The notorious tale of the escape Alcatraz has intrigued me for years, wondering about the fate of convicts and the utter mystery surrounding it. In Out of Alcatraz by Christopher Cantwell and illustrator Tyler Crook we go on exhilarating journey where history and fiction collide.
Convicts Frank Morris and Clarence Anglin have washed ashore in San Francisco after surviving their infamous escape from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in June 1962. They soon meet their gruff and disappointed handler, a mysterious young woman who’s also running from something, and hope to quickly get their way north to the border – if they can even make it out of Modesto alive. As a dogged federal manhunt and chance encounters threaten the desperate convicts, everyone involved is about to discover the same bloodstained truth: life on the run is an even more hellish prison than Alcatraz could have ever been.
Christopher Cantwell and Tyler Crook have crafted a cinematic series that hooked me from the very first panel. Cantwell’s writing ability shines through telling a story that seems like it will go one way then with a twist goes a different direction. What we think this story is about not exactly what it may seem. Christoper’s characterizations are fantastic. From our escaped prisoners, a set of individuals driven by desperation and hope, to their handler and beyond. The dialogue between these characters is sharp and realistic, truly capturing the tension and suspense of being on the run.
Having read the debut issue of Out of Alcatraz prior to reading the entire collected edition, I had no idea this book would go where it went. I had an idea that we would focus on the pair of fugitives and their handler, but Cantwell throws us for a loop and gives us a complete story that is better than even expected.
Tyler Crook’s artwork elevates this outstanding story further into something truly stunning. His attention to detail and his unique style of art has each panel standing on their own, whether in the foggy bay or even at a dive bar. Crook captures each character with a unique eye making it easy to follow each characters expressions and motivations. The pairing of Cantwell’s script and Crook’s artwork works so well for this type of historical fiction tale. After seeing the opening panels, I couldn’t imagine another artist taking this story to the level Crook has taken it.
Out of Alcatraz serves as both an homage to historical events while simultaneously offering something entirely fresh. What Christopher Cantwell and Tyler Crook have put together is a truly outstanding comic miniseries that takes the blend of fiction and non-fiction to new heights. With its suspenseful storytelling and stunning artwork, Out of Alcatraz is a beautiful and outstanding historical fiction series.
The Out of Alcatraz collected edition hardcover hits local comic shops on October 22, 2025 (FOC: September 29) and bookstores everywhere a day earlier on October 21 from Oni Press.
Out of Alcatraz Preview
