolate(ile2), _) => ile1 == ile2,
+      (Self::Scope, Self::Isolate(ile1), Some(ile2)) => ile1 == ile2,
+      (Self::Isolate(ile1), Self::Scope, Some(ile2)) => ile1 == ile2,
+      // TODO(pisciaureus): If the caller didn't provide a `scope_isolate_opt`
+      // value that works, we can't do a meaningful check. So all we do for now
+      // is pretend the Isolates match and hope for the best. This eventually
+      // needs to be tightened up.
+      (Self::Scope, Self::Isolate(_), _) => true,
+      (Self::Isolate(_), Self::Scope, _) => true,
+      // Handles hosted in an Isolate that has been disposed aren't good for
+      // anything, even if a pair of handles used to to be hosted in the same
+      // now-disposed solate.
+      (Self::DisposedIsolate, ..) | (_, Self::DisposedIsolate, _) => {
+        panic!("attempt to access Handle hosted by disposed Isolate")
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  fn assert_match_host(self, other: Self, scope_opt: Option<&mut Isolate>) {
+    assert!(
+      self.match_host(other, scope_opt),
+      "attempt to use Handle in an Isolate that is not its host"
+    )
+  }
+
+  fn match_isolate(self, isolate: &mut Isolate) -> bool {
+    self.match_host(isolate.into(), Some(isolate))
+  }
+
+  fn assert_match_isolate(self, isolate: &mut Isolate) {
+    self.assert_match_host(isolate.into(), Some(isolate))
+  }
+
+  fn get_isolate(self) -> NonNull<Isolate> {
+    match self {
+      Self::Scope => panic!("host Isolate for Handle not available"),
+      Self::Isolate(ile) => ile,
+      Self::DisposedIsolate => panic!("attempt to access disposed Isolate"),
+    }
+  }
+
+  fn get_isolate_handle(self) -> IsolateHandle {
+    unsafe { self.get_isolate().as_mut().thread_safe_handle() }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 00fac51a..a7a6cfe9 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -40,10 +40,9 @@ mod data;
 mod exception;
 mod external_references;
 mod function;
-mod global;
+mod handle;
 mod isolate;
 mod isolate_create_params;
-mod local;
 mod module;
 mod number;
 mod object;
@@ -78,7 +77,9 @@ pub use exception::*;
 pub use external_references::ExternalReference;
 pub use external_references::ExternalReferences;
 pub use function::*;
-pub use global::Global;
+pub use handle::Global;
+pub use handle::Handle;
+pub use handle::Local;
 pub use isolate::HostImportModuleDynamicallyCallback;
 pub use isolate::HostInitializeImportMetaObjectCallback;
 pub use isolate::Isolate;
@@ -87,7 +88,6 @@ pub use isolate::MessageCallback;
 pub use isolate::OwnedIsolate;
 pub use isolate::PromiseRejectCallback;
 pub use isolate_create_params::CreateParams;
-pub use local::Local;
 pub use module::*;
 pub use object::*;
 pub use platform::new_default_platform;
diff --git a/src/local.rs b/src/local.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 217cd9c9..00000000
--- a/src/local.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,90 +0,0 @@
-use std::marker::PhantomData;
-use std::mem::transmute;
-use std::ops::Deref;
-use std::ptr::NonNull;
-
-/// An object reference managed by the v8 garbage collector.
-///
-/// All objects returned from v8 have to be tracked by the garbage
-/// collector so that it knows that the objects are still alive.  Also,
-/// because the garbage collector may move objects, it is unsafe to
-/// point directly to an object.  Instead, all objects are stored in
-/// handles which are known by the garbage collector and updated
-/// whenever an object moves.  Handles should always be passed by value
-/// (except in cases like out-parameters) and they should never be
-/// allocated on the heap.
-///
-/// There are two types of handles: local and persistent handles.
-///
-/// Local handles are light-weight and transient and typically used in
-/// local operations.  They are managed by HandleScopes. That means that a
-/// HandleScope must exist on the stack when they are created and that they are
-/// only valid inside of the HandleScope active during their creation.
-/// For passing a local handle to an outer HandleScope, an EscapableHandleScope
-/// and its Escape() method must be used.
-///
-/// Persistent handles can be used when storing objects across several
-/// independent operations and have to be explicitly deallocated when they're no
-/// longer used.
-///
-/// It is safe to extract the object stored in the handle by
-/// dereferencing the handle (for instance, to extract the *Object from
-/// a Local<Object>); the value will still be governed by a handle
-/// behind the scenes and the same rules apply to these values as to
-/// their handles.
-///
-/// Note: Local handles in Rusty V8 differ from the V8 C++ API in that they are
-/// never empty. In situations where empty handles are needed, use
-/// Option<Local>.
-#[repr(C)]
-pub struct Local<'s, T>(NonNull<T>, PhantomData<&'s ()>);
-
-impl<'s, T> Copy for Local<'s, T> {}
-
-impl<'s, T> Clone for Local<'s, T> {
-  fn clone(&self) -> Self {
-    *self
-  }
-}
-
-impl<'s, T> Local<'s, T> {
-  /// Create a local handle by downcasting from one of its super types.
-  /// This function is unsafe because the cast is unchecked.
-  pub unsafe fn cast<A>(other: Local<'s, A>) -> Self
-  where
-    Local<'s, A>: From<Self>,
-  {
-    transmute(other)
-  }
-
-  pub(crate) unsafe fn from_raw(ptr: *const T) -> Option<Self> {
-    NonNull::new(ptr as *mut _).map(|nn| Self::from_non_null(nn))
-  }
-
-  pub(crate) unsafe fn from_non_null(nn: NonNull<T>) -> Self {
-    Self(nn, PhantomData)
-  }
-
-  pub(crate) fn as_non_null(self) -> NonNull<T> {
-    self.0
-  }
-
-  pub(crate) fn slice_into_raw(slice: &[Self]) -> &[*const T] {
-    unsafe { &*(slice as *const [Self] as *const [*const T]) }
-  }
-}
-
-impl<'s, T> Deref for Local<'s, T> {
-  type Target = T;
-  fn deref(&self) -> &T {
-    unsafe { self.0.as_ref() }
-  }
-}
-
-#[test]
-fn test_size_of_local() {
-  use crate::Value;
-  use std::mem::size_of;
-  assert_eq!(size_of::<Local<Value>>(), size_of::<*const Value>());
-  assert_eq!(size_of::<Option<Local<Value>>>(), size_of::<*const Value>());
-}
diff --git a/tests/test_api.rs b/tests/test_api.rs
index 5f1a84d2..0a9aa1a3 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.rs
+++ b/tests/test_api.rs
@@ -87,47 +87,38 @@ fn handle_scope_non_lexical_lifetime() {
 fn global_handles() {
   let _setup_guard = setup();
   let isolate = &mut v8::Isolate::new(Default::default());
-  let mut g1 = v8::Global::<v8::String>::new();
-  let mut g2 = v8::Global::<v8::Integer>::new();
-  let mut g3 = v8::Global::<v8::Integer>::new();
-  let mut _g4 = v8::Global::<v8::Integer>::new();
-  let g5 = v8::Global::<v8::Script>::new();
-  let mut g6 = v8::Global::<v8::Integer>::new();
+  let g1: v8::Global<v8::String>;
+  let mut g2: Option<v8::Global<v8::Integer>> = None;
+  let g3: v8::Global<v8::Integer>;
+  let g4: v8::Global<v8::Integer>;
+  let mut g5: Option<v8::Global<v8::Integer>> = None;
+  let g6;
   {
     let scope = &mut v8::HandleScope::new(isolate);
     let l1 = v8::String::new(scope, "bla").unwrap();
     let l2 = v8::Integer::new(scope, 123);
-    g1.set(scope, l1);
-    g2.set(scope, l2);
-    g3.set(scope, &g2);
-    _g4 = v8::Global::new_from(scope, l2);
-    let l6 = v8::Integer::new(scope, 100);
-    g6.set(scope, l6);
+    g1 = v8::Global::new(scope, l1);
+    g2.replace(v8::Global::new(scope, l2));
+    g3 = v8::Global::new(scope, g2.as_ref().unwrap());
+    g4 = v8::Global::new(scope, l2);
+    let l5 = v8::Integer::new(scope, 100);
+    g5.replace(v8::Global::new(scope, l5));
+    g6 = g1.clone();
   }
   {
     let scope = &mut v8::HandleScope::new(isolate);
-    assert!(!g1.is_empty());
-    assert_eq!(g1.get(scope).unwrap().to_rust_string_lossy(scope), "bla");
-    assert!(!g2.is_empty());
-    assert_eq!(g2.get(scope).unwrap().value(), 123);
-    assert!(!g3.is_empty());
-    assert_eq!(g3.get(scope).unwrap().value(), 123);
-    assert!(!_g4.is_empty());
-    assert_eq!(_g4.get(scope).unwrap().value(), 123);
-    assert!(g5.is_empty());
-    let num = g6.get(scope).unwrap();
-    g6.reset(scope);
-    assert_eq!(num.value(), 100);
+    assert_eq!(g1.get(scope).to_rust_string_lossy(scope), "bla");
+    assert_eq!(g2.as_ref().unwrap().get(scope).value(), 123);
+    assert_eq!(g3.get(scope).value(), 123);
+    assert_eq!(g4.get(scope).value(), 123);
+    {
+      let num = g5.as_ref().unwrap().get(scope);
+      assert_eq!(num.value(), 100);
+    }
+    g5.take();
+    assert!(g6 == g1);
+    assert_eq!(g6.get(scope).to_rust_string_lossy(scope), "bla");
   }
-  g1.reset(isolate);
-  assert!(g1.is_empty());
-  g2.reset(isolate);
-  assert!(g2.is_empty());
-  g3.reset(isolate);
-  assert!(g3.is_empty());
-  _g4.reset(isolate);
-  assert!(_g4.is_empty());
-  assert!(g5.is_empty());
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -135,17 +126,17 @@ fn global_handle_drop() {
   let _setup_guard = setup();
 
   // Global 'g1' will be dropped _after_ the Isolate has been disposed.
-  let mut g1 = v8::Global::<v8::String>::new();
+  let _g1: v8::Global<v8::String>;
 
   let isolate = &mut v8::Isolate::new(Default::default());
   let scope = &mut v8::HandleScope::new(isolate);
 
   let l1 = v8::String::new(scope, "foo").unwrap();
-  g1.set(scope, l1);
+  _g1 = v8::Global::new(scope, l1);
 
   // Global 'g2' will be dropped _before_ the Isolate has been disposed.
   let l2 = v8::String::new(scope, "bar").unwrap();
-  let _g2 = v8::Global::new_from(scope, l2);
+  let _g2 = v8::Global::new(scope, l2);
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -341,10 +332,10 @@ fn get_isolate_from_handle() {
     // Check that we can get the isolate from a Local.
     check_handle_helper(scope, expect_some, local);
 
-    // Check that we can still get it after converting it to a Global and back.
-    let global = v8::Global::new_from(scope, local);
-    let local = global.get(scope).unwrap();
-    check_handle_helper(scope, expect_some, local);
+    // Check that we can still get it after converting it to a Global.
+    let global = v8::Global::new(scope, local);
+    let local2 = v8::Local::new(scope, &global);
+    check_handle_helper(scope, expect_some, local2);
   };
 
   fn check_eval<'s>(
@@ -1997,6 +1988,9 @@ fn value_checker() {
     assert!(value == value);
     assert!(value == v8::Local::<v8::Primitive>::try_from(value).unwrap());
     assert!(value == v8::null(scope));
+    assert!(value == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) == v8::null(scope));
     assert!(value != v8::undefined(scope));
     assert!(value != v8::Boolean::new(scope, false));
     assert!(value != v8::Integer::new(scope, 0));
@@ -2008,6 +2002,10 @@ fn value_checker() {
     assert!(value == value);
     assert!(value == v8::Local::<v8::Boolean>::try_from(value).unwrap());
     assert!(value == v8::Boolean::new(scope, true));
+    assert!(value == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) == eval(scope, "!false").unwrap());
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) != eval(scope, "1").unwrap());
     assert!(value != v8::Boolean::new(scope, false));
 
     let value = eval(scope, "false").unwrap();
@@ -2017,6 +2015,10 @@ fn value_checker() {
     assert!(value == value);
     assert!(value == v8::Local::<v8::Boolean>::try_from(value).unwrap());
     assert!(value == v8::Boolean::new(scope, false));
+    assert!(value == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) == eval(scope, "!true").unwrap());
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) != eval(scope, "0").unwrap());
     assert!(value != v8::Boolean::new(scope, true));
     assert!(value != v8::null(scope));
     assert!(value != v8::undefined(scope));
@@ -2036,22 +2038,27 @@ fn value_checker() {
     assert!(value.is_symbol());
     assert!(value == value);
     assert!(value == v8::Local::<v8::Symbol>::try_from(value).unwrap());
-    assert!(value == v8::Global::new_from(scope, value).get(scope).unwrap());
+    assert!(value == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
     assert!(value != eval(scope, "Symbol()").unwrap());
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) != eval(scope, "Symbol()").unwrap());
 
     let value = eval(scope, "() => 0").unwrap();
     assert!(value.is_function());
     assert!(value == value);
     assert!(value == v8::Local::<v8::Function>::try_from(value).unwrap());
-    assert!(value == v8::Global::new_from(scope, value).get(scope).unwrap());
+    assert!(value == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
     assert!(value != eval(scope, "() => 0").unwrap());
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) != eval(scope, "() => 0").unwrap());
 
     let value = eval(scope, "async () => 0").unwrap();
     assert!(value.is_async_function());
     assert!(value == value);
     assert!(value == v8::Local::<v8::Function>::try_from(value).unwrap());
-    assert!(value == v8::Global::new_from(scope, value).get(scope).unwrap());
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
     assert!(value != v8::Object::new(scope));
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) != v8::Object::new(scope));
 
     let value = eval(scope, "[]").unwrap();
     assert!(value.is_array());
@@ -2128,8 +2135,10 @@ fn value_checker() {
     assert!(value.is_object());
     assert!(value == value);
     assert!(value == v8::Local::<v8::Object>::try_from(value).unwrap());
-    assert!(value == v8::Global::new_from(scope, value).get(scope).unwrap());
+    assert!(value == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) == v8::Global::new(scope, value));
     assert!(value != v8::Object::new(scope));
+    assert!(v8::Global::new(scope, value) != v8::Object::new(scope));
 
     let value = eval(scope, "new Date()").unwrap();
     assert!(value.is_date());